Fly Fishing Yampa River
Steamboat
Springs, Colorado
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about Steamboat
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Fish and
"Flies"
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"Back! Over there!" "No, to your left!" "I see your
indicator!" "Stay with it; he's intrigued! |
In the mood for a nice
fresh trout? Sure, we already talked about the serene beauty of
snagging the delicacy through the
ice, but if you're the type that likes a little more action, fly
fishing is for you. |
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The oldest form of
sport fishing known to man, fly fishing is a favorite of Colorado
fishing enthusiasts all year round. Personally, I'm attracted to
the fly - a nice inanimate object that isn't squishy, slimy and doesn't
have to be caught! In fact, creating flies is a bit of an art form
in some circles.
Flies come in all
varieties, dry flies, nymphs, streamers, saltwater, etc. With a
few tools, and materials - feathers, hooks, threads, beads, scissors,
bobbins - and a little patience, you can try your creative spirit and
make your own.
Let's face it; part of the sport is the trickery. A good fly
imitates anything the fish might eat, insects, frogs, mice, leeches,
crabs and even their own eggs.
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DO
YOU SEE WHAT TROUT SEE?
An Orvis Tip of the Week
No, you don't. The
eyes of a trout produce a significantly different view
of the world than the eyes of a fly fisher. The
physiology of a trout's eye is different than a human
eye and produces different results. Understanding what
trout do and don't see will help you catch more fish.
Trout definitely see
color. In fact, there is evidence to support that they
see farther into both the infrared and ultraviolet
spectrum than we do. This is especially true when they
are fingerlings and again at spawning time.
Colorado
Fly Fishing Report
Colorado
Fly Fishing Guides
Because trout
see color so well, bright colors such as whites, reds,
yellows, pinks, etc., that are not often found in a
trout's natural habitat, tend to spook them pretty
quickly. Few things will send a trout scurrying for
cover quite as quickly as a brightly colored hat,
especially in slow-moving clear water.
Trout also have
binocular vision in a 30º cone directly in front of
them, which allows them to judge distance easily and
accurately. They have a blind spot in a 30º cone behind
them, and all the rest of the vision could be loosely
compared to peripheral vision, which will focus on any
detected movement quickly.
Because of the
blind spot behind them, most trout are more easily
approached from the rear. Of course, some trout move
side to side just to compensate for this blind spot -
they are usually the bigger fish.
Although they have a wide visual
range, the acuity of a trout's vision is poor. Even at
its best focus point of 2" everything is still a
blur. Good thing or they'd probably realize that the
hook hanging down from your fly isn't part of a natural
food form.
You'll do well to wear clothing and a
hat that blends into the background or the sky. Don't
silhouette yourself by standing tall. Trout don't have
eyelids, so if the sun is bright and you can get it
behind you without casting a shadow on the trout, don't
hesitate to hide in that glare.
Keep low, move slowly, blend into your
environment, and you'll be surprised at how many more
fish you'll catch.
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And, in case I've
misled you, fly fishing is not just for trout! Any fish that eats
buggy things, minnows and shellfish is a potential player. Trout, in
fact, seem a little sluggish in cold water and may be more motivated by
something moving, like the grubs we used to ice fish.
Nevertheless, a lot of
trout are caught by fly fishermen and they are
swimming the rivers around ski country. Movement is the
keyword; while ice fishing is relatively passive, fly fishermen have to
keep moving; keep the fly moving. Trickery, remember?
Once you have the flies
under control, you'll need a rod. Early fly fishers used a long
rod, probably a branch or bone, and dangled the fly over the fish.
It wasn't sport; it was survival, so it worked for them.
Today, sophisticated rods that are light and flexible are put
together with a reel and weighted line that makes the whole thing easy
in comparison.
As you can imagine, a fly has no momentum, therefore, it is necessary
to deliver it to the target with a weighted line. Casting looks like
effort, pulling a lot of line out, flicking the rod back and forth, then
a momentous cast, hopefully right above a fishy nose.
So here it
is, this beautiful Colorado afternoon - perfect for some fly fishing on
the Yampa River in Steamboat Spring. The experts are out, so it
must be a good day.
We watch for the telltale signs that the trout are biting
- little circles, fish talk for "we're having lunch." In
reality, the water is so clear, that we can SEE the fish; it's too easy!
Next to us a guy is fishing with worms. "Catch
any, yet?" Not yet, we say, but with an air of optimism.
Then! There it is - two of them, floating silkily in an open pool.
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Death,
Taxes, and Leaky Waders
By John Gierach
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Usually ships in 2-3 days |
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the cast and misses. Again! That's the beauty of fly
fishing. No waiting to reel in the line and try again.
Again, again. That one gets away. We follow it, but it hides
in the shadow of thick brushes.
Our juices going now, we peer intensely into the water and it's not
long before a little school drifts by, but they're too small and
probably just learning to swim!
The afternoon wears on; cold mountain air and water mix with a hot
high altitude sun and seems slightly confusing to our senses. The
fish come and go, the game is on and eventually one slides 10 feet in
front and seems to stop and say, "catch me." So we do!
It looks to be about 16 inches! The big fish looks at us - or so we
think. I think he feels foolish, having fallen for our deceit, and
hopes we're not newbies, the type that keeps him and has him for
dinner. Taking mercy on him, we throw him back, delighted to see
he hangs around, in gratitude, I imagine. |
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Fishing
in Colorado is an exceptional experience - pristine alpine
streams, surrounded by exquisite mountain scenery.
In Steamboat Springs, the Steamboat
Fishing Company, the only full time year round fly shop, offers
classes and private water trips complete with flies, license, lunch and
leaders! Whatever you need, they can provide it with a friendly,
willing and experienced staff.
Take a lesson or two, and with a little
practice, the right gear and an adventurous spirit, you too will be
"flying."
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More
about Steamboat |
| Colorado, the
beautiful. Ski Country? Definitely! But so much more.
Read on. . . |
GO!
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