Nip/Tuck: Tailwater Edition

 Well spring officially starts on March 20, but here in Colorado, especially in my home town of Pueblo,CO, nature seems to march to somewhat of a different beat. 70 degree days in December and snow well into April, even May is not out of the ordinary. Many times this is a nuisance when getting dressed in the morning, I often don’t know whether i’ll be wearing shorts or bundled up in my goose hunting gear, but on the river this is usually a blessing. Our mild winters, keep fish active and bugs poppin’ at times when other fisheries are all but shut down. Add in some consistent flows, prime structures, great people on the water doing their part to maintain our beautiful river and you have a recipe for not only some epic days of fishing but also some truly monster or “brutus” trout, as I like to to call them. At times this is a double edged sword, as crowds can be just as prolific as the hatches. On any given day the Ark is host to fisherman of all walks of life, it is not uncommon to cross paths with fly fishing royalty in men like Rim Chung. Inevitably from time to time you will also cross paths with some not so pleasant individuals. I do not know who is worse, the savage bait fisherman or the yuppy fly fisherman locking horns with one another, in “rod” measuring contests, taking tally of who has the more expensive gear. You know the type, The kind of guys that couldn't pick up a lady in a Tijuana brothel, but slap some Simms waders on them, some Patagonia gear, throw a Winston in their hands, and they think they are the sexiest SOB on the water, in their heads they are Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It. You pass them in the parking lot, and you feel like you’re on trial, bombarded by stern glares and looks of disgust, like you are clueless and they know everything, but all they really know is where the astroglide is stocked at walgreens. All joking aside, some days the crowds mimic those of the Platte or the Hog Trough on the Taylor, where tensions are high and you feel like you are going to witness a few duels on the water for rights to drift a prime lie. These days put a lot of pressure on the fish, but otherwise, I do believe the crowds are a good thing. As the word spreads and pictures go around, it shows what a great thing we have going on here. It is a great thing for our city and definitely gives our local economy a nice boost. With that said, A great thing has just gotten better, the Ark has gotten a little facelift. Phase II of the Arkansas River Tailwater improvements have brought some 3000 new boulders and logs, adding new structures and tweaking old ones. The new structures will definitely do a great job spreading out anglers, allowing great fishing opportunities for everyone on those overly crowded days. I have spent most my time on the water lately wandering around checking out the new lies and sharpening my sighting skills. I am very impressed and pleased with the new improvements and the trout seem to be too. Lately we’ve had a few days of nice snow and those are some of my favorite days to head out to the river. I always try to bundle up and take advantage of days like that, I often find I have almost the whole river to myself and have had some of my best days during times like this. Plus the sound of a screamin’ reel can go along way in making you forget about the cold. As I was scouting out the water, I even took it a step farther and stashed my rod in the weeds as I went on exploring. Now is the best time to really hone in on your sight fishing skills. With gin clear water, lower flows, and big spawning bows decked out in almost florescent colors, you’d be hard pressed to find a better opportunity. When people ask me for tips on how to spot trout, I tell them to ditch the rod, they always look at me like I’m off my rocker. I know it sounds a little crazy, but crazy is just a matter of perspective. Think about it this way: Ever show a bait fisherman a size 24 midge and then proceed to tell him you are going to catch that 20 inch fish he has been trying for all day? He’s going to think you are downright mad...that is, until you show him. Spotting trout without your rod can seem a little counter intuitive, but it works. It was a tip I picked up from Landon Mayer. By having the discipline to jump on the river without your rod in hand allows you to truly focus on the sole purpose of spotting trout. You get to really tune into nature and observe the dynamics of the river and the trouts behavior from a whole different perspective. Try it, it is one of the best tips I can pass on, and I guarantee it will make you better. I warn you though, this is a daunting task especially when you move in on a bruiser bullying his way around in the riffle, that’s why I only stashed my rod in the weeds and didn’t leave it at the truck ;). Well that is enough ranting for one day, if you haven’t gotten out on the Pueblo Tailwater lately, what are you waiting for? Give life a break and wet some line!

Tight Lines, Clint

Men at work(courtesy of Steel City Anglers)

This damn barrel owes me more flies than I can even count