First lake scouting mission was a success.
Filtering by Tag: catch and release
COLORADO!
I will admit, I have been on mountain time since we got back from Colorado. So finally, here are a few pics from the trip. We had a great group of guys and the trip was an absolute blast. Can’t wait for next year!
Fish happy!
Kati
Little Red River Fishing Report
5.18.15
Water flow: medium high
Visibility: 30 inches
Water condition: stained
Water temp at midday: 55 degrees F
Stained water can be a great opportunity for a nice brown.
Full report by Capt. Rouse: http://www.orvis.com/fishing_report.aspx?locationid=5920
Keep ‘em Wet!
The Little Red River is incredibly low. We are getting very small squirts of generation every couple of days. These are always very tough fall conditions for our fish. Over the last week I’ve seen some awful images of incredible fish. These fish were being insanely mishandled and unfortunately some of these were guided fish. Please be conscious of how fish are handled and for how long. Their body weight this time of year is not designed to be held out of the water. So, we’re going to kick off a Keep ‘em Wet campaign!
We got this idea from our friends at emrldwtranglers. We’ve all known for a long time that our fish don’t need to be out of the water for the classic “Grip and Grin” photos. We have all done it and we’ve all had our share of accidents while handling fish. Even guides like myself that have handled thousands if not hundreds of thousands of fish will make a mistake. We are going to make a conscious effort to keep our fish wet even through a photo op.
Here are some suggestions:
Try taking pics of fish still partially submerged never actually removing them from the water or the net. Knee deep water provides an easier place to take a pic. It keeps you from having to hunch way down if you want to get your mug in there with your beautiful fish. Remove the fly while still in the water and then let him go.
When we handle fish this way, it helps reduce the risk of accidental drop, fingers inadvertently ending up in the gills, or the bear hug when the fish is trying to get away.
Use the hash tag #keepemwet for your fish pics in the water to help promote awareness and ultimately protect our fish.
Colorado, Here We Come!
Looking forward to heading out next week for Steamboat Springs. We are going to load up the family, bikes, tent, and driftboat for our summer adventure. We will camp along the way. First stop will be somewhere in Kansas. Jamie and I have begun to research where exactly in Kansas we might camp, and have a couple of possibilities. Any suggestions are welcome! Second camp spot will be once we cross into Colorado. Then JRFFA will team up with Herb of Yampa Valley Anglers hosting our clients on some great fishing. The kids and I will do some major exploring, of course, bike riding and a little fishing on our own. We will then stay a bit longer for some fun family time. This will be the kids’ first time to Colorado and my first time to be there in the summer! I can’t wait! Apparently, Allie can’t either. She has already packed her bag with enough clothes to last for a month including useful outdoor wear like dresses and dress up shoes. I will keep you posted as we embark on our journey! Happy Monday!
It’s going to be an awesome trip!
SMALLIE SMACKDOWN
Last week Paul, Eddie, and I decided to do a sneak attack on a creek we will call “Red Goat”. The Predator drift boat went along for the adventure. We found a place to slide it down a trail, shoved off, and the float was official. The big unknown was whether or not there would be any fish. We instantly knew the answer. One small mouth after another started to come to the boat . When things couldn’t get anymore crazy, we started wacking really strong solid rainbows. The show stoppers were the stud smallies. This was one of those days that was incredibly special and reminds me of why I do what I do.
A beautiful day on the Little Red with another nice rainbow.
Dam.
One of the stills in our upcoming video short. Stay tuned!
Little Red River
The Little Red River runs through the gateway of the Ozarks near Heber Springs, Arkansas. It is a tailwater. The dam creates a massive lake, Greers Ferry. Below Greers Ferry Dam you will find some of the country’s best trout fishing. The Little Red rolls along 82 miles before it meets up with the White River. Roughly 45 miles of this are considered quality trout water. The river is full of a healthy population of rainbow trout. Some are wild, but most are stocked. The jewels of the famed Little Red are the brown trout. Our browns are an all wild population. Recently, the Little Red River was the home of the world record brown trout. Part of the Little Red’s success is the abundant aquatic life. Most of these fish are getting fat on crustaceans, sow bugs, scuds, and crawfish. And of course, the larger browns enjoy a rainbow snack. We have a few hatches consisting of march browns and caddis that can deliver some dry fly fishing. Nymphing ends up being the standard for most. For those that are looking for large browns the Red is a streamer fisherman’s delight. Come anytime of year. With constant water temperatures, the Little Red is a TRUE year round fishery.
Colorado Trip
June 20-26.
We have a few spots left.
It’s going to be a blast.
Large fish on hoppers!
COLORADO TRIP JUNE 2014
We still have a few spots left for our Colorado trip! Arrive June 20, check out morning of June 26. 4 ½ days of fishing. Total cost is $2900. This includes fishing, lodging and meals, but not airfare. The closest airport is Steamboat Springs. It is going to be a blast!