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Friday, July 6, 2012

RMNP 2012 07 03

This was the day I was finally able to get back to my favorite creek in RMNP's Wild Basin. I was waiting for this day more than 6 months... Don't get me wrong, the two previous Sunday's family trips to the Alluvial Falls were great and the 2nd time around, I was able to catch 8 or 9 greenback cutthroat and a brookie (!) in less than an hour, in the midst of tourists. My friend overheard a woman say "... there are no fish in that trickle..." just when I hooked one of those wild colorful jewels. But Wild Basin is my personal fly fishing heaven.

I hoped all day for a Colorado Grand Slam and the first fish of the day was a brown trout so I got all hopeful, but alas, I only got two shots at a rainbow trout and both times the strike was too short.   

the first trout of the day, a brown trout...

... came from the the calm water on the far left.
Moving upstream, I hopped from pool to pool, trying to find water I could get into and fish - the water was a bit high at 80cfs and ripping particularly in the steeper sections. I sure was glad I had my wading staff with my that day. I caught brookies left and right, upstream and downstream. It felt like they were hitting anything that looked like food. I caught so many brookies (I really wanted to catch more greenback cutts) that anytime a brookie took the fly I was a bit disappointed. But by the end of the day I got two greenback cutts and I was a happy camper.

brookie - underwatershot (I need more practice!)

 first greenback
brookie chunk
brookie with orange butt sakasa kebari
greenback no. 2
Overall a great day, lots of willing fish, no other fisherman on the river, what do you need more?

I got home tired but very happy! Can't wait to get back up there soon!

River Statistics:
Weather: sunny, very light breeze, afternoon thunderstorm
Air Temp: 58F @8.30am, high 79F, 67F@5pm
Water Temp: cold!
Flow: around 80cfs
Day on the water in 2012: 14
Fish landed: 1 brown trout, 2 greenback cutts and 52 brook trout
Equipment: Daiwa Soyakaze 31SR, TenkaraUSA old geen fc level #3.5 9.5" with 6" amnesia, various sakasa kebaris only (no nymphs or dry flies!)


Some shots of the creek:











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9 comments:

  1. SprinkleJuly 7, 2012 at 5:50 AM

    Beautiful water :)

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  2. Mark KautzJuly 7, 2012 at 9:40 AM

    Awesome water. Amazing how there are "... there are no fish in that trickle..." and hey just seem to come out of nowhere.

    Mark

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  3. AnthonyJuly 7, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    I love catching fish at the Fan in and amongst the busyness of the hikers and wading children - folks always seem surprised. If that's the stream that I think it is - I always seem to catch many more brookies. Strangely enough the place where I caught cutthroat was the big pool below the waterfall not far from the trailhead. Also caught them in the tributary below the cascades.

    Love that place - thanks for letting me live vicariously through you!

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  4. cofisherJuly 7, 2012 at 2:57 PM

    Nice fish in some of our most beautiful waters!

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  5. AnonymousJuly 7, 2012 at 3:45 PM

    Was that the North Fork St. Vrain? Fished it last year with similar results, using a #16 parachute Adams.

    The Tenkara Ambassador

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  6. TenkaraOnTheFlyJuly 7, 2012 at 8:34 PM

    Thanks guys! Anthony & Ambassador - you know where...

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  7. AnonymousJuly 8, 2012 at 6:32 PM

    Great report! BTW, I really like the 31SR Soyokaze. It has become one of my favorite rods.

    -Tom

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  8. TenkaraOnTheFlyJuly 9, 2012 at 8:01 AM

    Tom - Thanks & I agree. I hope to do a direct comparison to the Iwana 9'4" soon.

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  9. Ashley ValentineJuly 12, 2012 at 12:40 PM

    Great trip report, Karel! Love the pictures. And I really liked you valiant attempt at the underwater brookie shot!! :)

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