New Video Fishing Report Is Up For December!

This Is What's Important

Anybody who follows this silly project of mine knows that for me being a family man is more important than anything anyone can do. You all already know about this last tragic shooting. Needless to say that even though life must go on, it still doesn't feel right getting back into the chest pounding weener swinging mode of fly fishing industry survival. Instead today I want to share with anybody who cares to listen, a song that says what most of us are feeling. God bless the victims and families.

Fish Porn Of The Day Dec. 13

Fishing Report For December 11 - Written

If there is one place on the planet right now that anglers should make a trip to it is Cheesman Canyon!  Flow as of this morning Dec. 11th is sitting at 170 c.f.s. which for this time of year is amazing. Combine excellent flows with a lot less fishing pressure, and we are talking 20 fish days for the experienced folks. Watch for ice on the trails after this last snow storm, but other than that even the hike should be fantastic because of the cooler weather.

Flow for the Dream Stream is not to shabby either and is sitting at 112 c.f.s.  Elevenmile Canyon is sitting where it usually does in December with a flow rate of 56 c.f.s. Flies to come armed with for the entire South Platte River Drainage are midges and more midges. The Bubbleback Midge or the Mojo Midge in black and olive, Mercury Black Beauties, and Rojo Midges in red. If you're fishing a two fly set up use any of the following patterns as your lead fly: BWO Barr's Emergers, Olive or Dun RS-2's, Cheesman Emergers, Apricot Eggs, Buckskin Caddis Larvae in the smaller sizes, and San Juan Worms. If you see fish consistently coming up goto a size 26 Parachute Adams.

Make sure you're fishing with 6x fluorocarbon leaders and tippet, and if you're fishing Elevenmile Canyon come down a couple sizes with your split shot. In Elevenmile and the Dream Stream fish will be hanging in the deeper runs; a good depth to set your indicator is anywhere from 4-6 feet above your first fly on a two fly rig.

The Pueblo tailwater is a zoo.  Unless you enjoy combat fishing at it's finest stay away...  If you must go there the flow rate is a whopping 36 cubic feet per second, so fish will be stacked like cordwood in the deeper pools, and the odds of somebody beating you to those spots are great. The same flies and techniques as the South Platte work here.  Tight lines and happy holidays everyone!

The Pearl San Juan Worm

For the last week I have been working on my first ever worm box, and one of the synthetic materials I have been using in place of Standard Ultra Chenille to tie my San Juan Worms is a Hareline product called Pearl Core Braid. As it's name suggest it has a core that comes in a variety fish catching colors, and is surrounded by a clear pearl braided flash. Trust me when I tell you that the photos aren't doing the material justice, and that this worm pattern will shred lips!

In fact, I would be stunned if they didn't catch fish in the Pueblo tailwater during the coldest days of winter.  These would also do great on the South Platte tailwaters after a bump in flows or during runoff.  The "sex band" on the worm is a thread base covered in Clear Cure Goo and then coated with Sally Hansen's. Other than that it's tied just like a typical San Juan. I will say that there is a trick to melting and forming the ends of the Pearl Core Braid, and that it has to be done or the fly falls apart. If I get any interest in seeing how this is done I will gladly do a video to show off the technique.

The Pearl San Juan Worm

Hook: Your favorite Scud hook. I like the TMC 2488 in a size 14

Thread: Yes please...  Use a color that looks good for the band.

Worm material: Pearl Core Braid

Band: Thread covered in awesome Clear Cure Goo (CCG) and coated with Sally Hansen's

As fast as it took for you to read this recipe is about how fast an experienced tyer can spin one up. It's cake! Give 'em a try!

Check Out This New Gadget For Keeping Your Wire On It's Spool

Has your wire ever done what mine is doing in the above photo? Wire jumping off the spool and turning into a knotted up mess is one of my biggest peeves.  Of course, the fact that every one of my wire spools looks similar to this photo is my own fault. The spools do have a built in holder that I neglect to use from either being a space cadet, or to lazy to put the wire away. The solution? The Wire Spool Dispenser.

Creation inspired by necessity... or wait? Ok so more like creation inspired by a good old American need to do things the easy way. It fits the spools perfectly, and has a hole in the side so you can keep them organized by color without having to actually read the label. Again lazy but convenient. They are for sale at Anglers Covey for $2.75. Keep your tying station a little cleaner and give these a try!

Fish Porn Of The Day Dec. 7

We were going through pictures taken over the last couple of weeks fishing and found this one we wanted to share with you!  It's not the typical vibrant photo we are usually after but it definitely has charm.

Short Timelapse Video Of The Moon Setting Over The Peak

Pikes Peak Moon Timelapse from coloradoflyfisher on Vimeo.

Schedule Your Guided Fly Fishing Trip With Jon Kleis Today!

The Dream Stream is a lot more technical in December, but the crowd's are a no show and there are still plenty of big fish! Let me show you my techniques for catching quality trout all year on the South Platte learned through 15 years of experience. If interested shoot me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com or follow the link and fill in Jon Kleis as your guide under requests.

Your December Fishing Report Is Up!

New Orvis Silver Sonic Convertible Top Waders - First Impressions

Happy client holding fish of the day.

I recently received my new pair of Orvis Silver Sonic waders in the mail, and had my chance to put them to the test guiding 2 anglers for a full day on the Dream Stream. The water was low and clear, which is typical for Colorado in November. These less than ideal water conditions meant we were gonna have to do some walking for our best chance to consistently catch fish.  A great test for the new gear!

Right after putting on the Silver Sonic waders I noticed how light they were without feeling cheap. The legs have four layers of nylon in the spots where necessary such as the knees, and the upper half of the waders are very light.  This is an ingenious design because how much time do you really spend standing in water past your waist? Rarely is there any real stress put on the waders from the wading belt up, and if you're into swimming marathons in your waders the upper half of the Silver Sonic seems more than durable enough to handle the job.

The biggest reason I wanted to try the new Orvis waders was that I desperately wanted a pair that I could fit my size 13 feet into without having to squeeze through tight ankle cuffs. I am very happy to say that I could get out of them without a crowbar! Not only did I not need a stick of dynamite, but I will go so far as to say they were the easiest waders to get in and out of that I have ever owned. Crises averted...

Another quality that I really appreciate about these new waders is the fit. There is enough room to wear several layers of clothing underneath without being to baggy. The best word I can use to describe the fit is comfortable.  As for aesthetic appeal, they look every bit as good as every other high end pair of waders on the market.

The convertible top is another great example of both form and function inherent in this product. I have been wearing pant waders for the last 3 years because they are cooler and more comfortable than chest waders, but if I wanted to kick around in a float tube I either had to bring a extra pair of waders or get used to the idea of getting wet. Now I have the best of both worlds! To convert them into a pant wader simply unbuckle the front and back buckles and the top slides down to your waist while your straps stay put on your shoulders.

Other notable things that I would like to mention before I let you go are: the leg seems, pockets, and gravel guards. The leg seems run along the back, and having the seems in the back rather than the sides is a great way of avoiding abrasion caused by walking. There are 3 chest pockets. One of which is water proof and great for cameras or cell phones. I tried to operate my iPhone while in the pocket and was able to slide between screens and navigate perfectly.

Last but not least Orvis included vents in the back of the gravel guards for water to escape. This is great for reducing weight making them easier and more comfortable to walk around in. The gravel guards are also made with nylon which seems to be very durable. It's clear that Orvis put a lot of thought and effort into the design of the Silver Sonic waders.  They even include both U.V. and traditional Aqua Sealant, an alcohol prep pad for detecting pin hole leaks complete with instructions on proper care, and a replacement shoulder strap. This attention to detail, and the Orvis warranty are why I'm confident in saying that you can not find a better wader for $260.      

 

Snow Dance

Anyone who has been paying attention knows that we have been experiencing serious drought here in Colorado. If this drought continues we face a drastic blow to our economy. Colorado relies heavily on the money that comes from it’s outdoor industries; skiing, climbing, hiking, and fishing are all affected by dry weather.

Ask the fish what they think about our gorgeous 70 degree days in November and they will tell you, “I don’t have room to swim because the rivers are so low!”. Colorado’s snow pack reports are bleak, and many of our reservoirs are only 50 percent full. I recently got a fishing report from a fly shop in Almont, and they said that you’re literally walking a mile in spots that should be covered in water to gain fishing access at Blue Mesa Reservoir because it’s so low.

Blue Mesa is a sobering example of why we desperately need a snowy winter! Not just to make the skiers happy, but also to maintain a healthy fish population. I propose we all gather at Memorial Park and do a snow dance for the well being of our great state. It might mean a few less sunny and 70 days, but I think we all kinda miss the snow anyway. That is a sacrifice we are willing to make.   

Learn To Tie Flies For Free In My "Explore Fly Tying 101" Class!

Free is good! If you've ever wondered what it would be like to catch a fish on a fly that you made, then take advantage of a free tying lesson taught by Jon Kleis. The class is held every Saturday at 12 p.m. and lasts an hour.  The venue is Anglers Covey fly shop on the corner of Highway 24 and 21st street.

We will go over the tools you need to get started and how to use them. We will also go over basic terminology, and by the end of the class you will have an understanding of the skill sets needed to tie the Wooly Bugger pictured above; this includes how to tie the whip finish knot. Whatever flies we tie during the class are yours to keep for free! And as an extra bonus, all materials and tools are provided.

Take my word for it, there is no greater reward in fishing than the feeling of knowing you fooled a fish on a fly that you created! Even if you have some experience tying you're more than welcome to attend this class.  There is always a new trick to pick up that will help you become a more efficient tyer.  For more information and to sign up for this fun and free class click here.  Hope to see you there!   

Website makeover...

Hey guys and gals we just wanted to apologize for parts of the site not working over the last week or so.  We were super stoked to add new tools to the site to help you navigate and have quicker access to older posts and other helpful information and then Google deleted the place where the code we used was stored, so we had to wait until everything was updated to fix the problems.  We should hopefully be good to go now.  Thanks and we hope you're having a killer fall/winter season of fishing!

Fishing Report November 17th

Super Storm Sandy Relief!

A few weeks before Hurricane Sandy hit I had a guide trip with a couple of retired police officers from New York and had an absolute great time!  I briefly talked to Jim who still lives in that neck of the woods and he basically said that he was one of the lucky ones and finally got power back, but there are still tons of people without power or a home.  I turned the t.v. to the weather channel and it's heartbreaking to see so many people still suffering up there.

Obviously this is completely unrelated to Colorado, but Colorado residents can relate to dealing with recent natural disaster so I decided to post the link to donate to American Red Cross one more time to help these people get back on their feet.  I know we're all broke cuz the economy blows but 10 dollars toward people suffering in our own country is better than no dollars so if you read this post please follow the link and help out.

Jim with an 11Mile Canyon Cutty from our trip.

Jack and Jim brothers from another mother.

Permanent Blockade At Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery

Many of you may have tried to catch the salmon run above Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, and were left wondering where are all the salmon?  Kristen and I have gone up there twice, once around the end of September and the second time was around the middle of October, and both times there wasn't a single Koke in the East River above the hatchery.  We were relegated to fishing the Gunnison from the confluence down if we wanted to catch salmon.

The second attempt to find fish on the East we stopped and asked the guys at the shop in Almont where all the fish were, and they told us that there was a blockade put up at Roaring Judy preventing the salmon from migrating any further than the hatchery.  As far as anyone can tell the blockade is suppose to be up indefinitely, which means until further word there won't be any more opportunities to catch salmon on the East because all of the property along the river below the hatchery is private.  Good thing there was a decent run of Kokes on the Dream Stream which hopefully will see a resurgence.

From what I've been told a large majority of the stocked Kokanee in Colorado come from the milking program at Roaring Judy so anglers shouldn't be too upset as long as we see numbers rise in other areas.  Of course the blockade could have been put up in preparation for drought and potentially smaller runs do to climate change, and the fish might be allowed to run past the hatchery in the future during wetter seasons.  Also the Gunnison river fished fantastic for big Kokes and big Browns so it's not a total loss.

Kristen with a Gunnison River  Salmon

Again news of the blockade was just word of mouth and I haven't talked to CDOW or anyone that works for the hatchery.  When I find out something concrete and get all the details I'll give you an update.

November Fishing Report Vid

Donation Relief For The East Coast

From the sound of things this storm that is about to hit the East coast is really nasty.  If you're feeling generous and wanting to be proactive in helping with this huge storm here is the link to the Red Cross donations page.

Epic Time Lapse Fail

We went to Garden of the Gods the other morning to try and capture some epic time lapse photography of Pikes Peak which is something I really want to include in future videos, and it didn't turn out the way we wanted.  We plan on sharing more of these type cut clips with you guys to show how much work it really is to accomplish some of the things we want to accomplish, and hopefully eventually have a finished product that we are happy with, and will get people excited about fishing here in Colorado.  Two things happened that morning that were working against us.

First is that I didn't clean the lens so there is dust in the video.  It is especially important to make sure the  the lens is clean before shooting with unlimited depth of field, which we were...  The next thing that was working against us was the weather.  When we started shooting the clouds were doing some crazy things over the Peak and we tried to time it so that at some point during the clip Pikes Peak would show it's freshly snow covered face, and it never did.  Still it never gets old watching clouds roll over Colorado's beautiful mountains so we at Coloradoflyfisher wanted to share.




Time Lapse Attempt Pikes Peak from coloradoflyfisher on Vimeo.

Regrow Colorado Water Bottles

Outtherecolorado.com shared this website on facebook and I wanted to share it with you guys and gals.  The site is called Regrow Colorado, and it was set up to raise funds and continued awareness toward recovering from the Waldo Canyon fire.  This includes planting new trees and supporting our local firefighters!  Sounds pretty good to me.  I've noticed it's a tendency to forget about natural disasters and the people hurt by them.  This would be a great way to show our support.

Basically you click here to go to the website and purchase the cool looking polar water bottle for $15 and a portion of the cost goes towards rebuilding Colorado.  The insulated water bottle is worth the fifteen bucks on its own, and when you combine that with a great local cause it's definitely worth it!

The Big Guide Sale!

Saturday the 20th of this month is our annual big Guide Sale at Anglers Covey Fly Shop.  As many of you may know guides love fishing gear and they have it in abundance.  Each year A.C. puts on a guide sale giving guides the opportunity to sell some of said gear to make room for next years models.  This is the perfect opportunity for the average consumer to get a gently used high end fly rod or reel for a great price.  It's the ultimate win win!

Guides get to make a little coin before the slow season and you get to own some great gear without breaking the bank.  The shop will have some great deals going as well!  This event has traditionally been a laid back fun time and is also a great opportunity to pick the brains of the guides who rarely all get together in one place.  The sale starts when the doors open at 9 a.m. and lasts til close at 6 p.m. so stop by and check it out!    

If A Fish Farts In The River Does It Make A Sound

I had an interesting experience today with what I affectionately refer to as a "yahoo".  A yahoo is someone who tells fish stories on a consistent basis, and would have you believe that their manhood hangs to their knees.  To question a yahoo is to question their manhood, and by definition is calling them a liar.  Yahoos are easy to spot because they're usually wearing the biggest hat and belt buckle, and have a strain in their voice from talking too loud and forcefully their entire life.

To quote Denzel Washington in the movie American Gangster by saying, "the loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room".  And you my yahoo friend are why many people in my humble opinion don't get into our sport, or leave it after only a few outings on the water.  I spend 150-200 days a year on the water either teaching or fishing so I find it humorous when yahoos try to comment on how new my waders and wading boots look after 3 seasons...

Just because some people take better care of their equipment than others doesn't mean you have the green light to try and clown on them because, "What?! you mean your boots lasted longer than a year? I must be a bigger MAN than you!".  Nope it just means that you are a yahoo, and yes your doodoo stinks so save your subtle jabs.  I'm writing this because I want anybody who has had an experience with a yahoo either on the river or in a shop to know that fishing is not about how loud you can be.

Fish don't have egos.  In fact it's been my experience that the bigger the fish the more humble they are, and the more they try and stay in the shadows.  Fish run and hide from people making tons of noise on the river.  Yahoos talking big game should learn to try and be more like the fish they tell stories about.  Everyone else, and this especially holds true for beginners, it's important to me that you know not to worry about loud and obnoxious people, and instead focus on the true spirit and meaning of flyfishing.

Flyfishing is about being in nature, and learning something new every time you get on the water.  It's about sharing your experiences with people you care about and having fun.  Trust me when i tell you that for every yahoo there are ten people willing to share a great spot or a fly that has been hot for them.  There are yahoos in all facets of life so please don't let a run in with one of them chase you out of the sport we love.  Because as many less insecure people know it's not the size of your fishing rod, it's how you use it.        

Cool Video By Dave Herber - 11 Mile Canyon

Anglers  Covey donated a corporate guide trip to Trout Unlimited CO for auction, and we had a great time yesterday at 11 Mile Canyon with the group that purchased it.  One of our guides Dave Herber took the time to collect the photos from yesterday and put together a great video of our adventure.  Check it out!

Important For Our Safety And Our Future

I was sitting down doing some reading and thinking about what it means to be a free society.  People seem to live under the illusion of having freedom in this country simply because well, its America!  Land of the free and home of the brave.  Free to eat what we want, say what we want, and do what we want.  Free to breathe the clean air, and free to live the life style we want so long as we pursue it.  Nothing in this world is free including the air you breathe.

Climate change is an ever growing cause of concern for many, and reason to joke and laugh at tree hugging liberals for others.  What many of us choose to ignore on a subconscious level are the signs that are all around us.  That we are paying for everything.  We pay in medical bills, and the loss of life, liberty and happiness.  This year we had the largest and most devastating fires in our states history!  And yet some of us continue to ignore even the possibility that we are experiencing climate change while we drive up to the gas pump and PAY 4 dollars a gallon.  

Big business and capitalism are sucking our planet dry, but as long as our favorite burger stand is still open and we can watch our favorite television programs promoting teen pregnancy and cheating then we are still free.  Laguna Beach and buff Italians with tans rejoice!  The article I was reading this morning was all about the more frequent appearance of chem trails and their true purpose and effect on our ecosystem.  

For those of you unfamiliar with what a chem trail is I am sure that most of you have seen one and never given it a second thought.  A lot of times they are hidden within the clouds which I have an aching suspicion is done on purpose so people assume it's a natural occurrence.  Here is a short video I took this morning of several of them over our beautiful city.   

    

Not only are they not natural, but it appears that they could have a very sinister purpose!  That purpose is to temporarily cool the climate by pumping metals in the air to reflect sunlight out of our atmosphere. The first question that comes to mind is how did they get financing for this, and second why is this happening without first telling the people the truth including potential environmental consequences and putting it to a vote?  We live in a free democracy right?


The truth is that many things that hurt our planet and our country are done without our permission and without the public having been informed that yes this could give you cancer.  The truth is that any time people do things that have a profound effect on the environment we all suffer.  Not just the plants and animals.  We all suffer because we are all connected.  You mean republicans and tree hugging liberals are connected?  An original strain of OUR STATES NATIVE FISH is somehow connected to all of us and is important?  Yes. Get over it.


I came across this documentary about chem trails, and it has some very strong proof that we are letting "the powers that be" mess up our environment for financial gain and a short term cooling of our planet.  Essentially trying to control weather and weather patterns meanwhile making our planet warmer and killing off plant life in the process.  No plant life and warmer temps are historically bad for fish.  BAD FOR FISH...  You my friends are connected to the fish!  Connected a lot both literally and figuratively if we have anything to say about it.


Why am I ranting?  Because everybody and their mom should be ranting about this.  In fact we should all be demanding from our government to know what is in these chem trails and then we the people decide if it continues.  That is how our democracy should run.  The entire country puts to a vote whether or not the product (things like bottled water) are worth the cost (killing our planet).  And we decide the future, and hopefully as a people decide that a green planet and air that is free of chemicals which cause disease is more important than convenience.  We need to stop leaving it up to 1 percent of this country to decide what's best for the other 300 million people.

So that our children can enjoy the things we have, and enjoy true freedom!

I leave you with this video and a message.  The video is the study about chem trails and climate change which is pretty dang long, but all you really need to watch is the first ten minutes to get an idea of why we should all be concerned.  My message is to turn off the tv and start paying attention to the true subjects of importance.  Compassion for other people and our planet is a good start.  Preaching a true message of equality and of a free democracy where we all vote on the important subjects rather than the crap we are bombarded with by the media controlled by a select few.  Watch this video and write your congressman.  Live life to it's fullest!

Kleis's Korner Gear Review - Gopro HD Hero 2 Camera

Let me start by saying that I one hundred and ten percent love the Gopro cameras!  However, there are a few things that I think people need to understand before making a purchase; this especially holds true for anglers.  At the end of the day, the pros far outweigh the cons!

One of the biggest attributes and what makes this camera so popular is that it shoots broadcast quality high def. 1080p video and it's extremely small. It is waterproof while in it's waterproof housing so you don't have to worry about taking a spill with your camera on you, and the HD Hero 2s actually take great still photos as well.  Gopro has done an excellent job of taking the guts that would be in larger HD cameras and shrinking it down to size.  The picture quality is as good as cameras that would cost four times as much.  Here is a sample video with the camera mounted on my head to show you guys what I'm talking about.  Make sure to turn the quality up to 1080 to get a full appreciation of this clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvdU_enMBDQ&list=UUykRVZCzc45NtHBn-HQRnkQ&index=9&feature=plcp

Now let me explain the things that aren't obvious that most buyers would expect to have that this camera does not.  This camera does not have a built in LCD screen or viewfinder.  What does this mean for you?  It means that you have to get really good at either guessing what the camera is seeing based on it's wide focal length, or you have to fork over the extra 80 bones to get the LCD BacPac.  This is the price you pay for being able to have the guts of a more expensive camera and still keep the cost low.

Another small downfall is that as long as the camera is in the waterproof housing it cannot record sound. Each Gopro kit comes with a back that is sealed so the elements stay out, and a replacement back that has open vents so you can pick up sounds while risking getting the camera wet if you fall in.  Last and most important for anglers is the fact that if you planned on shooting great underwater video with this camera then you need to invest in the "Dive" housing.  The reason you ask?  It's because even though this camera is advertised as being waterproof the normal housing for the camera is horribly out of focus while submerged.  The Dive housing corrects this and it runs $50.  I'm sure that after watching this you will agree that it is definitely worth the extra cash!  Again turn this one up to 1080 before watching.






Let it be known that all of these "cons" I'm talking about aren't really that bad considering what you're getting for the price.  These are just things that consumers need to be aware of, and is why I wanted to write this review.  Make no mistake this is a very good camera for an even better price that a lot of professionals are using these days.  It might surprise a lot of people to know just how many commercials and t.v. shows we see every day that were shot with the Gopro.  I give this camera a 9 out of 10 for it's size, versatility, and above all else picture quality.  For $300 there currently isn't a better video camera on the market in that price range.

For questions concerning this article or to find out my rates and availability for a guided trip shoot me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com

Colorado Fly Fishing On Film

How To Spot A School Of Kokanee Salmon from coloradoflyfisher on Vimeo.




Pikes Peak Time Lapse from coloradoflyfisher on Vimeo.

Trivia Time - Scared Crapless

So this is completely unrelated to flyfishing but who is more scary.  The big bear?  Or this crazy old lady?  You be the judge!

South Platte Fishing Report 10-4-2012

It's that time of year again when Colorado scenery is unmatched, temps are finally consistently cooler, brown trout are starting to run, and Pike and Lake Trout are searching the shallows looking for big bites before winter grabs us with it's icy grip.  The South Platte in spots is fishing very good.

Tricos are coming off later in the morning in both 11 Mile Canyon and the Dream Stream.  Look for Tricos to emerge starting around 8:30 a.m. with the spinner fall happening around 10:30-11 a.m. and lasting about an hour.  Fish are still feeding pretty heavily on Trico Spinners, but they are staying close to cover when up top.  So look for them tight against undercut banks and rocks, and in areas with overhanging bushes.  The cooler temps are killing off the weeds in both the canyon and the dream stream as well so be prepared to clean gunk off your flies every third or so drift if you're nymphing.

Flows are in the 140's c.f.s. for the Dream Stream, and in the mid 80's c.f.s. for 11 Mile Canyon.  Both are great flows, and as temps continue to cool we will start to see more browns moving in.  As for Cheesman Canyon and Deckers the flow is 92 c.f.s.  I haven't fished either area in months but I have heard reports that Deckers hasn't been fishing so hot which is typical for this time of year, and I haven't heard a single bad report about Cheesman all year.  In fact Cheesman is on the top of my list of spots to hit before the snow starts really falling.

Flies to have in your box for the entire South Platte Drainage are:  Barr's Emergers in a BWO flavor, Black Beauties, Eggs, Red San Juan Worms, Black and Olive RS-2's, Black and Olive Mojo Midges, Buckskins, Bubbleback Midges, Red Copper Johns, South Platte Brassies, Barr's Trico Vis-A-Dun, Pearl Butt Trico Spinners, and Matt's Midge in Black.

If interested in doing a guided trip with me this fall shoot me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com

Thanks and tight lines!

Scared Antelope

Where there was three there is now two extremely scared Antelope.  As you can tell in the video they are a lot more comfortable in these people's front yard next to the road than they are grazing out in the open like they normally do.  At one point not seen in the video we actually tried to scare them, and they ran ten feet in one direction and then quickly turned back like they realized it was still safer with the humans in the jeep than out there with someones giant pet chihuahua...


We went up yesterday with the intention of trying to catch the "Wolfy" looking predator that some have claimed is just a Coyote on film so that I could show you guys what I've been seeing and put an end to the mystery but the dog was a no show.  Still his presence alone was enough to keep what's left of the antelope glued to the house and road.  We shot a little video for you guys to see what Im talking about.

Kokanee Release Footage Short

Here is a short video of Kristen releasing some Kokes on the Gunni.  The footage was taken pre stabilizer rig, and pre underwater focus correcting housing for the gopro.  So it's not as stable as we would like and the focus underwater is half of what it's going to be in about a week, but we figured we'd share anyways.  Hope you enjoy!



Salmon Fishing The Gunni from coloradoflyfisher on Vimeo.

Building A Camera Stabilizer Rig

I wanted to share with everyone my custom camera stabilizer rig made out of PVC pipe.  It is 1/2 inch pvc and various elbows and t-joints all covered in electrical tape.  There are a ton of waterproof video cameras on the market and plenty of anglers and photographers using them.  Many of these underwater camera's are small handhelds, and that makes them hard to hold steady.

When searching the web for an affordable solution I came across this gem.



This guy put out this video with a killer and affordable home made rig.  Mine is literally the same with a few modifications.  I made the front wider because my gopro cameras have a pretty wide angle and I have huge hands, and I didn't want the sides of the rig or my hands to show up in my footage.  I used electrical tape instead of the hockey tape he used in the video because it is a little more water proof and I fully intend on submerging this thing in a trout stream.  Also I couldn't find a bicycle handle grip that I was happy with so I opted for tennis racket handle tape.  The cost was a little more than he advertised in the video but that was because I purchased the materials at Lowes rather than online.

Anyone interested in having me build you one or have any questions shoot me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com

Tight Lines!

The Wolf At Spinney Mountain

For those of you who missed my post about watching a large dog tackle a full sized Antelope on the back side of Spinney Mountain near the barns I have recently witnessed a second much closer sighting!  I had my clients from a trip two days ago following me back from the Dream Stream on High Chaparral rd. towards highway 24 when we saw a few Antelope next to the road.  My clients stopped to take pictures and I continued down the road when I saw what I truly and honestly believe to be a Wolf.  Or rather it saw me because it was next to the road when it spooked and then started jogging the opposite direction.


This thing is massive and was clearly again after those Antelope!  It is dark gray bordering on black in color and has shaggy long fur, a long tail thick with fur, and is literally the size of a Great Dane.  I can tell you readers what I saw in complete confidence because I was extremely close to it when it started moving away from the road.


I called the division of wildlife to report it, and the lady I talked to put me on hold for 5 minutes after I gave her a description.  She got back on the phone and proceeded to tell me it was someones pet or a hybrid of somebodies pet that crossbred with a Coyote, and that they weren't worried about it.  Before we got off the phone I told her that it doesn't look like a hybrid though I can't ignore the possibility, and that either way it is displaying predatory behavior in broad daylight.  I also told her that I noticed the numbers of antelope have been steadily declining over the last 3 weeks, and that the only reason I have noticed is because this where I have done the vast majority of my fishing and guiding during those three weeks.  "Thanks for your concern sir" CLICK.


So here is the deal guys and gals.  I am a Colorado native who has seen a few Coyotes in my day and I can't in clear conscience not warn you all to be extremely careful and mindful of your surroundings while you are fishing anywhere near the Dream Stream below Spinney Reservoir.  You can either think I am crazy, or take what Im saying to heart and be careful.  If you think Im crazy I don't really give a crap, and you have been warned.  I know there are a handful of anglers that like to fish up there at night myself included.


So just know that there is a huge predator that doesn't mind tackling large Antelope in broad day light (I have a witness) so I doubt that it would have a problem chewing your butt at night.  Just so you know I plan on posting this on any social media, especially where the CDOW can see it because Im hoping this will inspire them to investigate.  If you appreciate my heads up and believe what I am telling you then please post this to warn as many anglers as possible, and lets look out for each other and be careful out there!  Thanks and tight lines!     

Great Year For Jim Browning

This guy Jim Browning has had a pretty incredible year, and I can't think of anybody who deserves it more.  I have chosen to give him the nickname The Humble Fisherman.  He is always very positive and always has something uplifting to say!  It is for this reason that I am proud to share with you a video he put together that shows some amazing fish and equally great photography.  If you are interested in keeping up with Jims fishing adventures he also writes a blog where he posts stories that show his great outlook on life and great photography called Two Guys Wet Waders & Flies so be sure to check it out!

Enjoy the video and thanks Jim!

Photos From Our Recent Salmon Fishing Trip - Gunnison Colorado

Toothy Critter photo by Kristen

We went on our annual fishing expedition to the East River near the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery which is located north of Almont, and quickly found out that the Kokanee hadn't arrived yet.  The water was extremely low and clear, and the water temps seemed warmer than this time last year which is a good indication that it was still early for salmon to be that far up river.  Because we had driven such a long way to fish salmon we decided that we would go down stream and see what we could find.  We stopped right at the Junction in Almont where the East River meets the Taylor River to become the Gunnison River.


Right away I saw signs of salmon, and ten minutes later I was hooked up on a nice Koke.  Ten minutes after landing my first fish of the day the crowds came...  Apparently we weren't the only people that knew where to look.  There was a noticeable difference in water temperature which we felt the moment we stepped in the river, and the pool we were fishing had more salmon than I think I've seen in any other thirty yard stretch of river anywhere in Colorado.


We landed somewhere between 20-25 Kokanee in 4 hours on either an Apricot Egg, Red San Juan Worm, or a size 18 Red Brassie.  As you will notice in the photos the trees were turning and it was an insanely gorgeous day.  When you mix beautiful fall weather and Colorado scenery with fresh hard fighting salmon you are having an epic day on the water!  I get the impression that if we would have moved down river we could have found more salmon and not been harassed by the crowd that seemed to be getting closer to crossing our lines with each fish we caught, but we were content and willing to share the water so we stayed.  These photos will show you why!  Thank you and we hope you are all having a wonderful Autumn/Fall season!

Kristen's first fish of the day was this monstrous 21" Koke.  Photo by Jon

A close up of Kristen's salmon.  Photo by Papa J

Another nice one.

Again!

Beautiful scenery and fish big enough to fill that net.  Paradise!  Photo by
Kristen

A little fall foliage by Kristen

The family car!  Photo by Kristen

Tight Lines!

The New Sage Circa Fly Rod

So I haven't had a chance to cast this rod or the new Helios 2 but Im excited for both!  And in my anticipation I was doing a little surfing to see what I could come up with and found this video I wanted to share with you guys from Sage about their new rod.  It seems to be a slower action rod that is using their new Konnetic technology which is suppose to help with accuracy.  I know that a lot of people these days are all about the faster rods, but a softer fly rod with accuracy anything close to Sage's The One sounds pretty dang sweet to me.  They disabled embedding so you guys can follow this link if you want to check it out!   Thanks and tight lines!

The Praying Mantis Hatch...

Check out this Praying Mantis Kristen found during our afternoon hike through Garden Of The Gods.  It was massive and probably the biggest bug I've ever seen in real life, and that includes peoples pet tarantulas.  It was at least 3 inches long!  I honestly had no clue that Colorado grew them that big so we felt super blessed that we got to check it out and take some photos.

When we got home Kristen got on the computer and did a little research, and we think that this is a female European Mantid.  We think it's a female based on the info we found that said females are usually larger with more girth.  We also learned that large Praying Mantis are capable of catching and eating Humminbirds!  They also have been known from time to time to decapitate and eat the smaller male Mantis during mating...

The one we spotted on our hike seemed very passive but definitely moved with a chilling purpose when it decided it had enough of us flashing it with the camera, and thankfully Kristen decided to bring our camera so we can share the experience.  I tell a lot of potentially unbelievable nature stories so it's nice to finally have a camera available to capture evidence.  Granted this isn't really flyfishing related, but you never know a big Mantis might be confused for a mutant grasshopper in one of our local lakes or streams and get munched.  I bet it's happened!  Either way I think most of us as anglers find bugs interesting and this is one big bug!

The New Orvis Sonic Waders

Lately I have been looking for different brands of waders to try.  I have had the Simms G3 Guide Pant for the last 3 seasons and even though I absolutely love Gore-Tex for its durability and warmth, and I really love the "when nature calls" zipper built in, I hate struggling with trying to get my feet in and out of the booty.  The ankle cuff is so tight that even when they are dry it takes me a couple minutes to pry my feet out.  When my feet are wet from sweat dripping down my leg on hot days it takes me twice as long.


Don't get me wrong because the benefits of the Simms wader build and quality far out-weigh that minor annoyance.  When I spend an entire day walking around the South Platte looking for fish I am already tired, and I don't want to need an assist from my fishing partner or a sharp pair of scissors to get out of my waders.  That being said I heard that Simms is addressing this issue, and I can't tell my readers that any of the other brands are better because the G3 pant so far is the best wader I've owned.


Moral to the story I might try something else and go right back to Simms.  However these new Orvis Sonic Waders have peaked my interest.  They are suppose to come out this month and they look like a very well built wader.  What I have noticed based on 14 years of experience with waders is that they are ten times more likely to spring a leak at the seams (somewhere around the booty in particular) than anywhere else.  Orvis is very proud of this new SonicSeam technology they are putting into their waders, and if they are easy enough to get in and out of then having 4 layers of nylon vs. 5 layers of Gore-Tex for the shell might be a welcome trade if the price is right.  Here is a link to the Orvis website that includes a short description and a well put together video of their new wader.  

Fish Porn and Other Photos 9-4-12

Kristen suffering from allergies and super tired but still has a smile with a
nice South Platte Cutthroat!

Peace

Up close shot of Kristens fish

A little papabear time on the water!

More riverside cuddle time

Enough of this papa it's time to fish!

Brownie

Cutt Camo

Bug shot by Kristen

Shooting for an untitled but sure to be epic movie ;)

Politics and Flyfishing - Casting My Vote

One More Cast

Democrats or republicans I care not.

Missing from the ballot is human compassion.  

Missing from the ballot is a sense of real purpose. 

I vote for one more cast!

 If a comet comes will you care about war?

Will you care about who's God is greater?

Or would you treasure every second left and head to a trout stream with your family?

I hear there are mountains with moving water in Afghanistan.

I vote for one more cast!

This isn't about who to cast your vote for.  

This is about what.

What's important?

Greed and anger?

Or getting the perfect drift?

I vote for one more cast!

Argue until you're blue in the face about same sex marriage.

Argue about money.

Rich man or poor man we are all dead men walking.

Why not share?

Share a secret fishing spot.

Share your wealth and your wisdom.

Take care of those less fortunate.

Because one day you'll be on your death bed, and all of the money 

and fancy things you voted and worked so hard for won't matter.

At that moment I bet you vote for one more cast!

Golden rules to still live by.

Are you the type of person who lets somebody over that's trying to turn onto a busy street?

You're losing friends you don't really know on some social network.

Treat people the way you expect to get treated and we all end up on the river.

When you get into fishing you're expected to display etiquette.

Respect each others space.

Wait your turn.

Share.

Come election time cast your vote.

Not for big business.

Not for greedy politicians.

Vote to live in the moments that give you chills and set your soul on fire.

Vote for one more cast!

Kleis's Fly Of The Week - Barr's Trico Vis-A-Dun

Click to enlarge

Barr's Trico Vis-A-Dun has been my go-to pattern anywhere there has been a Trico hatch since it came out.  Barr's pattern does a great job at imitating the dun stage of the Trico as it's name suggests, but will also catch fish all the way through the spinner fall.  I can't tell you how many days I've spent on the water fishing this hatch and never had to change flies.


Fish size 22 when you see Trico's starting to hatch around the end of July on the South Platte River, and on the Arkansas River below Pueblo Reservoir.  As it gets later in the year and the weather starts to get cooler down size to a size 24 Vis-A-Dun.  This is important for a couple of reasons.  First, if you fish in the same places I do then you know that there is a ton of fishing pressure and these educated fish start to snub larger offerings.  Second, the bugs actually start to get smaller in size as we get closer to October.  It's not unheard of for anglers to throw size 26 Trico imitations towards the end of the year.


One of the common mistakes I hear anglers make is that they assume because it is late September or even October that the bugs they are seeing are Blue Wing Olives.  Always remember guys and gals that Trico's hatch until we get that first real freeze in the high country.  If the freeze doesn't happen until two days before Halloween and you're fishing in the morning and seeing a cloud of insects overhead then the odds are pretty good you are witnessing a Trico hatch.  And because there are still midges and Blue Wings capable of hatching you could be smack dab in the middle of a multiple hatch.


The beauty of the Vis-A-Dun is that it can easily be mistaken for a midge.  A trick I learned from working with old timers in the shop that I truly believe has helped me fool more fish is to clip the tail to give your fly a smaller profile.  For instance, you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Trico hatch is done for the day but you still see fish coming up to midges.  Turn your Trico pattern into a midge by clipping the tail.

Photo of an epic Trico hatch in 11 Mile Canyon August 30, 2012

There is still plenty of time in the year to schedule a guided trip and have a chance to fish this insane hatch in beautiful 11 Mile Canyon on the South Platte River!  Just shoot me an email at jonkleisflyfishing@yahoo.com to check out my rates and availability!

The Inventor Of The Elk Hair Caddis Passed Away

I received a post on Facebook from a friend sharing the sad news that yet another great tyer has passed away.  I say great even though I didn't know much about Al Troth, but anybody that creates a pattern as timeless as the Elk Hair Caddis has to be considered one of the greats.  You guys know I have a soft spot for remembering and giving credit to tyers that have invented flies that have literally taken over the industry and this is one of those times.  For an extremely well written article on Al Troth follow this link to the Bozeman Daily.

Kleis's Fly Of The Week - BH FB PT

The Bead Head Flash Back Pheasant Tail nymph is a staple that just about anybody who has fished a nymph rig has in their box.  The original Pheasant Tail was created by Frank Sawyer and was tied only using wire as a thread and pheasant tail fibers.  Franks original has spawned many variations including the one I tied above since.

Hook: Orvis Big Eye

Bead: Spirit River Brass Nickel 

Thread: UTC FL. Fire Orange
Wing Case: Lateral Scale Crystal Flash

Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Abdomen: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Rib: Small Copper Wire

Thorax: Peacock Black Ice Dub

Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Head Cement Finish: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails

The Pheasant Tail is one of those generic patterns that could be mistaken by a trout for just about anything depending on the size PT you are fishing and the time of year.  The two hatches that I have seen on the South Platte and Arkansas River that this fly best imitates are the Pale Morning Dun nymph and the Yellow Sally Stonefly nymph.  I can't even fathom the amount of Pheasant Tails the fish in our river systems see which is why I think it's important to give them different looks.  Some people prefer Gold beads to Silver.   Some prefer to use a red collar as apposed to the hot orange as shown above.  Flash Back or no Flash Back, etc...  They all catch fish!  Here is a pretty cool Black and White video of Frank tying the original!  

Keeping Things Fresh And Local For 3 Years Now

Hey readers I wanted to thank you for showing your support.  My blog has surpassed 40,000 views!  I have a huge huge HUGE favor to ask you.  If you appreciate my site then take 5 minutes out of your life and follow this link and vote for me for "Best Local Blog" and help keep this project going!  At the bottom of the voting poll is where it is located.  When you find the field for best local blog just type in www.coloradoflyfisher.blogspot.com It requires that you vote for a few other things like favorite restaurant and business so this is also a great chance to potentially help out your favorite local spots.  I promise it's super quick and greatly appreciated! Also if you're into skiing, snowboarding, or skating and you like Blindside I know the owner Jon Easdon would appreciate those votes as well. Thanks and tight lines!

America's Mountain In Black And White

I recently saw a commercial during the Olympics where they called Pikes Peak America's Mountain.  It's ironic that all of us Springs residents wake up every morning in the shadow of one of the most beautiful mountains in the country, and think nothing of it because we all subconsciously associate our mountain with what a mountain should look like.  All of the recent events have put our state in the National spotlight, and i am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to taking the surrounding beauty for granted.

In fact even though I make what some people might call a "living" by taking part in nature as a flyfishing guide it took a fire in 11Mile Canyon and half of our mountain burning up for me to realize that what we have living in Colorado Springs is a complete and total blessing.  All this media coverage of the fire and shooting have shown the rest of the people in this country two things.  First is that Colorado residents are a resilient bunch, and second is that our state is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  If you need further daily proof of that then look up and follow "The Pikes Peak Guy" on Facebook.

He has dedicated his life to taking photos of "America's Mountain" from all angles 365 days a year.  In fact it is so refreshing to get on Facebook and see his photos every day that I was inspired to get off my fat butt and take some photos myself.  Obviously I'm not going to quit my day job but I think the photos came out alright.  It was sunrise around 8 a.m. and there was a cloud covering part of the mountain and Kissing Camels in shade.   I picked my favorite four of the group that showed the cloud moving away to reveal the rock formations.  Here they are...

What the morning started out like

Cloud moving away

Still moving away.  This is my favorite of the four.

Tada!

Check Out These Photos!

We recently had an amazing family fishing trip to the Taylor River Tailwater and got some great photos of the trip.  We didn't get to fish as much as we wanted do to road construction and traffic but the time we spent on our little vaca was a nice reprieve from the daily grind.  Check out the photos!

Kristen holding her Taylor fish!

Up close and personal with my cutthroat

Another macro of the cutt

This park in Gunnison across from our hotel
had this amazing wood carving! Photo by
Kristen

Taylor reversoir seen through the eyes of Kristen

Wildflowers by Kristen

Photo I took of the hummingbird "hatch"