LOJ’s Red Quill

This pattern will work for Red Quill and Mahogany hatches.



For the pattern recipe and the tying instructions click on
http://lojsflytyingbugstuff.blogspot.com/
or “LoJ’s Fly Tying & Bug Stuff” in the LINKS OF INTEREST Section.
~ LoJ

Dream Stream -- Aint Got nothing

Midwest Represent! Although these guys are number hunters and kind of dorks about the whole thing, they do land some large fish out of small water. Just get out and fish, dont try and make yourself a fly fishing hero, but damn those some hogs.

Save South Boulder Creek

Do you want to see winter flows in South Boulder Creek? Want to eliminate the fall fish kills when flows go to zero at the end of the irrigation season? Then you need to participate in the public hearings Denver Water has scheduled for public comment regarding the enlargement of Gross Reservoir. Normally, we would not be supporting the creation or enlargement of dam works but this project is an exception. Denver’s enlargement of Gross Reservoir is for storage of existing Denver water rights. As mitigation of the flooding of public lands, Denver has agreed to provide a 5,000 acre ft. environmental which will be used to create minimum winter flows on South Boulder Creek. The cities of Boulder and Lafayette are drafting an operational agreement which will provide 7cfs from Gross to South Boulder Rd. through the winter months. The agreement will also provide a minimum of 3fcs all the way to the Middle Boulder Creek confluence. This section of the creek has been dewatered for over fifty years. Detailed below is the Denver Water press release. Please come out and show your support and create a lasting legacy of instream flows for South Boulder Creek.

Please plan to attend the meeting in person Tuesday evening or send comments to the blog we can print and present at the meeting.

Larry Quilling

BFC President

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving from the staff over at FRA. Remember always get the biggest bird that you can and invite all your closest friends over to enjoy it!

Also keep in mind that FRA is doing a Black Friday shopping special!
We are offering $30 off a purchase of $200 or more. This is the perfect time to stock up on holiday gifts. Shop online here and enter the code BLACKOUT upon checkout or head into the shop for more savings. This is a one day sale that ends at 12pm on the 27th of November.



Have a great day and enjoy good eats and lots of drinks!

All Around The Blue River

This past weekend I had a chance to spend some time in Breckenridge with some friends. We would snowboard in the morning for about an hour and a half and then get on a piece of water by 11:00 (post bloody mary bar). I fished quite a few places with my time in the Breckenridge area and I was surprised by the action and the quality of the fish. 

The first place I had a chance to fish was the Upper Blue River right as you enter Breckenridge. I did not see a soul and the weather was in the upper 40's. I managed six nice browns in the 8"-12" range. There were also a bunch of Kokanee in the river; which I was surprised to see. The river consists of plunge pool after plunge pool and long runs in between. I was nymphing for almost the entire time and was mostly catching fish on a size 20 blood midge. 

Nice Brown Trout From the Upper Blue River

Little Kokanee all over the Upper Blue

The second chance I had to fish was on the Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir. I was given the opportunity this past Sunday to hit this infamous tail water with my good friend Chad. We went right below the Green Mountain Dam and hiked down a real steep grade to get into the canyon. We fished mostly with nymphs once again. The hares ears and black beauties were really on fire. We managed quite a few nice fish from various deep holes, and we were only there for a couple hours. 

We did fish the Blue River in between Silverthorne and Green Mountain Reservoir and the fishing was a little tough. We did manage a couple fish though, and my friend Chad missed a bright red "monster" of a rainbow at the net. 

Average Rainbow from below Green Mountain

One of Chad's Browns from below the Dam

The Blue River was fishing very well this past weekend. If you get a chance, bundle yourself up and get into some healthy fish on the Blue River. 

Rise the Movie is HERE!

Rise the movie has landed at FRA as of today. This has been the most anticipated fly fishing movie of the year, with some of the best cinematography that we have seen in any fishing movie yet. Get your copy today online or in the shop!
Enjoy!!!

Carp on the Fly

In an effort to make mondays a little easier here is a new short from Colorado based RA Beattie fishing a section of the South Platte. Enjoy the two for one video this Monday.

Downtown Carp from RA Beattie on Vimeo.

Heads or Tails

Heads or Tails {Trailer} from Mad Phil Media on Vimeo.

A sweet permit video to help scratch the itch that starts to happen this time of year. Permit on the cheap with no boat and a lot of lungs.

A Dream Remembered

When you wake from a dream that was so amazing that all you want to do is fall back asleep and continue to dream where reality seems to be too good to be true. This is how I felt after my last dose of the South Platte, I wanted to fall back into the water and continue to fish. So once again my sleep cycles were put aside in order to make it to the river before the sun was up. The only light shining upon the landscape was our headlamps beams that overpowered the full moon that hung over the glowing horizon. The morning was cold, ice dusted the planes and our breath froze the minute it hit the air. It felt good to fill the lungs with the crisp air, works better than a hot cup of coffee...I think? Andy, his twin brother Nate, and I walked quickly towards our hole in hopes of that dreamy fish.


As we rigged our rods the sun began to crest over the white mountains and the river began to steam in the long golden light. Within the first three casts boom, a nice brown. This first brown was followed by fish after fish after fish. The landing area became crowded with all of us hooking up. Just as quickly as the bit turned on it turned off, we warmed our wet cold hands, and broke ice from off our our rode guides.


The action continued to slow in the afternoon and then the bite was back, a hatch of beatis were erratically coming off and the fish were back. Another few nice ones and it was time to head out. Those few nice fish included two twenty three inchers and Andy managed to land a nice twenty-six inch female. Dreams do in fact come true. Until the season begins to change out of winter I will continue to stir in my sleep wanting more.

Flip Pallot - Unlock your casting potential

Flip Pallot - Fly Casting Lessons from Slater Productions on Vimeo.

The Contrast of Colors

The white flakes float and fall on the creek. You can feel your fingers crack and tighten as you tie a fly to your line. The ice is creeping in on your favorite hole, and you know the same will soon happen to your guides. You remember your indicator but your fingers don't feel the same anymore. You're finally set up, but you don't cast.

You stop and take a look at the beauty and splendor of this ice-capped creek as it tip toes through the snow. You take a deep breath of the cold mountain air and roll a cast into a familiar spot. You mend, even though your fingers resemble the icicles forming on the tree branch next to you.

Then it happens. Your indicator goes down and your rod is given life. You slowly bring a colorful Brown Trout to your hand as you forget about the cold. The contrast of the colors make it all worth the trip up the canyon. To see the browns, yellows, and reds against the radiant white background makes you feel the ever so familiar tingle. You gently remove the hook and watch her slowly slip away. Something inside of you snaps and you begin to smile.

Boulder Creek is fishing well. So, battle the elements and get out there!

Drymerger Baetis

Learn how to tie Brian Schmidt's Drymerger in the December issue of the Front Range Anglers News Magazine.

Fish Porn Contest

Win a custom Bragging Rights illustration from artist Mike Savlen ready for framing (1st. place), a TFO TiCr fly rod of your choice (2nd. place), and any RIO fly line you might like (3rd. place).

Mike creates these new original paintings with digital brushes that are custom replicas of brushes he uses in his studio. These new paintings are created using his unique style and the techniques that have taken him forty years to perfect...click here for additional information.

There are no restrictions other than the photo must include a fish (any species). The image file(s) (you may submit more than one) must be in a JPG or TIFF format and of good quality. The FRA staff will vote on the submissions and the winners will be announced in the April News Magazine. Entries must be received on or before March 15, 2010. Click here to attach your photo to an email.

One Of The Best Adult Midge Patterns Around!

An Oldie but Goody!

For the pattern recipe and the tying instructions go to
http://lojsflytyingbugstuff.blogspot.com/
Or click on “LoJ’s Fly Tying & Bug Stuff” in the LINKS OF INTEREST Section. ~ LoJ

Dream Stream Weekend

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to spend time with old friends doing something we all love; fly fishing. We headed up to my friend's cabin at about 6:30 on Friday night and spent the evening tying flies, drinking whiskey, and talking about our plan of attack for Saturday morning. We had heard that the first few hours of sunlight were the best, so we planned on being the first people on the river.

We awoke the next morning, still hazy from the night before, and immediately made our way to the river. When we arrived, there were six cars in the first parking lot, so we decided to stop at the second lot. There were only two cars in the second lot, so we decided to stay.

We approached the river with great anticipation and made our way to our first hole. When we walked up, I noticed a nice Brown Trout hugging the bank and feeding on something under the water. I "sight fished" him for about an hour before he took a size 16 orange egg pattern. After a long fight, he was int he net. Almost immediately after that, my friend was in a battle with a nice Rainbow. We thought this was going to be one of our best days of fishing in a while. After the sun came up more, and 10:00 rolled around, our luck began to run out. The river was loaded with people, it became less intimate, and the fish retreated into the depths. The rest of Saturday was spent drinking beer on the river and watching pods of beautiful Kokanee (which were all over the river).

The next day, we woke up early (once again) and headed to the river for "round two". This time the first parking lot was empty. We saw this as a great opportunity and immediately headed to the most popular holes right next to the road. We watched as Kokanee pushed up the river and managed a couple dead drifting egg patterns. After the sun came up all the way, and 10:00 rolled around, our luck began to run out for a second time. The river became crowded and the fish got smart.

Just before we left, I had remembered Rob (from Front Range Anglers) had suggested dead drifting and stripping an egg sucking leech. He said this would attract some huge hits from some real hogs. My friends wanted to head back to Boulder, but I was still determined to land a monster (Since I knew they were in there). I tied on the egg sucking leech as my friends pulled the car up. I began dead drifting the leech under the road/bridge. After a few casts, I saw a large body come out from some rocks and take a look a t my fly. It only took one more cast before I saw his white mouth open and felt my rod almost fly out of my hand. I had hooked into the biggest Brown Trout of my life. I proceeded to fight him for about five minutes under the road, and then another five minutes after I pulled him from under the road. We eventually landed him; the fist pumps and screams began almost immediately.

All in all, the Dream Stream was challenging this weekend due to low flows, huge crowds, and smart fish. We managed a few nice fish on eggs and streamers, but the fishing was only good in the first few hours of daylight. We did see some really big fish though.

I never thought I would be smart enough or good enought to land a huge fish but "practice makes perfect", "persistence pays off", and "you cannot beat good advice".

Thanks again to Front Range Anglers for your great advice and wonderful reports. You have given me all the tools to catch the biggest Brown of my life.

No Expectations

Expectations, sometimes they lead to the biggest disappointments that one can imagine, at least that's how it works for me. This last week was hectic and my salvation lie in the river system of the South Platte, Cheeseman Canyon in particular. Cheeseman, a river that I have certain expectations for, due largely to the wonderful history that she and I have built together. In my mind, during quiet moments, I relive what I have done on the river; friends that I have shared days with, fish that fight as if they had never been caught before, and the never ending days of summer that act as the backdrop to all these memories.

Upon my arrival to the river I realize that this is not my same lover that I have memories of, she has unexpectedly changed. The river is low, running at 190 cfs, this exposes its many features that are normally kept hidden from strangers, it is like looking into the hollow bones of a rotten corpse.

This might not be bad I think to myself, it will consolidate the fish. This might have been true if I had found a fish, it might have had a friend or two with it. Instead my day was spent walking the wide shoulders of her banks frantically looking, searching for what I had known the river to be.

It did not seem to matter what the fly pattern or how it was presented, how great the riffle, the run, or the hole. The water had dropped and with that my hopes of returning to the river that I knew so well washed away, leaving me behind on the sandy banks.

The day might have been a failure as far as fishing is concerned, but the company of good friends, sunshine, and a stunning landscape offsets what ever negativity that I may have associated with the fishing. We left the river bewildered, confused, and our tails dragged between our legs as we journyed out of the canyon. This did not mean that the day was lost or a failure, it was a day that humbled all of us. Life is a gift and when we learn we grow, that is the lesson for me this week. Take away the best parts of your day and leave behind what you can not change, leave behind your expectations.

No Passport Required

Here is another finalist from the Drake Film Contest, but more importantly another reason to get out and explore the rivers and lakes that we have here in Colorado. We get fish reports with browns and rainbows like these all the time.
Moral of the story get out and fish!
~Russ

No Passport Required from Jason Jaacks on Vimeo.

A Baetis or General Purpose Winter Pattern

An excellent attractor dredger pattern.
I fish this as the bottom fly on any type of setup.

For the pattern recipe and the tying instructions go to
http://lojsflytyingbugstuff.blogspot.com/
Or click on “LoJ’s Fly Tying & Bug Stuff” in the LINKS OF INTEREST Section. ~ LoJ

Catch Magazine Issue #8

If you have never seen this publication its one of the best out there and its free to subscribe. Check it out! Here.