My Carter Lake slice of Heaven
Other lakes (that will remain a mystery...) have been producing very sizable largemouth and smallmouth. Most every lake of any size on the front range has a population of bass in it. Part of the fun is exploring these lakes with your 6 wt fly rod. Whether it's the open space pond that you pass on your way home from work that you keep telling yourself you need to fish, or the popular, productive lake with the hogs in it that you just haven't found the time to hit this year, throw your rod in the car and take a few minutes to pull a Belly Ache Minnow through the timber or pop a rubber-legged foam bug between the cat tails. You may feel the subtle tug of a 13" Kentucky, or see the surface explosion of a 6 pounder.
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Just check out this Bow that came out of the creek the other day. Note the heavy tea color in the water. That did not stop this beautiful fish from chowing down. We watched him feeding for a few minutes and it only took a few good drifts until this guy came to hand. The heavy current must have pushed him out of his dark lair.
A true front range trophy. 
This class, in partnership with Thorne Ecological Institute, is perfect for the student who has little or no experience in fly fishing. We will explore the Boulder Creek & St. Vrain Watersheds and tackle the lakes, reservoirs, and streams of Boulder. Patience is required as students learn first how to assemble, use, and care for fly fishing gear and then learn the fundamentals of fly fishing: casting, knot tying, and how to read the river. We’ll learn that becoming a fisherman or fisherwoman is about more than just casting as we study insects along many waterways to see how they grow and become food for fish, learn about Colorado's native and diverse fish populations, understand the interconnectedness of a river ecosystem, and acknowledge the responsibility of anglers. Finally, we will put our "fish knowledge" to the test by practicing our fly fishing techniques to catch fish!
NOTE: This class meets at different locations around Boulder County to provide the best place for the class’s specific subject matter.
Parents will be e-mailed 1-2 weeks prior to class with directions to the specific locations and a gear list.
Tuition includes cost of flies and rental gear.
This class, in partnership with Thorne Ecological Institute, is perfect for the student who has taken Thorne’s Fly Fishing I Class or who has a good amount of experience as an angler. This class spends less time on the basics of gear and casting, and more time on the water exploring our favorite fly fishing spots along Boulder Creek and St. Vrain Watersheds! Building on what we learned in Fly Fishing I, we will be challenged with more advanced skills, like new knots, different casting techniques, and selecting the proper flies. Students learn about the ecology of fly fishing, such as understanding hatches, the life cycles of insects and the fish we catch, and our ethical approaches to interacting with the natural world. This class aims to give students a deeper appreciation of the sport of fly fishing and an opportunity to catch more fish. NOTE: This class meets at different locations around Boulder County to provide the best place for the class’s specific subject matter. Parents will be e-mailed 1-2 weeks prior to class with directions to the specific locations and a gear list. Tuition includes class flies, but students should bring their own rod, reel, line, and a few flies (discount available at Front Range Anglers).
This class, in partnership with Thorne Ecological Institute, is perfect for the student who has taken Thorne’s Fly Fishing I Class or who has a good amount of experience as an angler. Students should feel confident in their basic casting abilities and have a desire to explore new fishing holes around Boulder County. This course builds upon basic and intermediate skills with an emphasis on maximizing our time on the river. We will introduce new knot-tying and casting skills, and increase our knowledge of stream ecology and insect life cycles. The week will culminate with Thursday’s overnight camping excursion in the Rocky Mountains, where students will have the opportunity to put their new found skills to use on a river and bond over their shared outdoor adventure.
NOTE: This class meets at different locations around Boulder County to provide the best place for the class’s specific subject matter. Parents will be e-mailed 1-2 weeks prior to class with directions to the specific locations and a gear list. Tuition includes class flies, but students should bring their own rod, reel, line, and a few flies (discount available at Front Range Anglers), and their own camping gear for the overnight. Tuition also includes transportation to and from the overnight (Th-F) in a 12-passenger van.
I don't get any money from Charlie Craven to pimp his flies or anything--and frankly I'm not one to promote the "hot fly of the day", but this little dude is as productive a fly as I've seen.
I personally do not like using weight if I don't have to--to me it's too clumsy. So the ability to fish a smaller profile fly which is heavily weighted (two beads, brass or tungsten) greatly increases my strike ratio while allowing me to enjoy fishing it more. Typically, that's how I tie my own patterns: well weighted. So this little fly is right up my alley. Great fished as a single while high-sticking, works well with a dry-dropper, and compliments a double nymph rig.
Actually, I'm getting sick of suggesting this fly to every customer that walks through the door. But if it's working, it's working. And it is. Boulder Creek, Big T, Blue, Frying Pan, South Boulder, South Platte, and Poudre just to name a few, have coughed up fish this year falling victim to the Two Bit Hooker.
Boulder Creek brownie
Blue River rainbow
Pick up a few for your fly box. Oh, and.....nice job, Charlie.
.mt
