Stagecoach Money Holes

I started fly-fishing in Arkansas.  I learned to cast a fly rod in Arkansas Rivers, catching Arkansas trout, in Arkansas humidity, with a dip in my lip… because I’m from Arkansas.  Rivers are deep and wide, and the “perfect drift” might last as long as 30 seconds with the pace of the shoals.  There aren’t shoals so much as there are ripples.  Top water happens all spring, summer and fall, and you can rip brown-trout-lip all day pulling an olive wooly bugger (I say booger, because I’m from Arkansas).  It’s a blast and an incredible experience.  Moving to Colorado, however – I became a beginner again.  Rare is the deep, slow run, and scarce is that “perfect drift”.

 

Fishing Colorado water takes precision, accuracy and flawless presentation.  These fish have seen their share of flies, and a good drift might only be a 3 second run.  For a while, I would always continue the venture upstream to avoid those whitewater flows.  And, generally, that’s the best call.  No [healthy] fish will use its energy to resist tumultuous whitewater crests.  On the other hand, fish food is primarily in main currents where the water is moving, and moving quicker.  Often times, fish will be stacked up in the slack water, where the current swirls and is pushing back (upstream) towards the rocks creating the shoal.  Food from the current floats just on the seam of the fast and the slack water, and the fish will dart in and back out again, just quick enough to nab a midge. 

 

This was especially the case on the tailwater of Stagecoach Reservoir just south of Steamboat Springs, CO.  Of all times you would expect a river to be void of anglers -that time would be 10:30am on a Tuesday.  You would assume incorrectly.  After all, people don’t live in Colorado to work.  I didn’t have time to explore, and the only available spot to cast was just under the floodgates of the dam.  Naturally, this water was truly tumultuous… like, step in and get swept away.  There happened to be one small area, carved out of the bank, where the water from the roaring current pushed out and remained significantly calmer.  I got a hunch, tied a size 14 Red San Juan Worm with size 18 Black JuJu Baetis dropper – very weighted - and gave it a toss.  It was difficult to keep the flies in a natural drift without my line being swept in the roar.  But, using the high-sticking technique, I hooked up on the second cast.  Unfortunately, the current was so swift, the fish swept away and broke my line in an instant.

 

With a stronger leader, I landed a few throughout the morning.

Next time you think about jumping that rushing shoal, look for a small area of slack.  If the water is clear, watch for a few minutes – you might just see some daredevil fish riding the seams.  

 

If so... toss that fly.