A Visit to Rio Grande Country

Last weekend, we headed up to Creede, Colorado, on the shores of the Rio Grande. The reason for our trip was to visit friends and to see a few plays at the Creede Repertory Theatre, but my thoughts were of course "there's got to be some good fishing in that corner of Colorado". Sure enough, the best wife ever has planned for me to go out for a day with a friend of her's.

Since I picked up Tenkara, I started focusing more on native species, such as Greenback Cutthroat native to the South Platte and Arkansas drainage and which is now found only in some high country lakes and creeks, namely in Rocky Mountain National Park. While in Creede, I thought I should give it a shot at getting into some Rio Grande Cutthroats, one of the other four cutthroat subspecies native to Colorado (the other two, next to Greenback Cutthroats are Colorado River Cutthroat and the now extinct Yellowfin Cutthroat).

I did a lot of research to find some of the creeks where there are still some populations of Rio Grande Cutthorat and found some that are fairly close to Creede, but unfortunately the trip was too short to allow for me to do a full day hike into the back country that would have been required. But I do know where they are and I should pay them a visit on my next trip to Creede, probably next year.

That being said, I obviously did not catch any Rio Grande Cutthroats, but I got the opportunity to fish with a friend of my wife who grew up in Creede and knows the area very well. She originally planned to take me to a creek maybe 20 miles outside of Creede, but the day before our outing, my wife and I explored the area around Creede and we drove be a creek that I started salivating over while driving by it. Alas, as for much of the water in the region and the Rio Grande itself, it was on private property. As much as I have an issue with rivers and creeks are not available to the public, I myself would probably not want just anybody wander on my property and fish a river that would run through it. It starts with liability issues to trash and going as far as plainly "this is my land".


The creek as it presented itself from the road

Anyway, I mentioned this creek to our friend that was about to take me out the next day and she simply said "I don't think that my dad would have a problem us fishing there if you want". What? Really? I am that lucky that my friend's dad owns the ranch where that particular stretch of creek is running through? Turns out I was. You should have seen my big grin and excitement.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast in Creede, we hit the road and got to said creek mid-morning. I immediately regretted to bring the ITO and the 12ft Iwana, realizing that those rods are too much for this overgrown little creek. My fishing partner, Adrian, fished with the Fountainhead Caddis 330 which is my loaner rod and which happened to be the best suited rod of the three I brought. I actually wished I would have had the Tenkara Fishing 300 rod which would have been the perfect rod for this creek. Unfortunately, I left this rod behind with TenkaraBum for his review and testing when I was in NYC the weekend before.

I gave Adrian the quick and dirty introduction to Tenkara (is there actually any other way?) and 5 minutes later she was into her first trout. To quote her "... this is so easy!" and yes, we do have another Tenkara convert! We were fishing for maybe 90 minutes, taking turns on the creeks pools, both of us hooking with trout in almost every spot that looked like it could hold a fish.


Adrian - my host and newst Tenkara convert!

Then Adrian had to leave to get some work done, leaving me with this creek full of trout just for myself. I immediately switched from my 12ft Iwana to the Caddis 330. The Caddis 330 was rigged with the Tenkara USA 10.5ft furled line and I just couldn't get comfortable with how it cast, so I switched to a level line which performed much more to my liking on this 5:5 action rod. It appears that my dislike for level lines only applies to the stiffer 6:4 rods like the 12ft Iwana or Amago, but on the softer rods like the Caddis 330 or Tenkara Fishing 300 I definitively prefer the level lines.

Anyhow, the day brought some of the best fishing I have ever encountered - fish number wise -; I hooked and landed well over 50 trout with a guess that the final number was somewhere close to 100. I was literally hooking fish on every other or third cast. I would never have thought that I would say this, but at some point it got really annoying if one of the small brookies instead one of the resident brown trout would hit the fly. This was the 3rd outing with my new Ti Net of TrailLite Designs and I have to say that I continue to be very impressed by the quality and extreme lightness of the net. I took several rough tumbles (yes, I am clumsy) and there is not a scratch on it.

Speaking of brown trout, from the pictures it looks like a good fish in this creek would be 10" and the brown trout were around that size, but there was one spot, oh boy, where the creek was tumbling down into a small pool and hitting a big rock, where a huge brown trout, that I would guess to have been at least 18", took my CDC & Elk on the downstream presentation. I had this fish on for exactly 2 seconds but those were the best 2 seconds of the entire day. I was shaking after it got off.

right there is hiding a big brown trout...

I fished my way upstream until I hit some beaver ponds with smallish but eager brookies that would hit anything that looks remotely like a fly. By that time it was already late afternoon and I decided to pack-up and head back to Creede to meet-up with my wife and daughter.

At the end of the day, I felt very satisfied how things went and I will make sure to talk myself into revisiting this little creek maybe sometime next year.

Tight Lines, -K

PS: Those were my favorite fish... the markings couldn't get any more different!

Couldn't buy...

... a bite today. Skunked. Nada. No love. Yes, this happens. When it does, it makes you appreciative of the days when fish are cooperative, rising and taking your flies eagerly. I don't want to start blaming this or that or over-analyzing it, at the end of the day it doesn't matter. I couldn't figure out how to adapt and the wind made things worse. So I decided to call it a half-day and drive home and take my daughter to the movies.

Today I focused on fishing with my Amago and the no.4 level hi-vis fluoro line from Tenkarabum. The level line made it easier to cast in the wind (until the wind became too much and blowing directly downriver). I am still trying to figure out how to properly fish without an indicator and I agree that the hi-vis line makes it much easier to follow the drift and probably to detect strikes (did I mention I had NO strikes yet?). The line was a bit kinked from being stored, but stretching it out while extending the rod took care of that. I remembered somewhere reading to keep a bit of kink in the last foot or so that would enable to detect strikes easier when the line became tight. I agree, I was very much able to detect immediately when I hung up on the bottom. I am sure it also works when a fish actually takes your fly, but, well, maybe I can confirm that next time when I actually get one to bite.

This was also the first time I took out my new waist pack (yes, some would call it a fanny pack) and I am so for very happy with it. Small and compact, it holds what I need, plus two granola bars should I become hungry. It also functions as a wading belt and my net and a bottle holder can be easily attached. It became a bit wet due to my lack of wading abilities (I slipped and was barely able to recover) and my inability to gauge water depth...

My rig consisted of a size 16 RS2 Sakasa Kebari, the one I tied for the swap mentioned in the previous blog entry, my go-to fly, a size 20 lazy RS2 mercury as a dropper as well as a 3rd dropper a size 20 Wire Bloodworm which I later changed for a size 20 souped-up Top Secret Midge.

RS2 Sakasa Kebari

Lazy RS2 mercury

Wire Bloodmidge

Top Secret Midge

No fish pix today, but some shots of the river:

River Notes:

South Platte River, somewhere below Deckers

Flow: 190cfs-ish

Water Temp: 38F (so I have been told. and which would explain to a certain extent lack of bites)

Air Temp: 23F @ 10am, 56F @1.30pm

Weather: Sunny, windy/breezy

Amago in Cheesman

Yesterday, I headed out for a full day's fishing the Cheesman Canyon of the South Platte. This section is rated a Gold Medal water by the CDOW and artificial lures and catch and release only is allowed.

I picked Cheesman Canyon because I finally wanted to give my Amago a shot at some bigger fish than those I have caught during the season with my Iwana 12ft. Because of the above mentioned regulations and the constant supply of food, particularly midges, the trout grow big and fat and are used to see a lot of anglers all year long. I believe an average fish in the Canyon is somewhere in the 18" range.

Cheesman Canyon's fishing is outstanding but very "technical". Most of the time, you will be limited to fishing nymphs and midges, small sizes of 18 or 20 and smaller. There are of course days when you can trick them into taking dries and bigger patterns, but those days seem to me to be far and between.

Yesterday was another of those Colorado blue sky days, not a cloud and high 60ies - not bad for mid October. I met my new friend and Tenkara fellow Jason Klass of BackpackFlyfishing.com just before 8am at the trailhead of the Gill Trail which is the only way to access the Canyon. When I got out of the car, I was greeted by chilly 26F which made the change into my waders not really a pleasure.

We hiked in a bit, past Cow's Crossing, had a little snack, waited for the sun to crest the canyon ridge and setup our Amagos. I rigged my Amago first with a no. 3 level fc line from Tenkarabum, a size 18 copper john and a size 20 mercury RS2 (my lazy version of it) as the point fly. When I nymph, I always fish two flies; an attractor and a smaller imitative fly. Later that day I switched to a furled line yellow hi-vis 13ft line of StreamsideLeaders.

My lazy version of the mercury RS2:

Fishing was initially somewhat slow and it took a while for the sun to do it's work. I got a few hits but wasn't able able to set the hook properly or lost them right away. Finally, after a while, I landed the day's first Cheesman Canyon brown trout. Smaller than average, but hey, a trout landed is a trout landed.

I fished all day with the same two flies, loosing one RS2 only to rainbow that I would guess to be 16-17" that I hooked in pocket water adjacent to a nice ripping current. I was initially able to keep her away from the fast current but there is only so much you can do with an Amago. Once she hit the current, it took only seconds for her to head downstream and around one of the huge boulders that are typical for the Canyon. She's got now a nice little lip piercing.

The highlight of the day though, at least for me, was a pocket of water that really did not look like much and I almost passed up. Only because Jason was fishing just a bit ahead of me and I didn't want to pass him, I decided to fish the pocket.

I cast into the head of the pocket and was surprised when I saw my indicator (yes, I do use an indicator even with Tenkara...) DART away. I was hooked into a very nice fish, in the 15-16" range but alas, the hook dislodged and all I could say was "see you later...".  I recast into the same pocket and hooked another fish which I never saw, but by the feel of it, definitively smaller than the first one. Being the optimist - or opportunist - I cast again into the same pocket, let it drift and hooked the third fish out of the same pocket. This one was right on the seem where the slow/still pocket water met the faster current. I was very surprised by the weight I felt and when I saw the fish's flash I knew I was in trouble. The biggest fish so far fishing Tenkara... She didn't go crazy or went for a run, but kept changing positions from the slow water to the faster water, staying deep. She then let herself drift downstream with the current, still not running. In the shallower water I finally realized what I had on.... a beautifully colored rainbow trout, her purple flank flashed brilliantly in the sun light. She was, in my eyes, well over 20", my "educated" guess would be in the 21-23" range (I caught on regular fly fishing gear a few in the 21" range, measured, and this one seemed to be bigger than those) . I called out to Jason that I might need some help netting her. His comments was, quite dry: "She will not fit your net...". She still did not go crazy nor did she go for a strong run, so when we moved her (and Jason) into position to net her, she gave a shake with her head and the fly came off... I was so excited having caught her and coming so close to netting her, that I initially wasn't even bummed that she got off. Only later I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't get a mug shot of her and me.

I was very pleased and happy how I was able play her with the Amago, but I think that she also did not really give her full 100%, maybe just 50% or so. Those big trout in the Canyon have been hooked more than once during the years it took to grow so large and I just can't shake off the feeling that she knew that she'll be let go, once more.

I continued fishing, picking up a fish here and there but by no means was the fishing hot in terms of numbers. Each fish was hard earned by placing good dead drifts, line management and depth control. Your usual fare fishing what people call "technical".

Towards the end of the day, I helped Jason to shoot a quick video for a product that he was testing and shortly thereafter we started to hike out. I gave that "special" hole another shot, this time with no success. I hooked another small fish on my way out, then changed to a dry (Snowshoe & Elk Caddis) since I saw several size 16 grey caddis flutter around. No risers, no hookups (I couldn't even see a fish), but I decided to blame it on the wind that made it difficult to cast and place the dry appropriately, lol.

Happy and exhausted I completed the hike out of the Canyon, drove back to home & family and a few cool ones.

I am extremely happy with the Amago, knowing what size of fish she can handle, with the day, the fishing and the company I had. This was a GREAT day of fishing.

Tight Lines, K


First trout of the day:

Jason at work:

Cheesman in October:

Snowshoe & Elk Caddis

Amago - on the water

Last Sunday I was able to take my new Amago from TenkaraUSA for a first spin. I chose the South Platte River downstream of Deckers, around the junction of Pine Creek - a stretch I am most familiar with.

It was another beatiful day in Colorado with blue skies and temps in the 50ies in the morning warming up to mid 80ies in the afternoon and it was fairly windy with some gusts.

Most of what I thought of the Amago casting in my back yard (see previous post) turned out also to be true on the water. I was surprised how much heavier the rod feels compared to my Iwana 12ft. Much of this I am sure is the added lenght, but also the butt sections seems to be a bit wider. The difference in weight is less than one ounce but at the end of the day you might think it's more. My arm was significatly more tired compared to a full day's fishing with the Iwana 12ft, but this is also attributable to the added wind resistance of the longer rod while casting into the wind for most of the day. Also, I fished only with one line, a 13ft tapered furled line. Another line choice would have made a difference and should be tested soon (I hope).

I do like the added reach and ability to fight bigger fish with more confidence than the Iwana, the fish I caught during the day were all in the 13-14 inch range and the Amage was more than able to deal with those spunky trout.

I also tried to be true to Tenkara and fished with an Ishigaki Kebari - Adams

but after noticing huge moth like bugs (October Caddis?) the size of my thumb fluttering around, I switched to a CDC & Elk that proved to be the right choice.

My favorite is still the Iwana, but the go to rod for the big guns in the river is definitively the Amago. I am looking forward to fish it some more, with different line setups and see how it goes.

Amago

I was able to get my hands on an Amago which is at 13'6" the longest Tenkara rod offered by TenkaraUSA. My wife is telling me it's part of my anniversary present - the other part was my solo trip to RMNP, see previous post Heaven. Love my wife!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get out on the water since my trip to RMNP, family and work schedules are crazy and I will be heading for a business trip to NYC for the entire next week.

Anyway, my first impression is that it is compared to the Iwana 12ft noticeably heavier which it is, but not by much: 2.7oz (76.5grams) vs 3.5oz (100grams). I like the slightly longer cork grip that allows to adjust how and where you can hold the rod depending on the situation on the water. It casts nicely on the lawn with a furled lined, but the real test will show Amago's true identity on the water. The cork grip seems to be of good quality with few fillings, bug given the experience I had with the Iwana (some of the cork filling dissolved or became loose) I decided to seal the the cork with cork sealer that I had left from my previous fly rod building projects. The cork sealer is easy to apply with a brush and the cork is afterwards slightly darker, a more dark honey color which I personally like better than the original look of the cork. 

The reason why I added the Amago to my arsenal is that I felt I needed a longer rod for the South Platte which is considerable bigger than the small creeks of RMNP where the Iwana is perfect. Also the trout in the South Platte are somewhat bigger and beefier, depending on the section a 18" fish is average with much bigger fish present.


I might be sneaking out tomorrow for a bit of fishing and will then post my first practical impressions of the Amago.

Stay tuned & Tight Lines, -K

Oh yes, someone else was excited too!