Monday, January 21, 2013

"Snow Flies", (Not in Mountains), But Small Midges Fly On Pueblo's Arkansas River Tail-water



When there is snow, I go. I go ski the mountains.  But when it is this dry and warm and there has not been any new snow in  Summit County for over a week, I start getting the itch to fish. Why ski icy runs when I can fly fish beautiful runs holding 15-20 inch  rainbows ?  In recent years winter fishing in Pueblo has been quite amazing and so when my friend Kenny Romero asked me to go fish midges with him today it was a no-brainer.  “Sure, let’s go”!  

Kenny has been fishing some new spots as well as the usual runs with good success. Last week he landed a 24 inch rainbow on a black beauty. Ironically, the colder weather last week produced better fishing.. Today was warm, warm enough that we got overheated  fishing and had to take off extra clothing. Strange to fly fish in the winter in Pueblo, Co.

We would not describe the fishing today as spectacular but it was good. It seems that every run we fished produced a least a fish or two. Some spots, several. We stayed on the move. The river was actually crowded but that was to be expected on a holiday.

Best flies were a size 20 red midge trailed behind a size 16 olive bead-head pheasant tail. Size 22 gray RS2’s  and beatis nymphs also produced.  

Whether we ski or not we need snow in the mountains to feed our river and reservoirs. So I am hoping the “snow flies” in the mountains and the midges continue to fly on the Arkansas River. Both are a good thing.

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