Finding One of the Elusive Ones: Big Fish on Dream Stream Laying Low Under Wind Stirred Waters.

They are elusive, hiding in the undercuts, laying low under the edges of ice, and laying low in the main runs.  When the wind stirs the surface it offers these fish a sense of protection and then they can be more willing to hold their place and take a well drifted fly. 

Connecting to Nice Fish on Dream: Monsters Still Elusive

David and I caught some beautiful fish on the Dream Stream today but the "true monsters" we were looking for eluded us. Best flies were San Juan Worm, black midge, red midge, and gray RS2. After a morning of hooking these wonderful creatures we concluded that "connecting" to something "bigger" than ourselves is a significant part of what makes fly fishing so unique and meaningful. 

When to Strike on The Dream Stream?

This is a tough call. How do you know the best time or day to strike out and try to find a monster fish on the Dream. Most folks are reporting that the main surge of big fish have not started their run up out of the lake. But that can change so quickly. A change in weather, cloud cover, snow!!!! You turn around, and there they are.... the dark forms laying low on the bottom of the runs where just a few days ago there were none. A slight increase in flow could  also do wonders but not sure we will get it.

The other problem is if one goes too late, the crowds come out like an army and scare the fish away. You want to try to have "first shot" at a big fish. So there is timing in this game of prospecting for silver. I might strike out later this week and give back a report.

Skiing tomorrow. When there is snow you go but I might be missing my shot at a big fish. I wish you well if you go....   

Dream Stream: Looking for Silver, Finding Gold.

I was looking for big silver Rainbows, but found "gold" in the form of a large Brown. Perhaps it was a resident fish or a "hold over" from the fall migration. Regardless, finding  gold unexpectedly  is always a rich experience.

Ice continues to recede along the Dream Stream. Fish stories emerge from the rivers meanders. Some are stories of prospectors finding an occasional large streak of silver "here and there" but for the most part, it currently seems that the main surge of big lake fish has not begun.

Or, maybe it is because those striking at gold or silver tend to be quite secretive,  as secretive as the fish themselves trying to move up the river.

Changing Our Tune as Nature Sings: Arriving On the Dream Stream

I have often said, "When there are bugs or snow, We just go." This is a transitional time of year when we can encounter beautiful snowfalls and feeding fish both at the same time.

I try to "just go" even if it means driving over snowy passes. However, I guess I should not push the edges of common sense too far. Or maybe I should? I try to read the weather; listen to what mother nature is singing. I don't want to end up sliding my vehicle over a mountain pass. Nature seems to change her tune, and I in response, do the same.

This is the time of year I often load up both skis and fly rods and I may not know what I am going to do until I am driving and watching the skies. I may listen to the song in the howling wind and try to discern if it is saying anything to me. Or, I may ask the birds of the heavens; the fish of the waters we fish (Job 12:7-8), and then try to decide. Perhaps, depending on what I "hear"  I change my tune.

Fanciful thinking? Perhaps. But what fly fisher has not spoken to a fish? "Here fishy, fishy. Take the fly;" especially to some of the large fish starting to move up the Dream Stream. And how many times have scientific weather forecasts and logic been wrong anyway? Often I prefer my own inner enchanted world and following intuition. 

The weather forecast in Breckenridge was calling for 1-3 inches. I wanted to catch some new snow,  even if only a few inches,  because it has been dry all week. I do not enjoy skiing on hard pack conditions. I pushed on through South Park, past the Dream Stream, and started up the pass, hoping to find new snow. Some snow and wind in Fairplay, but not enough to send me back so I kept to the tune and rode on, climbing into the clouds.

Now the roads became ice packed. A patrol car came down the pass driving slowly with his lights flashing, warning us of the road conditions. I then saw a roll over accident of a large four wheel drive vehicle. Should I turn back and fish the Dream?  Intimidated, I slowed down, but decided to push on, and over the pass entering a winter wonderland.  As I crossed that edge and dropped into Breckenridge, I discovered they had received ten inches of new snow! So much for the forecast; I might have done better to ask the birds or listen to the wind. 

I skied 3 hours turning and floating in the powder. It was wonderful. Now nature's tune or my tune, or both of our tunes, were changing. The sun was trying to come out even as the snow continued to fall. I had some concern of being able to get  over the pass so I decided to head out and back toward home.  As I drove back over the pass the skies opened up, I changed my tune again, and considered if I should fish the Dream Stream. How could I not stop, walk the Dream and at least look around now that I had crossed over to the sunny side?

I fished an hour or so and caught some nice fish. The river was mainly empty because it was late afternoon and now all of South Park was glowing in a beautiful sunset. As the glow started to fade, I heard a new tune urging me to head home.

I listened to that tune all the way home as I thought back to floating turns in the snow that was not supposed to fall,  and a few hefty fish pulling on the line.

Dream Stream Valentines Weekend: Ice Receding from Hopeful Hearts

I can't pinpoint the exact day, but as we begin to leave winter, a day comes when the ice begins to recede from my heart and I then find myself walking the Dream Stream looking for a response from the beautiful forms that lie in the runs of the meandering river. I am not alone.

Even on a Friday, hopeful hearts are gathering on the Dream Stream as the ice continues to recede from the banks of  the river and of our hearts. My friend Zac and I counted 25 cars among the three main parking lots; Anglers looking for the love of their life in the form of large Rainbows, Cutthroats and Cutt-bows making their annual migration up the South Platte River.

While we encountered many resident fish, for the most part, the "Big" fish from the lake are not in the drainage. We did see one fish that went about 26 inches and eight pounds, that wanted nothing to do with us. Tough to be rejected on Valentines weekend with Love in the air. We tried not to take it personally as we know such fish are harassed hour by hour, day by day.

It will be interesting to see what the coming weeks bring. Low flows will make it tough for the big fish to move and the growing crowds will make it more difficult for us as anglers to move around. The competition will make it challenging as it often feels as though there are more anglers than "beauties" in the river.

This is the game we play; always a gamble, no matter how much we woo, even on Valentines weekend.

Solitude On A Stretch of Frozen River

When I ski I sometimes think how the warming thawing days of Spring will soon turn the snow into  flowing creeks that will join the rivers that I will fish.  For now, floating on snow gives me a peculiar sensation of being suspended  slightly above the Earth, yet at the same time connected as I know "all things will merge into one."

Soon, the ice jams will melt and collapse. The slabs of ice will be no more. We, the fly fishers will again gather on the river.

For now, there is solitude as I move over the quiet flowing snow looking for fish below the seam lines of my imagination.