A long time ago in a galaxy far, far awayÂ…
a decision was made to ‘allow me’ to order a South Creek rod to be ready for my 50th Birthday (no jokes it was way back in June) and then with due time and hard persuasion it progressed to visiting Lyons, Colorado (instead of having a party) and so began the organisation for what turned out to be a truly memorable trip. It was apparently not practical to visit in June due to run off, melt out or something similar so July was settled on. In the interests of ego preservation I have spent the last 6 months advising everyone that I do not care whether I caught fish, or not, it was to be a taster and an experience all of which is actually true. In this trip you will find I met some of the nicest people on the planet, fished some of the most beautiful places on the planet, caught some of the most accommodating fish on the planet and (I think) managed not to make a complete twat of myself.
Boilerplate ;
None of this trip is fictional or exaggerated, all are real people and only some of the place names have been changed to protect the innocent.
We start the journey in rainy England (yes 40 days and 40 nights and still hard at it) with a protracted drive to Heathrow Airport, denizen of the unexplained delays and time warps, unknown baggage losers and damagers and numerous ‘What’s in that box mate’ staff who were all so taken with the near 5’ long metal container that they showed little concern for the nefarious computer wires and lined gadgetry being carried elsewhere ... HAH – enough line to tie up a city never mind an airplane crew … btw the check in lady was much amused when I told her it was ‘fishing rods in the box and not a brace of bazooka’s’ and informed me that ‘bazooka’ was an African word but did not explain further and as I so obviously did not have one I did not enquire further (????) …. Anyway .. I duly arrived safely in Denver nearly 13 hours later and (despite being asked if I was David Beckham) collected my luggage and having arrived safely and negotiated passage by the feared ‘IMMIGRATION OFFICER’ I spit in the face of Friday the 13th.
I turn on my GPS to locate the exit …. $@**^$ … I had forgotten to upgrade the maps before I left so it insisted that I was actually in Manchester (??) which did not help … anyway I managed to get to the Dollar bus and was assisted with my baggage (‘What’s in the box man?’) for a $1. My pre booked car was not available as described or booked so I am offered a ‘SUV Durango’ which includes ‘native’ GPS as an upgrade for the princely sum of $15 as compensation and because it is ‘ideal for going near the mountains’ (also it is on special offer) – I have to look at a picture to know what I am being offered … I decide to accept the sensible looking 4x4 in the picture and drag my gear off to the lot to load up what turned out to be a Chrysler Aspen ‘truck’ about the size of a Hummer with blacked out back windows and 7 seats, I subsequently drove to Lyons arriving at 9.30pm (or 5.00am according to my body clock).
Awoke at 3.00am rumbling and wanting for lunch ... but got back to sleep when it was obvious that all that was in the cabin was water and a crushed up granola bar that I had brought with me. Repeated at 04.30am and again at 06.00am. So I am now ensconced at ShelleyÂ’s Cottages just outside of Lyons and can heartily recommend, clean, comfortable and with a hot tubs as well as the St Vrain river running through the grounds of which more later.
www.shellyscottages.com/
Saturday at South Creek Ltd. (http://www.southcreekltd.com/index.cfm ) - has to be the coolest Fly Shop on the planet – introductions early in the morning as I found Royal Wulff sitting outside the shop when I returned after a breakfast, followed by a bit of directional corrective parking (much to the amusement of the Royal Wulff), then collection of the beautiful new rod – an 8½’ 5wt 3/2 Gierach/Best Special Taper - and much talk or rods and fishing followed. Made the first feline delivery for KenM Int. Freight at 10.00am when the cat got her tongue back and also met the fortunate Mr Panther and then later met up with the CZKid and made the second delivery later in the afternoon much to his relief. Also met the charming Mr Shoeless Joe and even more charming Mrs (not) Shoeless.
The store ;
Royal Wulff – Rod Maker & Pink Panther – Trip Architect ;
The rack of temptation (consignment rods for sale Â… and immediate gratification)
Sunday was planned for a Pig Farm, a stocked private lake on a dude ranch fairly close by, to give me chance to acclimatise to the heat, time difference and lack of oxygen … met the Royal Wulff at 05.45 and was delighted to bump into John Gierach (the most expensive ‘friend’ that I had never met) when we called at the gas station for much needed coffee. Further delighted to get the chance to chat with him later in the day. Anyway back to fishing and pigs … well it was difficult, glassy surface, large fish about but not much hatching and it was certainly hot. Wandered off on my own to explore a little but came back quickly after finding a rattlesnake crossing the path at the bridge coming off the island, I think that we were both delighted to be progressing quickly in opposite directions. Beautiful, beautiful location though, wonderful lunch (Thanks to Mr & Mrs Panther) and excellent company, much mutual rod admiration going on as you would expect. As the day went on many fish were hooked many were LDR’ed, many flies lost all round …. I did manage to christen the new rod with a 18-19” Rainbow but best fish of the day went to Royal Wulff on a small spent wing pattern. We called it a day at about 6pm and adjourned for dinner where I was delighted to find that low US food prices and a rather favourable exchange rate let me off very lightly.
Dude Ranch Lakes View
Another Dude Ranch Lake View
Mr Panther, Ken M 44 and Royal Wulff
Pink Panther with bulging vains as the fish screams into the backing for the second time Â…
Royal WulffÂ’s fish Â…
Mad Englishman and Dog both had an excellent day Â…
Monday was a more gentle start, at the shop for 10.00am, and off into the RMNP where we fished the pool featured in the September issue of FF Magazine before moving on to Cigar Creek for some wonderful meetings with Brook Trout and Cutthroats, nicely sized, wonderfully coloured, eager and not very selective Â… just my kind of fish. We lost count but it was both many and enough and the surroundings were idyllic.
This is the pool in FF magazine – Royal Wulff explain’s the strategy to a beginner ;
Here we are up in Cigar Creek ;
Some of the fish I caught there;
Tuesday saw an early start to meet up with Uniphasian on the outskirts of Denver for a trip onto the Colorado River, I can tell you no more because I was not driving, we covered ourselves in insect repellent, kitted up and walked down to the river, passed through the long grass that was ‘Mosquito Central’ and crossed to the other bank … stunningly beautiful and very Trouty as you can see;
Fish were caught Â… mostly by Uniphasian;
After a number of small browns I finally got my fish a pretty decent Rainbow;
The new South Creek rod now possesses a degree of Mojo as well as a slimed up grip, just as requested by its maker. And for me another day passes without getting skunked while fishing with some none too tight lipped Moderators Â…. We were literally blown off the river late in the afternoon and I had my fatal encounter with the MosquitoÂ’s on the way back up the trail Â… this despite a final all over spraying of repellent.
By the morning I had amassed over 40 nasty bites in total to the face and neck and two very swollen hands – to the point where I could barely drive never mind grip a rod handle and fish with it. Help was sought from a local Pharmacy and a replan of a proposed day on the Poudre had to be discussed, fortunately sympathy was shown by Uni (even if he did insist on photographing my hands) and we decided to retire to Shelly’s lawn to discuss tackle where I could take the necessary tablets and be within easy reach of facilities if the side effects took hold. So we held our own little Bamboo Rod Fest on the banks of the St Vrain ;
Well it is not PandoraÂ’s but this is the Bazooka Box;
So from the left we have;
South Creek 8½’ 5wt 3/2 GB Special with Ari ‘t Hart Aras
Jennings-Moran 7½’ 6wt 3/2 with Abel Pt 5
Tom Moran 8Â’ 5wt 2/2 with Hardy Lightweight
Custom Hardy Marvel 6’9” 3wt 3/2 with a Hatton of Hereford (Youngs)
Tom Moran 6-1/2' 4 wt 2/2 with Hardy Lightweight
Howells 8’ 5wt 2/2 with Hardy Perfect 31/8” LHW
Payne 197 with Hardy Bougle
Pezon & Michel 7’7” Colorado Pate with Bogdan Trout
Paul Young Perfectionist with Hardy Perfect
Paul Young Midge with Saracione Deluxe
Nadal Payne 101 7’6” 5wt 2/1 with Adams 3”
Nadal Leonard Hunt 6’10” 5wt 2/1 with Baby Bogdan
Cunningham with Peerless
We had a lot of fun casting the various rods – here is Uni into the backing;
By the afternoon lunch had been taken and my hands had (thanks to the tablets) started to come back to normal, well normal enough to bend my fingers and cast so we fished the St Vrain until the evening;
After more discussion of rods and such and then dinner Uni left for Denver at 11pm with my immense gratitude for his hospitality and the trouble that he went to on my behalf even if his compliments on my coffee making sounded a little hollow. Thanks Chuck – It was fun!
4.00am up and drive off to Deckers to meet up with Ed Engle for a long awaited day on the South Platte, I have wanted to fish this since reading so much about it in John Gierach’s books but was somewhat nervous about just what to expect. The section in his book about ‘being ready for the South Platte’ was ringing in my ears. First thing to say is we were immensely lucky in that it was very quiet, the weather was very good (not too hot) but it was still awe inspiring. We discussed tiny nymphs and lead and ‘technical’ fishing all the way down the Gill Trail, all of which are completely new to me. The first fishermen we saw were deep dredging on a short line with a wool indicator the size of a tennis ball, in fact apart from me only one other fisherman was seen actually casting all day. Ed was fantastic guide who explained the area, the fishing and (despite being the Zen Master of Nymphing) found me a place to play and allowed me to try with dry flies as long I had a NZ dropper with a sz24 pheasant tail nymph behind it – first fish on took a sz14 Elk Hair Caddis and instead of running for open water away from me (as I would normally expect) it ripped straight at me and under the granite boulder I was perching on and shredded the leader at the 3x length … but Ed and I agreed that I technically was not now skunked, nerves calmed and more fish followed – 7 in all of which 5 were landed, all were decent lively and healthy Browns and all came to an (albeit very small) dry fly – size 20 Adams Para’s and a sz18 Dun Olive’s of my own tying. I found the rainbows impossible to catch, all seemed to be almost comatose and holding right on the bottom but hey – who needs them!! I have to apologise because I left my camera in the ‘truck’ at the trailhead and could not be bother to walk back and get it so the picture in the canyon is courtesy of Ed Engle. If the South Platte beckons you I can highly recommend Ed as a guide, even if he did insist on having some of my Olive Dun flies, his details are below;
http://www.anglerscovey.com/engle.htm or mail him directly at EdisonEngle@msn.com
Here is the view coming over the top before dropping down towards Deckers;
In the Cheeseman Canyon;
Friday was pack up an go day – this is Royal Wulff trying the soft sell on a South Creek reel;
And saying Goodbye and Thanks to Pink Panther – words are not enough;
After delays at Denver due to weather holding the incoming flight from London away I went, sad to leave many new friends but satisfied that I had tasted much of what Colorado had to offer, I slept almost all the way home to find that it was still raining Â… this is my beloved River Wye looking like drinking chocolate and running 20 feet above usual Summer levels and worse was to come as I worked my way upstream, but fortunately not in our house.
So a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to all that put themselves out on my behalf during my trip – you are welcome to fish with me on my St Vrain any time.
Ken
a decision was made to ‘allow me’ to order a South Creek rod to be ready for my 50th Birthday (no jokes it was way back in June) and then with due time and hard persuasion it progressed to visiting Lyons, Colorado (instead of having a party) and so began the organisation for what turned out to be a truly memorable trip. It was apparently not practical to visit in June due to run off, melt out or something similar so July was settled on. In the interests of ego preservation I have spent the last 6 months advising everyone that I do not care whether I caught fish, or not, it was to be a taster and an experience all of which is actually true. In this trip you will find I met some of the nicest people on the planet, fished some of the most beautiful places on the planet, caught some of the most accommodating fish on the planet and (I think) managed not to make a complete twat of myself.
Boilerplate ;
None of this trip is fictional or exaggerated, all are real people and only some of the place names have been changed to protect the innocent.
We start the journey in rainy England (yes 40 days and 40 nights and still hard at it) with a protracted drive to Heathrow Airport, denizen of the unexplained delays and time warps, unknown baggage losers and damagers and numerous ‘What’s in that box mate’ staff who were all so taken with the near 5’ long metal container that they showed little concern for the nefarious computer wires and lined gadgetry being carried elsewhere ... HAH – enough line to tie up a city never mind an airplane crew … btw the check in lady was much amused when I told her it was ‘fishing rods in the box and not a brace of bazooka’s’ and informed me that ‘bazooka’ was an African word but did not explain further and as I so obviously did not have one I did not enquire further (????) …. Anyway .. I duly arrived safely in Denver nearly 13 hours later and (despite being asked if I was David Beckham) collected my luggage and having arrived safely and negotiated passage by the feared ‘IMMIGRATION OFFICER’ I spit in the face of Friday the 13th.
I turn on my GPS to locate the exit …. $@**^$ … I had forgotten to upgrade the maps before I left so it insisted that I was actually in Manchester (??) which did not help … anyway I managed to get to the Dollar bus and was assisted with my baggage (‘What’s in the box man?’) for a $1. My pre booked car was not available as described or booked so I am offered a ‘SUV Durango’ which includes ‘native’ GPS as an upgrade for the princely sum of $15 as compensation and because it is ‘ideal for going near the mountains’ (also it is on special offer) – I have to look at a picture to know what I am being offered … I decide to accept the sensible looking 4x4 in the picture and drag my gear off to the lot to load up what turned out to be a Chrysler Aspen ‘truck’ about the size of a Hummer with blacked out back windows and 7 seats, I subsequently drove to Lyons arriving at 9.30pm (or 5.00am according to my body clock).
Awoke at 3.00am rumbling and wanting for lunch ... but got back to sleep when it was obvious that all that was in the cabin was water and a crushed up granola bar that I had brought with me. Repeated at 04.30am and again at 06.00am. So I am now ensconced at ShelleyÂ’s Cottages just outside of Lyons and can heartily recommend, clean, comfortable and with a hot tubs as well as the St Vrain river running through the grounds of which more later.
www.shellyscottages.com/
Saturday at South Creek Ltd. (http://www.southcreekltd.com/index.cfm ) - has to be the coolest Fly Shop on the planet – introductions early in the morning as I found Royal Wulff sitting outside the shop when I returned after a breakfast, followed by a bit of directional corrective parking (much to the amusement of the Royal Wulff), then collection of the beautiful new rod – an 8½’ 5wt 3/2 Gierach/Best Special Taper - and much talk or rods and fishing followed. Made the first feline delivery for KenM Int. Freight at 10.00am when the cat got her tongue back and also met the fortunate Mr Panther and then later met up with the CZKid and made the second delivery later in the afternoon much to his relief. Also met the charming Mr Shoeless Joe and even more charming Mrs (not) Shoeless.
The store ;
Royal Wulff – Rod Maker & Pink Panther – Trip Architect ;
The rack of temptation (consignment rods for sale Â… and immediate gratification)
Sunday was planned for a Pig Farm, a stocked private lake on a dude ranch fairly close by, to give me chance to acclimatise to the heat, time difference and lack of oxygen … met the Royal Wulff at 05.45 and was delighted to bump into John Gierach (the most expensive ‘friend’ that I had never met) when we called at the gas station for much needed coffee. Further delighted to get the chance to chat with him later in the day. Anyway back to fishing and pigs … well it was difficult, glassy surface, large fish about but not much hatching and it was certainly hot. Wandered off on my own to explore a little but came back quickly after finding a rattlesnake crossing the path at the bridge coming off the island, I think that we were both delighted to be progressing quickly in opposite directions. Beautiful, beautiful location though, wonderful lunch (Thanks to Mr & Mrs Panther) and excellent company, much mutual rod admiration going on as you would expect. As the day went on many fish were hooked many were LDR’ed, many flies lost all round …. I did manage to christen the new rod with a 18-19” Rainbow but best fish of the day went to Royal Wulff on a small spent wing pattern. We called it a day at about 6pm and adjourned for dinner where I was delighted to find that low US food prices and a rather favourable exchange rate let me off very lightly.
Dude Ranch Lakes View
Another Dude Ranch Lake View
Mr Panther, Ken M 44 and Royal Wulff
Pink Panther with bulging vains as the fish screams into the backing for the second time Â…
Royal WulffÂ’s fish Â…
Mad Englishman and Dog both had an excellent day Â…
Monday was a more gentle start, at the shop for 10.00am, and off into the RMNP where we fished the pool featured in the September issue of FF Magazine before moving on to Cigar Creek for some wonderful meetings with Brook Trout and Cutthroats, nicely sized, wonderfully coloured, eager and not very selective Â… just my kind of fish. We lost count but it was both many and enough and the surroundings were idyllic.
This is the pool in FF magazine – Royal Wulff explain’s the strategy to a beginner ;
Here we are up in Cigar Creek ;
Some of the fish I caught there;
Tuesday saw an early start to meet up with Uniphasian on the outskirts of Denver for a trip onto the Colorado River, I can tell you no more because I was not driving, we covered ourselves in insect repellent, kitted up and walked down to the river, passed through the long grass that was ‘Mosquito Central’ and crossed to the other bank … stunningly beautiful and very Trouty as you can see;
Fish were caught Â… mostly by Uniphasian;
After a number of small browns I finally got my fish a pretty decent Rainbow;
The new South Creek rod now possesses a degree of Mojo as well as a slimed up grip, just as requested by its maker. And for me another day passes without getting skunked while fishing with some none too tight lipped Moderators Â…. We were literally blown off the river late in the afternoon and I had my fatal encounter with the MosquitoÂ’s on the way back up the trail Â… this despite a final all over spraying of repellent.
By the morning I had amassed over 40 nasty bites in total to the face and neck and two very swollen hands – to the point where I could barely drive never mind grip a rod handle and fish with it. Help was sought from a local Pharmacy and a replan of a proposed day on the Poudre had to be discussed, fortunately sympathy was shown by Uni (even if he did insist on photographing my hands) and we decided to retire to Shelly’s lawn to discuss tackle where I could take the necessary tablets and be within easy reach of facilities if the side effects took hold. So we held our own little Bamboo Rod Fest on the banks of the St Vrain ;
Well it is not PandoraÂ’s but this is the Bazooka Box;
So from the left we have;
South Creek 8½’ 5wt 3/2 GB Special with Ari ‘t Hart Aras
Jennings-Moran 7½’ 6wt 3/2 with Abel Pt 5
Tom Moran 8Â’ 5wt 2/2 with Hardy Lightweight
Custom Hardy Marvel 6’9” 3wt 3/2 with a Hatton of Hereford (Youngs)
Tom Moran 6-1/2' 4 wt 2/2 with Hardy Lightweight
Howells 8’ 5wt 2/2 with Hardy Perfect 31/8” LHW
Payne 197 with Hardy Bougle
Pezon & Michel 7’7” Colorado Pate with Bogdan Trout
Paul Young Perfectionist with Hardy Perfect
Paul Young Midge with Saracione Deluxe
Nadal Payne 101 7’6” 5wt 2/1 with Adams 3”
Nadal Leonard Hunt 6’10” 5wt 2/1 with Baby Bogdan
Cunningham with Peerless
We had a lot of fun casting the various rods – here is Uni into the backing;
By the afternoon lunch had been taken and my hands had (thanks to the tablets) started to come back to normal, well normal enough to bend my fingers and cast so we fished the St Vrain until the evening;
After more discussion of rods and such and then dinner Uni left for Denver at 11pm with my immense gratitude for his hospitality and the trouble that he went to on my behalf even if his compliments on my coffee making sounded a little hollow. Thanks Chuck – It was fun!
4.00am up and drive off to Deckers to meet up with Ed Engle for a long awaited day on the South Platte, I have wanted to fish this since reading so much about it in John Gierach’s books but was somewhat nervous about just what to expect. The section in his book about ‘being ready for the South Platte’ was ringing in my ears. First thing to say is we were immensely lucky in that it was very quiet, the weather was very good (not too hot) but it was still awe inspiring. We discussed tiny nymphs and lead and ‘technical’ fishing all the way down the Gill Trail, all of which are completely new to me. The first fishermen we saw were deep dredging on a short line with a wool indicator the size of a tennis ball, in fact apart from me only one other fisherman was seen actually casting all day. Ed was fantastic guide who explained the area, the fishing and (despite being the Zen Master of Nymphing) found me a place to play and allowed me to try with dry flies as long I had a NZ dropper with a sz24 pheasant tail nymph behind it – first fish on took a sz14 Elk Hair Caddis and instead of running for open water away from me (as I would normally expect) it ripped straight at me and under the granite boulder I was perching on and shredded the leader at the 3x length … but Ed and I agreed that I technically was not now skunked, nerves calmed and more fish followed – 7 in all of which 5 were landed, all were decent lively and healthy Browns and all came to an (albeit very small) dry fly – size 20 Adams Para’s and a sz18 Dun Olive’s of my own tying. I found the rainbows impossible to catch, all seemed to be almost comatose and holding right on the bottom but hey – who needs them!! I have to apologise because I left my camera in the ‘truck’ at the trailhead and could not be bother to walk back and get it so the picture in the canyon is courtesy of Ed Engle. If the South Platte beckons you I can highly recommend Ed as a guide, even if he did insist on having some of my Olive Dun flies, his details are below;
http://www.anglerscovey.com/engle.htm or mail him directly at EdisonEngle@msn.com
Here is the view coming over the top before dropping down towards Deckers;
In the Cheeseman Canyon;
Friday was pack up an go day – this is Royal Wulff trying the soft sell on a South Creek reel;
And saying Goodbye and Thanks to Pink Panther – words are not enough;
After delays at Denver due to weather holding the incoming flight from London away I went, sad to leave many new friends but satisfied that I had tasted much of what Colorado had to offer, I slept almost all the way home to find that it was still raining Â… this is my beloved River Wye looking like drinking chocolate and running 20 feet above usual Summer levels and worse was to come as I worked my way upstream, but fortunately not in our house.
So a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to all that put themselves out on my behalf during my trip – you are welcome to fish with me on my St Vrain any time.
Ken
