Mayfly Musings

Grand County is just that and the river flowing through it isn't too shabby either.  "Don't Forget the Fraser."  I read an article entitled exactly that when I moved to Colorado and I didn't listen.  If you have fished the Fraser then you know what this post is going to entail.  If you haven't, give it a shot.  It's a wonderful freestone and it holds some killer, hard fighting fish. I fished the Fraser in May two years ago and did really well.  I'm not sure why I didn't go back...  The Fraser rises and falls with the summer rains and fishing it off color is wise.  If it's low and clear (like it is right now) different tactics are necessary, but like many freestones in Colorado, the bugs at times match each river. Caddis.  Don't forget about Caddis on and beneath the surface during the summertime.  I underestimate Caddisflies.  I need to stop doing that. I was lucky to fish with two kiddos from school and we had an absolute...

Tricos, oh how I love, (and hate them).  The Trico hatch is going strong on South Platte and especially at Elevenmile.  Up in the canyon, the fish are up and eating them on the surface.  I wake up at 5am during the summer for one thing and one thing only, the Trico hatch.  Trico's are an interesting mayfly and what they lack in size they definitely make up for in numbers.  Their hatching and mating (males and females) occurs late at night and early in the morning.  I caught some fish recently right before dark at Deckers so don't rule that out as well.  What looks like little evening olives are actual male Trico's so have a fly with a black body and an upright wing. However, in the morning is where it's at for Trico's!  With the hot days we have been experiencing here in Colorado you need to get on the water early.  As the nights cool the hatch will start later and later, but well into October and even November.  The clouds of bugs a...

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