Runoff Distractions

When runoff hits the trout streams, I look for distractions. Distractions come in many piscatorial forms, including the front range trifecta: carp, bass, and pike.

But, when the water is on the rise, I find that I am less determined to catch fish and more determined to find distractions in my surroundings.

One of my favorite scenes in nature is watching the organized chaos that is a flight of swallows feeding on a hatch. Hundreds of birds flying in a tight organized group, but in countless directions, without a collision or close call.

It's mesmerizing. NATURE!!!!!!!

A Flight in Flight

Thing One and Thing Two

Right to Left - The Original, The Original Variation 1 AKA Thing One, The Original Variation 2 AKA Thing Two

I have long professed my love for Dan Delekta's Double Screamer. Specifically, the black, olive and silver variation, dubbed The Original. When I was introduced to streamer fishing, it was The Original that produced both quality and quantity. Since taking up the time suck that is tying flies, I've stuck to tying patterns that I fish. My proven patterns. As such, The Original was my first streamer tie. Suck eggs, wooly bugger. It's all about The OG. During a recent tying session with a fellow Croat, I decided to get fancy and tie some variations. Check it.

I WANT

Do you see what I see?

One of those. One of those three foot eater of aquatic grasses and assorted food stuffs. Since the spring has finally seemed to take hold here on the front range, I've managed to hook three. The fights didn't last long. After a subtle take, their explosive runs into deeper water have proven to be too much for my lackluster hooksets and/or poorly tied knots. I want one. Will I get one? Probably not. But, I want one.

New YGF Video - The Beaten Path

We took the beaten path this winter. When it comes to fly fishing in Colorado in the winter, there are plenty of waters with walkways lined with guard-rails, bent grass paths, paved parking lots, and pet fish to find. Waters that everyone knows. Waters that everyone fishes. This is The Beaten Path.

Join San Juan and Eggs, Pinchetruta, Phil Terelya, Avenues and Currents, Sucka Steve, the Croat, and I on a journey along the beaten path. Enjoy it in HD.

The Beaten Path from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

Google Floats the Colorado

Google Street View has always been good for a laugh or two and/or helpful information when trying to find a strange building on an unfamiliar side of town. Google Earth Outreach partnered with American Rivers to create the first River View. A 286-mile journey down the Colorado River is now at your finger tips. Check it. Bucket List.

15 seconds of Fly Fishing - Many Flies Have Come to You....

"Many flies have come to you/with a line that wasn't true/and you passed them by." Enjoy this latest installment of YGF's 15 seconds of fly fishing featuring Ahmad and Andrew.

15 seconds of Fly Fishing - Touchdown - A visit to the Frying Pan

Last month, my good friend Tanner, aka San Juan and Eggs, and I made a journey over Monarch Pass to the much fabled Taylor River. Unfortunately, it didn't quite pan out. When we arrived in Gunnison, a local informed us that the road was closed because of an avalanche. This changed our plans drastically. Not wanting to give up on the trip, we drove another 3.5 hours to the Frying Pan and had a field day. The following is video from our Touchdown at the Pan.

If you want to read more detail about our series of misadventures on our way to the Taylor and eventually the Pan, check out Tanner's blog, "San Juan and Eggs."

15 seconds of fly fishing - Tying my first streamer

Started out with the double screamer. My favorite fly. It's articulated and it's awesome.

Nomad Mid-Length Net Review

How does that Joni Mitchell song go?

"Don't it always seem to go/That you don't know what you've got/Till it's gone"

With my penchant for the hip-hops, I prefer the Janet Jackson remake. That's my jam.

Anyways, I digress, like Joni was saying, "You don't know what you've got/Till it's gone." It's true. Three months ago, I left my trusty Mid-Length Nomad net on the banks of the South Platte River in Cheesman Canyon. Since that fateful trip, it's been a struggle to quickly and safely land, photograph and release fish. Fishing without my mid-length Nomad is like fishing without a mustache. I'm naked on the water.

25" brown fits comfortably in the Nomad Mid-Length Net.

In the past, I was of the opinion, that a net is a net is a net. Times have changed and so has my opinion. A net is a net is a net, unless, it's a Nomad net. I've owned and shattered several wood nets in my day. So, the transition to the lightweight carbon fiber/fiberglass composite was a welcome one. The mid-length net is 37" in length and weighs less than a pound including the rubber bag (0.88 pounds to be exact). The net is coated with a rubberized finish called RiverKoat, which allows for optimal grip when the net is wet. The mid-length net, which floats, comes standard with a clear rubber bag whose opening is 13" wide and 18" long.

Big enough for the average carp.

Over the last two years, I have put the mid-length Nomad net through it's paces. From the big water of Montana to the technical tailwaters and carp flats of Colorado, the Nomad Mid-Length net has corralled it's fair share of fish on a wide variety of tippet sizes. The mid-length net is lengthy enough to reach for a hooked fish without putting too much strain on light tippet. The net itself is light enough to handle with very little effort, making the netting process smooth and relatively effortless. It's easy to carry around tucked against one's back with a sling or lumbar pack. Additionally, this lengthy and light net is durable.

Scoop and Score. Photo: pinchetruta.

I am notoriously hard on my gear. I routinely dropped this net against rocks and pavement. Over the two years of abuse, it showed little signs of wear and tear. Last spring, as I walked back to the car after a long day on the South Platte, I slipped on some ice and pulled a classic "legs pointing towards the sky, fall on your ass" pratfall. The mid-length Nomad net was flush against my back, tucked between my body and my Orvis Guide Sling. As I've most likely expressed in past reviews, I am not small. I'm 6'2" and 220 lbs. When I pratfell/pratfalled/pratfallened, the mid-length Nomad took the brunt of my weight. Instead of splintering and shattering into pieces, the net sustained some surficial damage. The structural integrity of the net survived and it lived to net many a fish after the fall. I am nothing but impressed by the quality of construction and design of the mid-length net and would recommend it to any angler in the market for a new net.

Check the Mid-Length Nomad Net in action in several past YGF videos: What Can Browns Do For You?, 40 MPH and RISING, Cielo Grande, and Glass Carp.

Surficial Damage after the big pratfall

The Mid-Length Nomad Net is available in three different colors (green, river camo, and tailwater) and ranges in price from $149.95 to $159.95. Nomad/Fishpond has a wide variety of net sizes in their lineup. From the smaller Hand Net to the Full-Length Boat Net, Nomad has a net for every purpose. Check their lineup out at fishpondusa.com.

I miss you Mid-Length Nomad Net. Won't you come back to me?

15 Seconds of Fly Fishing - Cold As Ice

Another installment in the YGF 15 Seconds of Fly Fishing. This one features a hip hop classic. MOP's Cold As Ice.

Fly Fishing Film Tour - 2014 Edition

For me, every angling year kicks off with the Fly Fishing Film Tour (or F3T). Probing stories, exciting locales, and straight up fish porn reinvigorate me for another year on the water. With works from F3T vets (like RA Beattie, Simon Perkins, TwoFisted Heart Productions, and World Angling) and newbies (Montana Wild, RC Cone, Fly Out Media, Jako Lucas, and Grey Ghost Productions), this year's crop of films is strong, as expected.

Of the nine feature films, I am most looking forward to RC Cone's "Tributaries", Two Fisted Heart's "Blood Knot", and Simon Perkin's ode to angling past "A Kinetic Loop".

Tributaries Fly Fishing Film Trailer #1 from RC Cone on Vimeo.

I am also excited to see an old fishing mate from Missoula, Anthony Von Ruden, show off his guiding and angling skills in Montana Wild's Wild Country.

The F3T has grown a great deal in it's 9 years. From 25 cities in the olden days, the F3T is premiering in more than 160 cities in 2014. The F3T is kicking off in Denver on Saturday, January 25th. I'll be there. Probably at the late show. Check out the show when it comes to your town. With more than 160 cities on tour, chances are there will be one close to you. Get loud. Get rowdy. Hoot. Holler. Start your new year off on the right foot.

15 seconds of fly fishing - The First

This was the first YGF 15 second instagram shorty. This was made strictly on the iphone as instagram wasn't allowing videos not shot in instagram to uploaded. No soundtrack. No problem.

15 seconds of fly fishing - The YGF Preview

This YGF, instagram, 15 second fly fishing shorty features clips from three prospective standard YGF shorts. Two out of those three have been successfully uploaded to vimeo. The third...it's not happening. Not enough footage. But, it had carp.

Cold Blue Nights - Redux

In two previous outings, I have demonstrated an inability to get out-of-towners visiting Denver for the Fly Fishing Show onto fish. I was starting to feel a great deal of shame. Like Cameron, AJ Gottschalk was in town for the show. The original plan was for two of us to hit the Dream Stream on the Monday following the show. AJ was set to fly out on Tuesday morning.

But, mother nature and my two-wheel drive Honda Accord had different ideas. A huge dump of snow in Denver (and the mountains) over the weekend and the distinct lack of four-wheel drive in the Accord combined for less than ideal driving conditions. So, our plan for Monday was scrapped, in favor of some in-town carping.

It wasn't AJ's preference by any means. Leading up to his visit, he was excited about the prospect of catching five weight sized trouts on five weight fly rods. But, we carped nonetheless. With the exception of a Paul Bunyan-sized carper, we saw no sign of the golden ghost.

We returned to my apartment and AJ was tasked with figuring out his travel plans, as the polar vortex had wreaked havoc on the east coast. With a bit of luck, AJ's flight had been delayed until Wednesday morning. Tuesday was looking fishy. In-town temperatures were forecasted to be snow melting levels. Snow and ice melted and our chances of trouting were growing as Tuesday progressed.

I got off of work and it was readily apparent that we would have a window to fish the Blue at night. Our drive up into the mountains was clear, but there were some flakes falling. After filling our stomachs with Silverthorne's finest dining, we rigged up with midges and attractors.

AJ drifts as the snow falls in Silverthorne.

From the bridge, we spotted a sizable Blue River trout. It was up to AJ to get the right drift. He did. A five-weight fish bent his five-weight rod.

Earned it.

The snow continued to fall and I made the executive decision to head back to Denver. Can't risk it in the Accord. With some dicey road conditions around Loveland Pass, we had gotten off the water just in time. But, not after we nailed a baker's dozen between the two of us. Two and a half hours well spent.

15 seconds of fly fishing - Glass Carp Preview

In the summer of 2013, I released a standard length YGF video featuring a five weight Kabuto fiberglass rod and some willing Front Range carp. The following was a 15 second preview of "Glass Carp."

Enjoy.

Glassman Canyon

Ringing in the New Year in Denver means that The Fly Fishing Show isn't far behind. With The Fly Fishing Show comes many a welcome visitor. Last year, I had the distinct pleasure of sharing the water with the Fishing Poet and Sanders in some, let's say, colder temperatures. This year, Russ Schnitzer and I took Cam Cam the Glass Man (or Cameron Mortenson of The Fiberglass Manifesto) into Cheesman Canyon.

Picking out what proved to be the wrong combination for Cheesman's trouts. Photo credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

The Cheese had given up it's fair share of healthy fish earlier this winter and I was fairly confident that we would all have solid chances at it's trouts. I was wrong. The fish were glued to the bottom of deep pools and runs and weren't moving to even the most well-presented fly. Russ managed one spunky rainbow. Cam Cam the Glass Man and I both stung a few of our own. The fishing was shit. But, the day was fantastic. Normally, I don't buy into the idea that it's just good to get out. I could go for a leisurely hike without all the tools of the trade. I fish to catch fish.

Cameron throwing the Epic. Photo Credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

However, this day was different. It was a pleasure to share the water with Cameron. As Cameron and I discussed between drifts, it is comforting to confirm initial online judgements of fellow bloggers. Cameron is solid dude and an excellent ambassador for fiberglass fly rods and the fly fishing community, in general.

Glass Glow. Photo Credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

Cam Cam the Glass Man even got Russ and I to throw his four weight Epic fiberglass rod. I was impressed with the ease of casting and mending. It wasn't fast-action by any means and definitely required a slower stroke. But, it was nonetheless a powerful four weight. It handled the multi-nymph rig with ease and was a pleasure to cast. It was my greatest regret that we weren't able to see the Epic bend on one of Cheesman's finer specimens. Maybe next year.

Throwing Graphite in front of the glass king. Photo Credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

15 seconds of fly fishing - Quick Hitter from the Ark

The next installment of YGF's 15 seconds of fly fishing is a quick hitter from the Arkansas River this fall. The upper Arkansas River, a fine freestone, was recently added to the list of Gold Medal trout waters in Colorado.

Shot on a GoPro Hero HD 1, this and the other 15 second quick hitters are the equivalent to little orphan YGF videos. They are YGF videos that didn't have a chance to grow up.

Enjoy.

15 seconds of fly fishing - Three Chees

Over the past year, instagram has been a enjoyable tool to share and connect with fellow fly fisherman, sharing stills of life on and off the water. However, several months ago, video was introduced as an option on the social media site. There are limitations. Each posted video could be no more than 15 seconds in length. As an amateur fly fishing film maker, the 15-second limit is a challenge. Challenges are good. I will be sharing all the past and future videos here on the blog. Here is my most recent 15-second short.

Enjoy.

Out with the Old...

And in with the new. Well, not quite. But, almost. It is time to formally retire the GoPro Hero 1. It's been fun. Last night, I received a shipment from GoPro.  I would like to formally welcome a new, improved tool to the Yukon Goes Fishing film making toolbelt. A brand spanking new GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition.

COLD SNAP - New YGF Video

It seems I've done myself a disservice. Two weeks ago, I released my most recent video, titled "COLD SNAP." Prior to the cold snap that hit the Rockies in the beginning of December, a fellow Croat and I made it out on a snowy day. The temperature warmed as the day progressed and the fishing did the same. It was a day in Cheesman Canyon. Enjoy.

COLD SNAP from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

Starting the New Year off DRY.

Finding rising trout is always a treat. Finding them in the middle of winter in Colorado is downright tasty. Tanner (AKA San Juan and Eggs AKA the Four Weight Wizard) was kind enough to share one of his small stream gems with me and it made for a damn good time.

The recipe: A YETI filled with high lifes, two dogs, some light rods, and some parachute adams.

The Meal: Small creek browns on the surface.

The day started off slow. Real slow. But, as the sun progressively warmed the creek up, the tiny creek's colorful browns started rising to our dries. Just as one would expect. It's winter after all.

During my time as fly angler, I have neglected small streams, in favor of more well known waters. It is my 2014 angling resolution to spend more time in the backcountry. More time on waters like this. They are good for the soul.

IRON FLY Denver - Don't Be Square

There aren't really words that describe the pure, unadulterated awesomeness that is IRON FLY.

The dudes from PIG FARM INK have taken the traditional fly tying night, dropped it on it's head, fed it paint chips and made it a smashing good time.

It is fly tying meets Iron Chef meets the communal atmosphere of the F3T. After successful Iron Fly events in Fort Collins and Asheville, PIG FARM INK is bringing their brand of bitchin' to Denver.

So, bring your drinking hat, your burrito eating hat, your creative fly tying hat, and/or any other hats to Illegal Pete's on South Broadway in Denver on Saturday the 4th at 7pm. Check the video.


"IRON FLY" Fly tying Contest from Addi Berry on Vimeo.