The Fly Collective | "Cold Blue Nights"

I am honored to team up with Russell Schnitzer to form The Fly Collective. We have joined forces in an attempt to tell unique and compelling stories within the fly fishing community. One such story, winter night fishing on the Blue River through Silverthorne, is the focus of our first short. We were lucky enough to get connected with Ryan Henderson with Cutthroat Anglers and are proud to present "Cold Blue Nights." Enjoy.

Cold Blue Nights from The Fly Collective on Vimeo.

The Blind Squirrel and Two Nuts

I am that Blind Squirrel. And these are the two nuts I found this past Super Bowl Sunday. As, said Blind Squirrel, I have been hopelessly digging around some of Colorado's productive waters trying to find a nut or two since I moved here in October. Well, with a little help from pinchetruta, I was able to land two nuts, which is one more than John Kruk has.

Nut 1

Nut 2

I'm on the board, Colorado.

22 Inches Short

Confession time: It has been a while since I put out a video. Why? Because I can't put together my very belated holiday/year-end video to my liking. So, with a YGF video drought on the horizon, I threw together this awkward 1980's VHS inspired short of day on the water with Russ of SchnitzerPHOTO fame. As detailed last week, we suffered some defeats at the mouths of some of the "Dream Streams" nicer fish. Here is my ode to that day and the more traditional YGF video that could have resulted from some skilled angling. We were 22 INCHES SHORT.

Watch it in HD on vimeo.

22 Inches Short from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

The Anatomy of Defeat

There is a very well-proportioned rainbow trout that lives in the Dream Stream that has graced the end of my line for a combined 10 seconds on two separate occasions. It is quickly becoming my NEMESIS FISH. Below is a visual of my most recent defeat. I hope the third time is the charm...if only he liked streamers and not size 22 midges.

In pixelated GIF form, if you prefer.

Lip AIDS - A DSP Staple

On the lookout for Lip AIDS (photo credit: SchnitzerPHOTO)

By no means am I an experienced carper. I caught one on the Missouri. But, I am embracing the pursuit for the golden ghost, unlike some of Chum's commenters. Denver and it's hinterland have some great carp water including the misunderstood and often polluted South Platte through Denver. This month, Russell Schnitzer (of SchnitzerPHOTO) and I have tried our hand at catching the often invisible January Denver-South Platte (DSP) carp. While we haven't connected with a winter carp yet, we have experienced everything else that DSP has to offer, including a valuable life lesson (AKA Pro Tip).

Pre Lip AIDS - the good old days (photo credit: SchnitzerPHOTO)

DSP Pro Tip - Don't use textured fly lines while fishing for carp on the DSP. Textured fly lines have a habit of "grabbing" water. When double hauling textured fly line that is coated with the clear waters of the DSP, water shoots off the line and flies onto your lips and provides your lips with a burning sensation I like to call Lip AIDS.

Chemical makeup of DSP - Water, Steel Reserve, and Lip AIDS (photo credit: SchnitzerPHOTO)

DSP Pro Tip - Listen to the homeless. As we headed north towards Florida Avenue, a homeless man on the banks enjoying a taste told us "You're walking the wrong way, all the fish are south." We thanked him for his advice and continued north. We were wrong. He was right.

Winter Carping. (photo credit: SchnitzerPHOTO)

Check out SchnitzerPHOTO on facebook and instagram. Believe it or not, he takes amazing photos of things other than me.