Sometimes good things are worth fighting for, even if the battle lasts 2 1/2 years.
That’s how long it took Breckenridge resident Walt Mueller Jr. to convince the Colorado Division of Wildlife that his Soft Milking Egg flies were not bait and therefore could be used in waters where regulations required fish to be released.
Mueller’s creations, finally approved early last year, are formed from a clear plastic compound, are completely artificial and contain no scent. His company, Blue River Designs, makes them in 14 colors and four sizes – 3, 4, 6 and 10 millimeter. They are sold at Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, FeatherCraft and Denver Angler.
While egg patterns attract trout all year, they are particularly effective during spring, which is spawning time for rainbow trout. Mueller’s color selection varies a bit from the traditional reds and pinks of spring.
He’s keen on the apricot, apricot opaque and tangerine colors and favors the tiny 3-millimeter size for wary tailwater trout.
Later, when suckers and whitefish lay their eggs, buff patterns or those with a greenish tint perform best.
