Pagosa Springs – Devin Olsen fishes by the numbers, only in ways that most anglers can’t imagine.
A member of Fly Fishing Team USA, he naturally is attuned to counting fish. The contest demands it; no surprise there.
But it’s the numbers that appear when Olsen opens his fly box that most grab attention. The bold inscriptions have little to do with hook size. For Olsen, a Utah native who now works as a guide at the Wolf Creek Anglers shop in Pagosa Springs, it’s all about the weight.
In the arcane world of international competition in which no lead can be attached to the line, heavily weighted flies determine nymphing success or failure. Handling Olsen’s fly box requires about the same exertion as a weight room dumbbell.
All of which provides yet another message for stream fishermen eager to tackle the final stages of Colorado’s odd runoff. If you’re not fishing deep in what remains of powerful current, the chance of catching fish decreases dramatically.
Olsen’s advice? During runoff, you’re looking for pockets along the bank. Where there’s a break in the current, that’s where a fish will be.
“Find the little sweet spots at a convergence of currents, where there’s quiet water in the middle and a food source on both sides,” Olsen said. “That’s where you’ll find the most aggressive fish in cold water, which is the situation when a river is carrying snowmelt.”
The fact that most trout are compacted close to shore during runoff – coupled with the demand for precise presentation and control – makes the competition style of short-line nymphing highly effective this time of year.
This entails a three-fly rig that features a larger and more heavily weighted “anchor” fly that puts the presentation near the bottom.
“You’ll be surprised how often trout take the big anchor flies, even in picky tailwaters,” Olsen said.
Armed with such wisdom from one of the nation’s best, anglers should be better prepared to tackle the late-runoff conditions described in the following report.
With runoff nearing completion, it’s time for stream fishing
Let the stream fishing season begin. As Colorado’s fitful and truncated runoff season rushes toward a halt, stream enthusiasts already have taken to the water weeks sooner than normal. Fishing already is good in some places and certain to get better in the days ahead. Here’s a rundown of popular rivers:
ARKANSAS
Visibility is a very fishable 3 feet near Salida, even better upriver at Buena Vista and above. Try picking pockets with large Prince Nymphs in the water between Leadville and Buena Vista, where flows are slightly high, but almost clear.
Fishing from a boat is particularly productive, with trout lined up along shore. “Like playing a video game,” said Greg Felt of the ArkAngler Fly Shop. “They just keep coming.”
The same edge stacking exists on the lower river toward Cañon City, where water is a bit higher and murkier. “They’re tucked in close to shore and they’re hungry,” said Bill Edrington, who operates Royal Gorge Anglers.
BIG THOMPSON
A real hot spot, with lower flows. Try golden stoneflies, baetis and midges. Best upstream from Drake.
BLUE
Flows approaching 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) through Silverthorne have fish widely distributed. Good fishing continues downstream to Green Mountain Reservoir, although feeder creeks still add a bit of murk.
COLORADO
An early stonefly hatch has moved upriver into Byers Canyon and beyond. But the big bugs left trout with a memory of juicy mouthfuls. Fish continue to look to the surface and float fishermen continue to do well on large dries from Pumphouse to Radium. Generally, adult stones are more active around the river in the afternoon. Water remains high, but clear.
EAGLE
Bob Streb at Fly Fishing Outfitters in Avon reports the river high, clear and very floatable at 1,400 cfs. Woolly Buggers are producing well, as is deep nymphing. Expect a major caddis hatch by the third week of June.
GUNNISON
Lots of caddis moving on the lower river below town. The Gunnison remains somewhat high, but clear and fishable, as is the Taylor River.
NORTH PLATTE
A slow, steady decline in flow has produced good water quality all the way to North Gate Canyon. Trout are beginning to migrate to normal holding places.
POUDRE
Still very high, though beginning to clear slightly. Try Stimulators in the pockets near shore.
ROARING FORK
Still moving fast, but floatable and fishable. Fish remain bunched on the bank, susceptible to streamers and large dry flies, particularly golden stones. Skating caddis works well during a sedge hatch.
