The man wearing the cat-ate-the-canary grin had things all figured out — or at least as much as any fisherman can do in this strangest season of weather.
Peering out across Spinney Mountain Reservoir into a stiff wind chop, this fly-fisherman was happy to relate his good fortune.
“First the callibaetis were coming off, and then the damselfly hatch began,” the man said, reciting what in a normal year would be a much earlier order of things for the captains of the long rod.
He spoke of catching “lots of good fish,” including a couple in the 20-inch range, reward enough for rising early and weaving through a snarl of Friday holiday traffic that looked like the Confederate Army retreat from Atlanta.
Not only had he nailed the timing for the mayflies and damsels, he also had made a distinctive choice of reservoirs. While fishermen jostled by the dozens at Antero, as they have all season, the Spinney gathering remains relatively sedate.
In early afternoon, the Friday tally numbered fewer than 20 powercraft, about the same number of kickboats, and only a scattering of anglers fishing from shore. While the catch at Antero is indisputably greater, with consistently larger fish, there’s something to be said for the relative tranquility at Spinney — particularly now that the insect hatch has blossomed.
“The damsels have just started,” observed Jeff Spohn, the Colorado Division of Wildlife biologist who looks after all the trout-rich reservoirs of South Park.
Spohn recently conducted a survey of the trout population. The sampling data may be viewed by accessing the fishing section of the DOW’s home page. Among the information that can be gathered is the progress of the Hofer-Harrison rainbow strain, a hybrid with both a whirling disease-resistant feature and a tendency to grow faster and larger than the pit-run rainbow stocked in recent years. The biologist notes that the hybrid already has sprouted into the 13- to 15-inch range.
Both the biologist and fishermen are pleased to note that a greater percentage of earlier trout plants have nosed past the 20-inch mark that qualifies as a keeper under Spinney’s strict creel limit.
“The catch rate remains about the same as during the last couple of years, but we’re seeing more fish over 20 inches,” Spohn said.
Spohn isn’t certain whether this development results from DOW’s continuing program to stifle northern pike numbers or some bene-ficial shift in the lake’s forage balance. What he does know is that Spinney remains an intriguing laboratory for biologist and anglers alike, as well as one of the most productive fisheries in the region.
This feeling of seclusion one gets on such a large body of water is both real and relative. Colorado State Parks, which operates the lake under contract with Aurora Water, reports relatively brisk attendance — 15,756 since an early March 29 opening.
This compares to 15,259 for a May opening in 2008 and 15,152 for an April start in 2007.
But it should be noted that in 2008, Antero, Tarryall and Rampart reservoirs — close-by competitors for angler attention — opened very late to boating because of delays in inspection for aquatic nuisance species.
This year, Antero has been a beehive of activity with 2,400 boat inspections alone from May 10 to June 17. Hand-launched craft and shore activity have been even more prolific, reflecting a dramatic revival in angling success from the 2007-08 winterkill.
In keeping with conditions throughout the region, Spinney is brim full and overflowing. Water temperature remains considerably below normal, which accounts for the delay in insect activity. Spend a bit of time wading crotch-deep, particularly on a day with a brisk west wind and waves rolling in, and it’s difficult to believe July has arrived.
The South Platte River continues to dump a full flow at the inlet and the outflow below the dam is 322 cubic feet per second. This robust volume adds a degree of difficulty to a blizzard of a late-afternoon caddis hatch.
Although nearly half a month late, the damsels and callibaetis now are the centers of attraction at both Spinney and Antero, well worth rising early to catch the start of the hatch.
And if you see a fellow wearing a broad grin, give him a wave.
Charlie Meyers: 303-954-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com
