EDWARDS — In the utterly unofficial race among high country freestone fisheries determining which will be the earliest to settle into its summer stride for quality fishing, the Eagle River appears to have landed first. Unofficially, that is.
There are other competitors, the Yampa River through Steamboat Springs, whose flows have receded to comfortable wade-fishing levels faster, comes to mind. But because of a leaner snowpack overall, much of the upper Yampa is already facing the lower levels of navigability for float fishermen and water temperatures are already on the rise. Similarly, portions of the Roaring Fork, Blue and Colorado rivers are on the high side of fishable and coming into their own. But if there’s an overall winner this week, it’s the Eagle.
“The caddis hatch pretty much hit mid-morning on Monday. The water temperature is getting right to that upper-50s point that will bring on caddis all day,” said John Packer, owner of Fly Fishing Outfitters in Avon. “Next to the Mother’s Day caddis hatch on the Arkansas, I’d say the Eagle River caddis hatch rivals that as one of the best in the state. Ours is just on the Fourth of July.”
Therein lies the rub. Along with nearly perfect fishing conditions on a centrally located mountain river come the Independence Day hordes seeking solace from oppressive summer heat. Eager anglers deprived of several weeks of fishing due to prolonged runoff will assuredly make their way to the river alongside the splash of whitewater rafters over the long holiday weekend. Yes, it will be crowded.
Then again, so will almost anywhere else. And there are precious few places to find a smorgasbord of fish food that includes monstrous PMDs, yellow sallies, caddis flies and the usual smattering of midges and BWOs. Pick almost any fly in the box, and you could be in the game.
“It’s Christmas week in the fly-fishing world,” Packer said. “It’s nice to have the option to spread people out on the Roaring Fork and the Colorado, but trying to get a guide to leave the Eagle River right now is almost impossible. Then again, why would you? The fishing is going to be great right here for the next three or four weeks.”
It is for good reason that fly-fishermen grow so giddy over a reliable caddis hatch. If there is a single fly that any angler can appreciate, it’s the oh-so accommodating caddis, especially when they hatch by the thousands.
As a surface pattern, it’s highly visible, not to mention forgiving. A shoddy fly caster can slap one down with a splash on the water, and it will often attract, rather than scare, the fish. Drag your fly in the current or along the side of a boat, and a trout may try to chase it down before it escapes. Say you were “skating” it and claim it as expert technique.
“That’s the fun of the caddis hatch. Whether you’re 10 years old or you’ve been fly-fishing for 10 years, it gives everybody a chance to catch a fish,” Packer said. “It’s our favorite time of the year.”
Let the fireworks begin.
Scott Willoughby: swilloughby@denverpost.com or
