Look Back: Conejos Guides Weekend

Had the pleasure (was it really?) to spend a weekend with a group of fish bums on the Conejos River in southeastern Colorado. It just so happens it was a group of guys I work with and spend time with. We hugged the kids, kissed the wives good bye before speeding off with steaks, booze and gear in tow. It was a blast for sure. Meteor showers, sasquatches, rouge cows, buzzes and plenty of trout were on hand. The cast: Josh Curtis (our default guide), Josh Jarvis, Chris Meyer, Nate Bronson, Tim Hebbard and Will Blanchard Date: Aug 2012

Season Snaps

Conejos at dusk

Will and Bob on the Pine

Jeff and Ben playing hide-and-seek around Amanda

summer brown

afternoon bow

Few images from the 2012 season...what a season it has been.

Team A-hole (self proclaimed) take on T-hole!

River: San Juan QW
Anglers: Kevin Kuper and Jack Cassidy
Flow: 468 cfs
Visibility: 3 to 4 feet
Hatches: some midges and bwos
Weather: broken sun/clouds
Wind:20-30 mph, gusts 50 mph
Fishing: way too good for these two to handle
*if there were any more thumbs-up during the photo opts i could have hitched a ride to moab ut. most kidding aside, great day with the boys.

Summer Grips

photos: (1) Carson Dellinger and Will on the Rio with a sweet trout.(2) Bill Mitchell with a stud upper bow. (3)Courtney, Will and Kispa on the upper Juan (4) Jesse and Kevin hangin' with Guide Josh Curtis on the Rio. Nice fish eh?

(updated) House Bill 10-1188-Passes with 7 to 3 Vote

Bill 10-1188 passed Monday, February 8th 2010, with a 7 to 3 vote. This bill will give River Outfitters, in Colorado, the right to offer float fishing trips trough private property. Outfitters and guides will be protected under state law when incidental trespass occurs. This would be the case if a raft or drift boat bumps a bank or rock. This would also allow a guide to portage around a hazard or obstacle. Float fishing is all about respect for the environment, the fish and private property.

click this link or cut and paste it to see the Bill

http://http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/CLICS2010A/csl.nsf/">

image: Quick lunch break for the guides and guests on a chunk of public US Forest Service land that is locked by private property on all four sides.Rio Grande River near Creede Colorado

Easter Eggs, Taxes, Small Flies and BIG TROUT

Spring is in the air...images: Last week Tony Lockwood took a break from the slopes and grabbed his son Trenton for a day of fishing with Animas Valley Anglers guide Chris Meyer. It was a great day on the water, but this monster brown was the cherry. Trenton did a great job landing this beast on light tippet and a small fly. The San Juan is starting to get the reputation of having hard to catch fish. Biologists say the Juan now has a split population between rainbows and browns. It is no secret that brown trout are harder to catch than bows. The second image is a big late winter Animas cutbow. The last image is an Animas bow Kispa has her eye on.

Winter Fly Fishing on the Animas with Chris Meyer and the hounds

Chris Meyer and I headed to the Animas for a little recon before a guide trip. The day was Jan 18th and the weather was perfect. Here are four photos from the day. The rest of the images can be seen at Animas Valley Anglers. Click the link at the upper right of the blog.

Summer Images 08

photos: 1) Stick-o-butter trout. This albino bow was chilling out on the Rio Grande in a Wason Ranch back chanel. Kispa loved the thing. 2) Rio Grande stones. 3) Jess on Apple Creek north of Durango. 4) Caddis orgy on the Rio. 5) More stone fly action.