Gunpowder River Guide Trip Feedback

Thanks to Mark Noble for the nice stream report and photo from a guide trip with Backwater Angler guide Dave Smith. Theaux, I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to stop by the shop when I was done fishing today. Although it’s not too surprising, I never can tear myself away from a river until it is absolutely necessary. I really enjoyed fishing with Dave today. We did catch quite a few fish, but even better than that was fishing with someone who really knows the river and can offer tips on what you’re doing right and how to improve. I feel much more confident …

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Fly Fishing The Frying Pan River,Colorado:Day 3

On my third day on the Frying Pan I fell into my routine of catching the morning midge hatch up in the flat below Ruedi Dam. On the previous days I found success with zebra midges, RS2s and DMC (embroidery floss) midge patterns. There was a ton of shucks floating on the surface from the hatching midges, including some midges still trapped in their shuck. The adults were large, a size 18 black body midge, with a gray wing. I captured a few wriggling larvae to inspect them closer. The larvae were big, much bigger than the size 20-22 midges I caught fish on the …

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No Shocking Survey Today…Olives, Raindrops Abound

The shocking survey scheduled at Falls Rd lot was postponed today. The river is still flowing at a steady-as-she-goes 135 CFs. Bring up some Blue Winged Olives, a rainjacket and have a natural ball!

Beware The Falls Road Beaver!

Apparently there is a beaver in the upper Falls Road section of the Gunpowder terrorizing anglers and boaters. We had two reports yesterday morning of beaver attacks, and a pair of shredded Patagonia waders to prove it. The beaver actually latched onto both angler’s waders, and knocked them down. Fortunately no one was actually bitten or injured. Today we received a call from an angler who was in the shop yesterday, and he mentioned three separate incidents in the afternoon. The angler, his friend and a kayaker all had encounters with this aggressive (possibly rabid) beaver. The two anglers were charged, and chased out of …

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Fly Fishing The Frying Pan River, Colorado:Day 2

I spent my second morning on the Frying Pan River nymphing midges in shallow riffles. I started out on a wide riffle at a lower access point, and caught a brown on a holographic midge larva. After fishing for thirty minutes I wasn’t seeing the midge hatches I had the previous morning in the upper sections, so I moved upriver. I found a good midge hatch and rising trout that lasted for two hours. Dead drifting zebra midges, holographic midges, and black fly larvae under an indicator accounted for a dozen fish by lunch time. The majority of the browns and bows I caught were …

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Sign up for the Gunpowder River Shocking Survey

Thanks to Mark Staley for the shocking survey update and invite: We plan to conduct our annual electrofishing survey of the Gunpowder Falls tailwater on the following dates: Sept. 27—Dam/Falls Station Meet 9:30 am at the upper lot on Falls Rd. Backpack electrofishers-2 or 3 Sept. 28—Masemore Station · Meet 9:30 am at the Masemore Rd. lot · Barge shocker Sept.29—Bluemount Station · Meet 9:30 am at the Bluemount Rd. lots and carpool down the NCR trail to the station. · Barge shocker Chest waders will be necessary for those who want to participate in the electrofishing. Anyone is welcome to attend and observe, however …

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