Every year the question arises: “When do
the Browns start to spawn and where will they spawn first?” I can tell you this - spawning activity is
activated by cold weather and cold water.
I fished the
Colorado River a few weeks back when the water temperature was 58 degrees. There were no spawners, but I caught a lot of
small fish. The same holds true for the Arkansas where the water is also still warm. However, the Hayden Meadows area has had some
pretty cold evenings and I have caught some pretty nice spawning fish there. A lot of
people fish with big streamers to entice the spawning fish; I prefer a large (#12)
partridge and orange with a copper bead behind the hackle.
This leads into the latest book report. Tying and Fly Fishing Soft
Hackles is a recent publication. I think the patterns in this book catch a lot
more fish than Mister Nemes ever dreamed of. If
you are a soft hackle fly addict, you need to buy this book.
Most of the small streams are starting to get low and clear. Fine leaders and small flies are your choice.
Reports of the Blue River are still good and with Pat’s Rubber Legs (a new pattern)
you’ll have good fishing. If you
haven’t tried this fly, do so. It’s
a killer!
Kokanee reports are coming in fast and furiously with the East River leading
the way. The Gunnison around Almont, the lake fork of the Gunnison, the Blue, and the
Dream stream are all major producers. I like small orange woolies at this time of year.
Don’t put those rods down just yet as October is a great time for
spawners and BWO’s.
