Back in Buizz.......

             Hello all and thanks for checking in at the O’Grady Fly Fishing Adventures blog. I wanted to start by saying how awesome it was getting back in the water this week guiding. At times, it seemed as if the fish had missed me as much as I had missed them and at times it felt like they had completely forgotten me. I was cleared last week and had three trips scheduled, and with the fishing picking up, I couldn’t wait to get back out.  The first trip had my mouth watering with what I expected to be perfect conditions, but just when I think I know it all I find out that I don’t. For some strange reason, bugs were basically nonexistence, and fish went into lockjaw mode. Yeah, we got some to the net but was not Arkansas-esque at all. The next trip out was much better and we found feeding fish sporadically all day. Today saw fish eating early but slowed considerably after about 10:30. Anyway, the days were fun and it was nice to be able to talk that much again. The pics are a few from the week. We did see a new addition into the 20 inch club for the Drifts guide trips, congrats Duane!

               I expect fishing to be on and off until we get that first nasty cold snap, but I find it hard to complain about 80+ degrees in October. The cottonwoods right now are absolutely gorgeous and the valley screams a bright gold. Right now is a great time to book a trip and work on the essentials before the Blue wings invade. Fish were eating small Blings and really small Tube Wing midges.                         I wanted to give a quick shout out to the fly fishing club called the Pueblo Renegades. If you are looking for fellow fly fishing addicts here in P-town look them up or stop by the shop. In addition to river cleanups, they do contests and get togethers on a regular basis. It was good seeing the group out today and they were all full of smiles. As always, Connell, Cat, Winston and the Drift Fly Shop want to thank you for reading….

What a Difference....

               Hello all and thanks for checking in at The O’Grady Fly Fishing Adventures Blog. What a difference four days can make. Last Friday I had a high school classmate and her husband make their way from Omaha all the way to P-town to learn how to fly fish. I was so excited to help these two see what Fly Fishing has to offer, and fishing had certainly been getting better. I have been living in P-town long enough to not be surprised by any weather at any time of the year but even I had to scratch my head when I saw the 90’s rolling in. Wednesday, Cat and I fished in 50 degree weather and the fish loved it. Friday morning arrived and we were back at 90 degrees. We made it to the water at around 9:30 and Lori hooked several fish right away, but by 10:15 it seemed that the fish had gone in to total shut down mode. The next five and a half hours saw just a couple takes. In the shop over the weekend the fishing stories were far and few. We saw that the weather was supposed to cool today so Cat and I headed to the river and what a difference 4 days and 20 degrees made.

                We got to the water at just after 9:00 and decided to try some different spots. For about four hours Cat and I had to listen to each other go “Yeah, oh this is a good one” followed by “What the”. I know at one point I was sitting at 0 and 8 for the big fish but I was slaying the super dinks. Finally I was able to work my first quality fish to the net, there may or may not have been a small tear drop in the corner of my eye. The landing got much better for the both of us and we both got several to the net. The river did not disappoint today and the trees are just beginning to turn the valley Gold. The next ten days or so should be the prettiest of the year.  You can see a little of the colors in the background of Winston’s pic, I think he was getting a little tired. The close up of the Osprey was a plus. Sorry our river was a little difficult on you Lori and Mike but remember you are always welcome.

                Our fish seemed to be super hot right now and really gave us everything we could ask for. I think our biggest problem was that we had gone so small on our flies. Most of my big fish were on a size 24 black midge and the dinks were gorging on an egg. I have been feeling more and more confident every trip to the water so I am now beginning to take on guide trips. Sight fishing will be spotty between now and our first super cold spell but (if no 90 degree weather), fishing ought to be steady. Call the shop if you are ready to book, November is filling up. As always Connell, Cat, Winston, Lori & Mike and the Drift Fly Shop want to thank you for reading….

Gonna Get Some Learning....

            Hello all and thanks for checking in at the O’Grady Fly Fishing Adventures blog. One of the comments the shop has been inundated with over the last few weeks has been about the number of super dinks in the river. Now some in the know claim that we have no natural reproduction, the river tells a different story. I’m not sure when it actually started but at some point in my life, I found it really rewarding trying to help young people. I have guest lectured in both middle and high school. I have coached several of my kid’s sports teams, and Cat and I worked in our church youth group for several years. Over the years, some of my favorite clients have been kids. It is so rewarding thinking you are possibly making a positive impact in young people’s lives.

               Today, Cat and I had a different type of youth teaching. We got to the river at just after noon and the super dinks were absolutely gorging. Now it has been a long time since we have found ourselves fishing to those but today we had an idea. If we know that these super dinks will live their entire lives in our river, maybe at an early age, we need to teach them how delicious our flies actually are. All they have to do is taste our flies and we will open a whole new world to their moldable little minds. Winston also did his part in growing fish knowledge. While working with our fish youth today we just happened to work a few quality fish to the net. Obviously, fish that had been taught correctly. It sure was a productive teaching day today. Water was a little murky today so sight fishing was limited, luckily PMD’s were hatching all day long. As always, Connell, Cat, Winston, Mr. Kotter, and the Drift Fly Shop want to thank you for learning……….

Baby Steps.....

            Hello all and thanks for checking in at the O’Grady Fly Fishing Adventures blog. On Friday I had my re-evaluation on my knee and after getting the go ahead, I made the most of it. 8 miles on the bike both Friday and Saturday, and today Cat and I made it to the river. We got to the water at just after noon and had an incredible day. I was hoping the fish would be as happy to be reunited with me as I was with them, but they had other ideas. Clarity was much better than I expected and Winston and I both acted like Pavlov’s dog when I spotted my first fish in a feeding lane. I took an extra second to collect myself and then laid the flies in front of the fish. I watched his mouth open just as my indicator jumped and it was game on. Well not really game on, it was a little more like todays Bronco game. The fish bolted straight for the rocks and as my first thought went to chase, my second thought was to be safe and take baby steps. I got my rod way in the air and flipped the line over two separate rocks. Just when I thought I had slowed him, he took off down river and then the line went dead. He had taken me under a tree. My next three hookups were the same, excitement and then the smell of smoke. Finally, I hooked one and was able to chase him just enough to get him in the net, it sure was great getting reacquainted. We started to make our way down river and I landed my next three, plus several super dinks. Cat was catching fish the whole way down but more than catching fish, I think she was just totally enamored with her new Sage X.

            Today was so much fun, but we did have a few not so great moments. I walked up on one fish and pointed him out to Cat. I measured him up and got several good drifts on him. After several drifts with nothing, my indicator dropped and I set. I could feel tree immediately and then walked over, and yes even when a person thinks they can really see fish, sometimes I get fooled. I’ve said it many times before, if you can’t learn to laugh at yourself, you are going to miss the greatest joke of your generation.

            It sure was great getting back into our river. At times the new knee felt great and at times it felt like I was dragging around a wet log. I have friends coming in next weekend, but after that I believe I should be able to start taking guide trips again. Clarity was really good today but I think it will bounce around a little over the next few weeks. Hatches will continue to increase from now until the end of the year. We saw a mixed bag of bugs flying around, giant Sulphurs, tiny PMD’s, and lots of midges but fish were mostly just eating caddis. As always Connell, Cat, Winston, Dr. Feign and the Drift Fly Shop want to thank you for reading…….