Fishing Report May 20, 2013

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Welcome to the NPA Fishing Report. We strive to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information we can. If the information your looking for is not on this page, feel free to call the shop, we're here to help... (970) 723-4215

May has brought warmer weather to Colorado and North Park and Run-off has officially started. The area streams are all raging with high flows and muddy water as the area snow is melting. Over the next couple weeks the area lakes will be the place to be and should fish very good as chironmomid hatches are starting to intensify. Towards the end of the month the rivers will feel a reprieve from run-off and the fishing will be awesome! Salmon Flies, Green Drakes, PMD's, and Caddis, are all on the horizon. We're excited for a good run-off and cleansing of our river bottoms which should provide a great summer fishing on the local streams.

Soon the local ranchers will be turning ditches on and start flooding meadows. This will take a lot of pressure off the moving water along the valley floor and provide a good window of fishing. Although inconsistent May is one of our favorite months to fish the local meadow streams.


For up-to-the-day reports check our facebook page where we'll be posting photos.


Note: Anytime the wind and weather is tough our meadow streams are a great retreat. The willow covered waters provide good cover from the weather, and while trudging through the "Trout Swamps" your heart rate stays up and keeps you warm. In general the meadow streams are better for quality versus quantity. Anytime we fish these streams we're looking for one Big Fish and not trying to put numbers on the board. Next time your in the Park and weather is about to scare you away stop by the shop and we'll help you pick a sweet destination to save the day...

We pride ourselves on friendly advice and a HUGE fly selection. Whether you need a few bugs or not, our coffee is always Hot, and we would love to see you in the store.


If your new to the area, take the guess work out of finding fish and hire a NPA guide to show you the ropes. We have permits and leases on water in every direction in the Park both on public and private waters.

Shop Hours
Prime season May 1-September 30 7-7 Everyday

We have the shop stuffed full of great new products this year.

Stop by the next time you make it to North Park and say hello, we are always happy to share friendly advice and fish stories!

*Please note that our fishing report is as good as yesterday's information. We try to accurately relay up-to-date information as a friendly service to you. We comprise our information from angler's reports and our own experience. Please understand that conditions vary daily, if not hourly up here*

Check us out on facebook for live fishing reports and daily photos of the lakes and rivers. (www.facebook.com)Join NPA on Facebook and Twitter for more up-to-the-minute reports and updates.

524 Main Street Walden, CO 80480
(970)723-4215
info@northparkanglers.com

Sagebrush Lakes

The Delaney Butte lakes are fishing good. We've had warm weather the past week and the chironomids have really started to show up. Although we haven't had any radical days fishing chironomids it will happen very soon as the fish start to key in on this hatch. Usually the window for fishing this hatch starts at daylight and can be good until mid-day, then it will pick up again early afternoon and last until dark. Nymph fishing is a great way to attack this hatch as well as fishing a slick leader. Usually nymph fishing is best early morning and late afternoon as the midge larvae are working there way to the surface to hatch. The slick leader technique works best at daylight and sunset as the bugs are returning to the water to lay eggs or as they are emerging from the surface film to hatch. Chironomids change colors and sizes daily so it's in your best interest to have a stomach pump and use it.

Soon after the Chironomids look for Callibaetis to show up toward the end of May.

Nymph rigs fished in 6-12 foot of water with a 3-fly rig will be the ticket. As the day wears on, fishing near the surface with a slick (ginked up) leader and chironomids just below the water will be the ticket.

Night fishing will also pick up as the water warms up. Look for the crayfish to start moving in after dark retreating to the warmer sandy bottoms.

Hot Flies
Chironomids (Buzzers and Chironocone's) (Red, Olive, and Black #14-18)
Water boatmen #16, Crayfish in 4-6 Olive and Orange, Olive and Grey Scuds #14-16

Typical Delaney Patterns (Nymphs): Water Boatmen (16), Hare's ear's (14-16), Anatomical Callibaetis (14,16), Gilled Nymphs Tan (14,16), Gilled Nymph PT (14,16) Scuds (Olive and Tan #14-16) Chironomids (Red, Olive, and Black #14-18) Leeches (Black, Wine, and Olive #12-14) Crayfish (Orange and Olive #4-6) Stillwater Leeches (Wine and Rust #8-12) Prince Nymphs #14-16, Copper John's (Red, Copper, Black, and Silver #12-16) Rojo Midges #12-16, BH Woolly Bugger (Black, Olive, Rust, and Brown #2-10), Damsels #6-8.

Patterns (Dries): Callibaetis Extended Body (14,16), Periscope Cripple Callibaetis (14,16) Mosquito #16, Chironomid Dry #16, Chironomid Emerger #16, Griffiths Gnat #16, Renegade #16, Damsels

Nymphing Tactics: The best nymph rigs the past week have been between 4-8 feet deep, below an indicator (slip indicator) using a 2 or 3-fly rig. Scuds, water boatmen, chironomids, small leeches, and eggs.

Stripping Tactics: The best rigs for stripping flies on either a intermediate, full sink, or floating lines, has been Crayfish or Big Buggers as point flies, with a Prince nymph or scud trailers. Try to target fish in the shallow water bays or near the shorelines where the fish are marauding for insects, scuds, and crayfish. It's best to get in a boat casting towards the shore.

Night Fishing: The "Night Bite" is usually pretty consistent this time of year. On super hot days look for night fishing to be the ticket...

North Platte

Current River Flows For North Platte

The North Platte is high and muddy and fishing has been tough. We expect the main river to get a good flush the next couple weeks. If your headed to the Platte throw big bright streamers towards the bank. Most fish will be find reprieve from the high dirty water by hanging around the boulders and cover near the banks.

Throw streamers in White, Yellow, Black, and Olive. Also try nymph fishing the deeper runs and pools including stoneflies, worms, and leeches. If the water is clear and temps aren't too bad look for the fish in riffles feeding on Blue Winged Olive's, stoneflies, and midges.

Bugs to look for: BWO's, Caddis, Black Stoneflies.

Streamer rigs should include: Zuddler's, Tequeely's, Platte River Special, White Lightning, and Lemon Drops. Nymph rigs should include Trico's, Stone's, Worms, Hare's Ears, PT's, Zebra Midges, Leeches, and Sunken Ants.

Nymph Rigs:
Point Flies: Pat's Rubber Leg (8-12) (Black, Golden, Olive), San Juan Worm (red, wine, purple, pink), Leeches (Black, wine), Copper Johns (12-18) (red, black, copper)..

The North Platte is good from Verner/ Brownlee, Routt, 6 Mile, Bennett Peak, and all of the way to Saratoga. Good Luck!

North Park Meadow Streams

Current River Flows For North Park Meadow Streams

All the area meadow streams are high and blown out. For now fishing them is out of the question. With irrigation in full swing the streams should clear up soon. If your in North Park and observe a tributary stream that is super high but clear, wader up and go fishing. These streams seem to clear up fast with local ranchers pulling water for irrigation and fish very good in high water. Conditions on these streams will change daily, the best advice we can offer is: If you see a tributary with more than a foot of visibility no matter how high the flow is, Fish It and Throw Big Ugly Stuff! Good Luck!


Patterns:
#12 San Juan Worms in Purple, red, and maroon, #8-12 Black and wine colored mohair leeches, streamers in black, white, and yellow...

Streamers: Flash Fry (White and Olive #4), Woolly Buggers (Black, Olive, Yellow, and Brown #4-6), Zuddlers (Black, White and Yellow #4-8), Beldar Buggers (Black Olive Brown and Yellow #4-8), BH Hale Bopp Leeches(Black, Olive and Wine #8-12)

Nymph Rigs
Point Flies: Stoneflies (Golden #8-12), Caddis Larvae (#14), Prince Nymph (#12-16), Twenty Incher (#12-14), Halfback's (#8-10), North Fork Special Golden (#12-14), Hott Butt Stone Dark and Light (#10-12), TH Caddis Pupa (14,16)
Droppers: San Juan Worms (Pink, Purple, and Red), Caddis Pupa (#14-18), Hare's Ear (#18-20) Pmd's (#16) Midges (#18-20)

Headwater Streams & High Lakes

Although most of the high country lakes and streams are still frozen Big Creek Lakes have cracked. Currently there is about 20% of open water near the outlet which is growing daily. The road to the lake is open and access is easy. Fishing can be very good at ice-off for Trout, Lake Trout, and Tigers.
Good Luck!