August 2011

What’s  really  on  his  mind  

This is no ordinary fishing kayak. The Freedom Hawks are the first angling kayaks designed from the waterline up to allow the user to stand, safely, and comfortably, thanks to a patented integrated outrigger design. Simply pull the two levers conveniently located on either side of the hull to open the rear outriggers, and enjoy stability like you never thought possible.

The  illustra3ons  are  from  a  comprehensive  guide  to  Essen3al  Knots  and  Rigs  for  Trout  wri=en  by  Joe  Mahler  and  published  by  Stackpole.    The  thing  about  Joe's  illustra3ons  and  descrip3ons  is  they  are  so  darn  easy  to  follow.    Even  the  most  fumbled  fingered  angler  will  master  all  of  the  knots  in  this  guide.    The  speed  nail  knot  aka  nail-­‐less  nail  knot  is  a  Gary  Borger  solu3on  that  is  rigging  ever  serious  angler  should  know.  It  has  many  uses  beyond  just  a=aching  a  leader  to  a  flyline.    For  instance  I  use  it  to  3e  eyeglass  lanyards  made  from  mono  or  spiderwire  on  reading  glasses  to  see  what  I'm  doing,  crea3ng  loops  in  the  end  of  a  fly  line  for  loop-­‐to-­‐loop  connec3ons,  tying  in  a  dropper  fly,  and  so  on.  

1.    Looking  for  stress  cracks  2,    Trying  to    find  a  lost  contact  lens  3.    Filling  in  nail  holes  4.    Compe3ng  for  a  spot  on  the  US  Olympic  Crawling  Team  5.    Tes3ng  wader  durability  6.    Looking  for  their  guide  7.    Trying  to  find  their  wives  8.    Admiring  the  finish  9.    Searching  for  loca3on  X  men3oned  in  the  Fly  Fishing  Film  Tour  10.  Spo^ng  fish  

Photo  Courtesy  of  Val  Atkinson  

Insights from an obsessed wiper fisherman

Fishing Guide Extraordinaire ~ 505.350.0428 ~ tkconnor@kw.com

!  Striped Bass x White Bass "  Hybrid Species = Sterile "  Please Catch & Release

!  Present in most of Colorado’s Lakes! "  Aurora Reservoir ~ Barr Lake ~ Bonny Lake ~

Cherry Creek Reservoir ~ Douglas Reservoir ~ Horsetooth ~

"  John Martin Reservoir ~ Lonetree Reservoir ~ Martin Lake ~ North Sterling

"  Prewitt Reservoir ~ Pueblo Reservoir ~ Trinidad Lake ~ Union Reservoir ~ Wellington

!  Predatory & Aggressive !  12” …. 22lbs! Long, Wide & Deep bodies !  Broken black horizontal stripes !  Two rows of teeth near rear of tongue

"  White bass has a single tooth patch on the tongue

!  Water Temperature !  Water Clarity !  Wind !  Inlet conditions / water currents !  Structure !  Baitfish - Shad

"  Location & spawning !  Weather !  Pressure / Human factors !  Lake Levels !  Keep a thorough journal

!  April 1 through Mid May !  Target

"  Shallow Shelves with adjacent deep water "  Inlets "  15’ ledges

!  3”-4” large baitfish patterns !  Concentrate efforts early and later in the day !  I like a consistent 5-10mph breeze pushing

towards structure and currents !  Water temp: 48 – 55 degrees

!  Mid May through July 1 !  As temps rise fish move to 10’+ water !  Sporadic Action w/good days !  Bigger attractor based patterns

"  6”, black, red, yellow, olive & brown !  Concentrate on structure

"  Shad are taking cover in flooded areas "  Use bass fishing techniques

!  Look for schools of carp, concentrated flocks of birds & ‘current spots’

!  July through September !  Water levels drop considerably !  Look to deeper water along dams and outlets !  Shad will ball up for protection

"  Fish to the sides and underneath the bait balls "  Smaller flies – juvenile shad imitaions

!  Early morning & Late Evening & at night !  Typically find smaller wiper !  Efforts tend to switch to carp fishing

!  September through end of October !  May find Blitzing Wiper

"  Surface feeding scenarios

!  Resurgence of wiper activity "  Similar to spring fishing "  Look towards wind blown shores, structure and

balled up bait

!  6wt – 9wt rods !  Quality saltwater capable reels

"  Smooth, sealed disc drag system

!  Spring / Fall "  Clear waters "  9’ – 12’ Flouro leader to 1X, 2X, 3X

!  Summer / Deep Scenarios "  7’ – 9’ Flouro 0X, 1X, 2X "  Warmer waters, off color

!  Thermometer !  Binoculars !  Belly Boat !  Power Boat !  Waders (that DO NOT leak!) !  Fly Lines

"  Clear Intermediate Sink Tip lines !  3-5ips

"  Full Sink 300gr !  6-10 ips

!  Fish/Depth Finder !  Hook Sharpener

!  Strip-Strip-Strip-Pause "  Two to four inch strips

!  Striiiiiiiiiip "  Long, four foot, slow consistent strips

!  Jigging !  Trolling !  Fan-casting – searching for fish !  Steelhead style cast & move three feet !  Reverse Double Hauling for wind

!  Distance Casting in the wind "  Competent at 50’-80’

!  Prepare for cold weather !  Have a variety of flies !  Keep a journal !  Belly Boat in the truck !  Above all: undying patience & persistence

!  Clear Waters / Inlets / Outlets / Spring Fishing "  3”-5” shad imitations "  Silvers, Whites, Black, Purple Contrasting Colors

!  Cloudy Water / Summer "  3” – 7” attractor baits "  Crayfish, shad, other forage fish, trout "  Bright colors, heavier flies "  Flies that move water and make noise

!  Busting fish "  Shad "  Surface flies – poppers "  Fiber flies "  Jigging flies

!  I like flies with CONTRAST and Movement !  Durability and Fishability is key