The big rivers are running clear but will be pretty high for a while. It’s a great time to get up in the mountains and fish smaller creeks. The wild flowers are popping and the fish are looking up.

Had some really nice rainbows looking up at size 8 adult stoneflies today. Nothing like a big gulp on the surface! (Click on the image to enlarge.)

I made this video with Todd Moen of Catch Magazine a few years ago while working for Eleven Angling. I figured it was a good time to post this again. It’s going to be a very good season for fishing our small streams. (YouTube video may take a while to load.)

Midges and small BWOs were hatching up at the C&R today, and some nice fish like this pretty rainbow here were taking small dry flies.

The rivers in the Gunnison Valley are in full runoff now and it will last a while. It’s a good time to find some smaller water that’s really starting to fish well. These fish were all caught on small streamers on a fork of the Arkansas River last week. Beautiful place and a really fun small stream to fish, full of pretty wild trout.

Finally got out to fish and work more on Euro Nymphing yesterday. It was a beautiful day and the fish are getting on big stonefly nymphs in the deeper and slower water. I caught a lot of pretty wild rainbows and a nice 20-inch brown. (Click on images to enlarge.)

Had a great trip to New Zealand, traveling around the South Island for nearly a month. We fished for a week out of Eleven Experience’s Cedar Lodge and caught some nice fish, including this 6-pound brown trout here. Can’t wait to get back there!

Winter has arrived early again this year with two major storms hitting in just a few days during late October. Hopefully this is a good sign for our rivers next season. I will be signing out for the winter months now and will see you next spring!

I’ve been diving into Euro Nymphing lately and enjoying the process, and the different gear and related techniques. It’s an extremely effective way to catch fish and a lot more fun than watching a bobber.

We’ve had another beautiful fall in the Gunnison Valley, and the fishing season is winding down. I may get out a couple of more times, but I’ll soon put up the fly rod until next spring. Let’s hope for a good snowpack and full rivers next season. (Click on the image to enlarge.)