VFG Fly Fishing Journal Day 3

September 28, 2009

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, near Lake City, CO

Our day began with lattes courtesy of Dan File. We are so spoiled. We started fishing at the bridge that crosses the Upper Lake Fork. The river yielded a few fish, but due to the time of year, low flows make the fishing tough. We made our way upriver by leap frogging each other attempting to find the likely spots that hold trout. Ultimately, we headed over to the Smith pond. After one cast, it was game on. There were fish everywhere and they were hungry. Dry/droppers to start and then on to streamers. We hammered them! Check out the action.

And here it is....

Sean had just arrived at the Smith pond and promptly hooked up with a very large rainbow. Once I turned on my camera to film the action, the acrobatic trout didn't disappoint as you will see above.

Dan with a hefty Rainbow

Erik caught this Rainbow after one cast.

Darin with a Rainbow from the Smith pond.

VFG Fly Fishing Journal Day 2

September 27, 2009

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, near Lake City, CO

Due to our late arrival, getting ready for the day had some delays. After breakfast, we rigged up our rods and and donned our waders and began our day on the Davis Pond and the Lake Fork. We all did well and here are some of the highlights.

Dan Wallentine and a Colorado Rainbow

Darin Wallentine and a Lake Fork Rainbow

Erik Vail with a 21" Rainbow

Sean Wallentine and a 21" Rainbow

VFG Fly Fishing Journal Day 1

September 26, 2009 (Travel Day)

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, near Lake City, CO

We all arrived in Denver between 12 noon and 3 pm. Erik and I travelled from Tucson, AZ, Sean from Sacramento, CA, and Dan (Dad) from Orange County.

Everyone arrived with all their luggage and pile into a Chevy Tahoe for a 5 hour drive to Lake City, CO. After stopping for supplies at Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World and WalMart for licenses and food, we headed to the San Juan Mountains southwest of Gunnison.

We arrived late, about midnight and settled into the Davis home. Actually it is a log mansion.

We finally got to bed around 1:30 am. We cancelled our early wake up call. The fish will wait for us.

Firehole River, WY YNP Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

Firehole River, WY

Yellowstone National Park

October 2005

Profile of Silver Creek, AZ Fly Fishing

For fly fishers looking for a destination in Arizona, the obvious choice defaults to Lees Ferry. But for locals and fly fishing residents in Arizona's White Mountain area, Silver Creek is the not so well kept secret. Silver Creek is a spring creek located just east of Show Low Airport. Most attention for Silver Creek is on the hatchery that uses branched areas of the upper creek and are well fenced and posted for fly fishers. The "catch" for Silver Creek is that regulations keep anglers off the creek for the summer months. The creek is open from October until March 31 to keep the pressure off the trout for the warmer months. Check the regulations before venturing to Silver Creek.

Silver Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

Silver Creek, CA

September 2008

Caught 5 Rainbows and 3 Brookies

Flies Used: X-Wing Caddis #16 and Gold Bead Pulsating Caddis #18

Other Details: Fished Silver Creek south of Markleeville along Hwy 4. Used a dry/dropper for most of the afternoon. The water was very low, but still held some nice fish.

Much Too Close

Blue River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Rich Hyatt
Tucson, AZ

Blue River, CO
September 2009
Details: Used a Dry/Dropper and caught this one on a #18 Red Copper John.

Silver Creek, AZ Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

Silver Creek, AZ
March 29, 2007
21" Rainbow
Dark Brown Elk Hair Caddis #16

Silver Creek is a spring creek that is located near Show Low Airport. There are special regulations for this creek, it is only open from October until the end of March.

East Carson River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

East Carson River, CA

October 2008

Caught 2o Rainbows and a Mountain Whitefish

Flies Used: Green Beaded Pulsating Caddis #16 and a Black Double Bead Stone Fly Nymph #8.

Other Details: Fished along Hwy 4. This is a great stretch of river for nymphing catching fish of all sizes and species.

West Carson River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

West Carson River, CA

My New TU Plates

Jared Griswold

Franklin, TN

Here is my new license plate. I love it.

Visit Trout Unlimited

Hilgard Creek, High Sierra, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

Hilgard Creek, CA

July 2003

Caught too many to count!

Flies Used: EC Caddis #14; Elk Hair Caddis #14; Adams #14.

Other Details: Fished this High Sierra creek from the outlet of Lake Italy and all the spots that held fish.

Lees Ferry, AZ Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

Lees Ferry, AZ

Caught this 16" Rainbow on a #16 Brown San Juan Worm.

Madison River, WY YNP Profile

The Madison River is rich with American history. It was named by Lewis and Clark in 1805, for the Secretary of State, and soon to be President, James Madison. The Madison River needs to be on every fly fishers short list of rivers to fish in their lifetime.

The Madison begins it's quest to the Mississippi in Yellowstone National Park where the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers merge. It flows west out of the park and on it's 183 mile trek through Wyoming and Montana, eventually flowing into the Missouri River.

The setting for the Madison, inside Yellowstone National Park, is best described as sensory overload. There are few places in the world a fly fisher can catch beautiful, healthy Rainbows and Browns, with large herds of elk and bison grazing nearby. This river is at the top of our favorite places to fly fish.

Putah Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

Putah Creek, CA

December 13, 2008

24" Rainbow Trout

Fly Used: Pheasant Tail Nymph #20

Other Details: Caught two Rainbows, and 18" and a 24". Lost another that was well over 24".Weather was very cold and windy, but the fish were BIG, so it didn't matter!

Last Cast on the San Juan River, NM

Trinity River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

Body of Water: Trinity River
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009
# of Fish Caught: 16
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: Up to 13"
Effective Flies: #12 Prince Nymph, #16 BH Green Rock Worm, #16 Red Copper John
Summary: Fished at Bucktail Access in the late morning. The Copper Johns worked best in this area. Then we moved up into the "fly fishing only" section in Lewiston. We fished above the old concrete diversion dam and had pretty good success using the green rock worm.

It was very hot; sunny. Water was clear and cold. Again we saw some very large salmon swirling. Used the hinged indicator technique.

The fish were not big but they were a lot of fun. At about 2:30pm my dad and I agreed it was just too darn hot.

Gibbon River, WY Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

Gibbon River, WY (Yellowstone National Park)

July 2008

Caught 21 Browns and Brookies up to 12"

Details: We fished above Gibbon Falls and near Virginia Cascade near dusk. Mosquitos drove us off the water.

VFG Gallery August 2009

Jared Griswold

Franklin, TN

North Fork Lake, CO

August 2009

Burney Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

Burney Creek, CA

September 2004

Caught 22 Rainbows and Brookies up to 14"

Flies Used: Royal Wulff #14; Beaded Prince Nymph #16; Beaded Micro Mayfly 18; Z-Wing Caddis #18.

Other Details: Fished above the falls and below the falls from the base along a well maintained path all the way to Lake Britton.

Coffee Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

Body of Water: Coffee Creek (Trinity County, California)

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009

# of Fish Caught: 27
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: Up to 11"
Effective Flies: #10 Royal Stimulator with droppers including #14 Dark Lord and Prince Nymph droppers
Summary:My dad and I fished some new water: Coffee Creek, CA. This stream feeds the upper Trinity River north of Trinity Lake (formerly known as Clair Engle Lake) in Trinity County. It's about an hour drive north of Lewiston, which is approximately 30 miles west of Redding in California's northern Central Valley.

From California's Highway 3 we drove 6 miles west (upsrtream) along Coffee Creek Road. This classic, icy cold freestone stream has beautiful plunge pools and runs. It is filled with stunning natural Rainbow Trout.

Fishing a dry/dropper combination (#10 Stimulator with #16/18 Copper John, Dark Lord or Prince Nymph Droppers) we got strikes on nearly every cast. While the fish were small, topping out at 11 inches, they were active all day and fought hard.

Together we brought more than 40 fish to hand. The wading was a little tough and it was very hot (at least 90). Dad was nearly struck by a 5 foot rattlesnake. I heard the snake rattle from across the stream. It made me realize how loud a rattler rattles. I couldn't hear my dad yell from across the roaring stream but I heard that rattle loud and clear! Of course, we had to get a closer look.

If you like catching fish all day long in a pretty mountain setting (with an occasional rattlesnake), then give Coffee Creek a try if you ever find yourself in the area. I wouldn't come all the way to California just to fish Coffee Creek, but if you find yourself fishing Steelhead or Salmon in the Trinity River and need a small stream diversion, Coffee Creek's a perfect destination.

Yellowstone Day 6 of 6

Check out our Yellowstone fly fishing series from VFG-TV. Visit our Virtual Fly Guides YouTube Channel to see all our videos.

Yellowstone Day 5 of 6

Check out our Yellowstone fly fishing series from VFG-TV. Visit our Virtual Fly Guides YouTube Channel to see all our videos.

Yellowstone Day 4 of 6

Check out our Yellowstone fly fishing series from VFG-TV. Visit our Virtual Fly Guides YouTube Channel to see all our videos.

Yellowstone Day 3 of 6

Check out our Yellowstone fly fishing series from VFG-TV. Visit our Virtual Fly Guides YouTube Channel to see all our videos.

Yellowstone Day 2 of 6

Check out our Yellowstone fly fishing series from VFG-TV. Visit our Virtual Fly Guides YouTube Channel to see all our videos.

Yellowstone Day 1 of 6

Check out our Yellowstone fly fishing series from VFG-TV. Visit our Virtual Fly Guides YouTube Channel to see all our videos.

Wolf Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

Wolf Creek, CA

August 31, 2008

Caught 3 Rainbows up to 12"

Flies Used: #16 BH Red Copper John and #18 Griffith's Gnat.

Other Details: We fished Wolf Creek camping area and trail head, a feeder to East Carson River about 10 miles south of Markleeville, CA. I spent a little time casting at small rainbows. Caught one nice one.

Fly Fishing from VFG-TV September 2009