Glacier Creek, CO Trout Grand Slam

Date: August 24, 2010
"Grand Slam" is four trout species in one day. Today I caught cutthrout, rainbows, browns and brook trout plus one cut-bow and all from one creek. A great day fishing.
Glacier creek is in Rocky Mountain National Park. My guide for the day was Frank Drummond, out of Estes Park Anglers. Frank also hand-crafts bamboo rods, local unique flies and can be reached by email at frank@brushcreekcane.com and phone at 303-810-4538. Also visit Frank at his web site www.brushcreekcane.com.
Method and flies: Several Dry flies including Royal Trude #14, Parachute Adams #16, PMD #16 worked well. A couple fish were taken on a dropper described as a "Frank's Special" #16.
Comments: We fished the creek about two miles up from Glacier Basin Campground. The creek is small and mostly pocket water fishing. I used a 3 wt 8.5' rod, but should have used a 7'. The creek required near surgical casting techniques to very difficult locations of very small holding areas. Without Frank pointing out these little holding areas I would have passed them by. I learned several new techniques that will aid this seasoned fisherman. Everyday fishing is a good day, but four species and one sub-species in one day from one creek is indeed special. Thank you Frank!

Great Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing Report **August 26, 2010**

Water levels are back down from recent rains and Little River is running around 70 CFS!  Fishing is best with terrestrials and Stimulators and small nymphs rigged as a dropper if you want to fish a nymph! The dry fly bite is good and getting better! Shorter days and cooler temps will bring the big Browns out to feed before spawning!  Good Luck!

Sean M McKay

Big Thompson River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Date: August 21, 2010, Saturday, from 7:30 to 12 noon.
Fished the Big Thompson about a mile below Estes Lake. From the Lake down stream to Drake is catch and release only. As the morning wore on the river got crowded with weekend visitors, which made finding "fresh water" difficult and about noon the down canyon winds made casting difficult.
Method: dry-dropper with #14 yellow stimulator and #18 PMD and two fly nymph with #14 Pheasant Tail and #18 PMD emerger, using 6x tippet. The PMD worked in both methods.
Results: 4 browns up to 12" and one rainbow of 13" and of course the usual few hooked, played and lost fish.
Comments: We are staying in Spruce Lake RV and campground which is family friendly. There are many family activities in Estes Park. Within walking distance is Scot's Sporting Goods store. I found everyone at Scot's very friendly, especially Bob Traver who gave specific recommendations on fly selections that actually worked. The store web-site is www.scotssportinggoods.com and the phone number is 970-586-2877.


Dan Wallentine

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Spring Creek near Rapid City, SD

August 16, 2010
Fished Spring Creek below Sheridan Lake in Pennington County near Hill City in the Black Hills from 7:30 AM to noon. Overcast all morning. There is easy access at several locations along the creek.
Flies: #16 green scud 18" below indicator produced four 12" rainbows and #14 Royal Stimulator hooked up and landed two at 10".
As a side note I must have caught 30 or more 2" to 6" small mouth bass, at least that's what they looked like. Obviously the National Forest service is not managing this nice creek for trout.

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Great Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing Report **August 14, 2010**

Been another hot week, we are all sick of hearing about how hot it is but we have had 57 days this year over 90 degrees that breaks an all time record! Fishing is solid early, despite the heat the mountain streams are shaded in most spots by thick overhanging canopy so water at lower elevations is in the 72 degree range high but not worrying to bad yet!! The highcountry streams are best, anything above the 3,000 foot range is fishing well!  Terrestrials( Ants, Inchworms, Beetles, hoppers), Stimulators and use a dropper rig with a size 16, 18 Pheasant Tail Nymph or Hares Ear! Smallmouth Action is good on the Litttle River and Pigeon River with most being caught early and late on poppers and buggers!  Dead drifting the riffles with big damsel fly nymphs or buggers are producing as well!! Looks like next week we will start seeing a break in heat with lows of 50 degrees in the mountains, so get ready because fall is on its way to southern Appalachia and we are booking fast so give us a call and let Smoky Mountain Troutfitters show you an awesome day on the water in one of the most spectacular settings in the world!!!

Sean McKay

Smoky Mountain Troutfitters

http://www.smokymountaintroutfitters.com

Great Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing Report **August 8, 2010**

Fishing has been getting better with lower day time temps and afternoon thunderstorms the mountain streams are running at average CFS!  We are all getting ready for fall and the big brownies that begin to show themselves for a fall spawn!  Little River inside the park is fishing well early with parachute adams 16,18 and Stimulators 14,16 and small bead heads and terrestrials are all producing fish! Look to the higher elevation streams above Sugarlands visitor center!  Be aware Bears are on the move in the smokies now, most backcountry sites are closed or have warnings so keep that in mind if planning a trips soon. Give us a call if you would like to see the wonderful wild trout fishing the smokies has to offer. Sean 

Sean McKay

Smoky Mountain Troutfitters

http://www.smokymountaintroutfitters.com

New Zealand Fly Fishing Report **August 7, 2010**

A trout fisher on the Tongariro River.

Recent rain has improved fishing on the river.

Photo / NZ HERALD.

Click on the link New Zealand Herald for the latest New Zealand fly fishing report.

Kennedy Meadows, CA Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River

Mark Thrush
Stockton, CA

Body of Water: Middle Fork Stanislaus River
Date: August 3rd-4th, 2010
# Fish caught: 3
Species: Rainbow Trout
Size: 12 inches +
Effective flies: #12 brown Woolly Bugger

Summary:    

Hello all, just got back from Kennedy Meadows.  Weather was outstanding and so was the fishing!  Fished the Stanislaus near Deadman Campground below Kennedy Meadows Resort.  Tried a few flies, but nailed them on the 'ole standby, a brown Woolly Bugger.  The bait fisherman were nailin'em on worms.

Little Red River, Arkansas Fly Fishing Report

Date:  August 1, 2010  Time:  7:30 to 11:15 AM 
Location:  Little Red River, Heber Springs Arkansas, below Green Ferry Lake
Guide: Joe Schwarz out of Lobo's Landing south of Heber Springs on hwy 337
Fish caught: 15 Rainbows from 12"-14" on a "Joe's Special" #14 bead head soft hackel and #12 bead head orange jig single fly system using indicator for sight and variable depth control as the river depth changes in the float.
Weather: HOT and clear in the 90's but the water held about 52

I only had one day to fish this river so I inquired about a guide. Joe Schwarz has lived on the river since the early seventies. Joe knows this river like the back of his hand. He uses the facility out of Lobo Landing a fine looking resort with with cabin accomodations, boat ramp. Most of the river requires a boat, though there are some areas that afford some wading access. The area we fished is slow water and we fished on both banks.

Lobo Landing has a website www.lobolandingresort.com and their phone number is 800-659-8330. Chris Butts, the owner, is very friendly and has several guides that use his facility. Lobo Landing would be great for group fisihing or for a family vacation.