The Summer of Fishing Begins!

April 12^th

We were anxious to see the kids and the grandkids, so we boogied down the road from Jim and Bren’s and headed for Denver.  It was great to see everyone with lots of overdue hugs and kisses. We caught up with all the goings on, doctor’s appointments, etc.

We had decided to spend the summer in Colorado, camping in our motorhome and fly fishing. To that end we bought an inflatable kayak, fishing equipment and several books guaranteed to clue us in on where to go and how to fish the many streams and lakes all over Colorado.  Based on Jim’s research, we did a LOT of fly shopping at Charlie’s Fly Box (Charlie's Fly Box), Bass Pro Shop, Sportsman's Warehouse and....online. It’s incredible how many different flies, in different sizes, in different colors, in different stages of development are needed to “match the hatch” that is happening on the particular river or lake of your choice. Then when you get there, the fish don’t hit on them anyway, no matter how many you try and you wind up with your old faithful, the black woolly bugger!

Before we left Denver, Jim (and sometimes Billy) went on several day fishing trips on Clear Creek (which flows east along I-70 from Loveland Pass down through Golden, alongside Coors Brewery and on through Denver) and on the headwaters of the South Platte in Deckers ( in the mountains west and south of Denver).

We started our summer journey on Antero Reservoir. Antero is southeast of Fairplay in South Park. It is the 1^st reservoir on the headwaters of the South Platte. Antero is known for its big trout and Jim caught several.  I don’t think we were ever skunked. This time of year it is very nice there, except for the occasional windy day (waves and whitecaps) and twice a week snowstorms! Antero pictures  There is absolutely not a bush to be had, much less a tree, so the summers are hot and dusty. Right now though, with the view of the mountains to the west, still capped with snow, it is a beautiful sight. Also, the numerous shore birds, Canada geese and white pelicans break up the monotony. The bug hatches were numerous and intense, so the swallows were there in the hundreds. No mosquitoes yet, thank goodness! Needless to say, Yaqui, our cat was incredibly entertained by all the activity going on outside her window.

While at Antero, we took a day trip to Spinney Reservoir (rumored to have some of the biggest fish in the state but we got skunked) and stopped for a late lunch at in Hartsel, CO. While the town is nothing more than a whistle stop, the Highline Café serves up a pile of skin-on homemade french fries along with ½ pound juicy buffalo burgers that are SOOO GOOD. One of those little places worth driving miles out of your way to visit. Oh, and they have PBR on tap for a buck, can’t beat that.

We stayed for about 10 days and then went to Buena Vista for Mother’s Day. (Info on Buena Vista) We stayed at a really nice place, Mt Princeton RV Park (RV park info) to do laundry and charge our batteries and take really nice long, hot showers! We had dinner at the Eddyline Brewery (Eddyline Pub), sampling their many microbrews and eating gourmet pizza and wings. Come to find out, they had been exhibitors at the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival for several years and won “Best of the Fest” for 2010 and 2011. Blues and Brews was one of our favorite festival venues as vendors, small world! Monday we went and soaked at Cottonwood Hot Springs (Cottonwood Hot Springs). Tuesday we had lunch at K’s Dairy Delite, in business since 1955. Not as good as the Highline Café, but OK. We restocked our refrigerator, the fly box and went back to back to Antero for a few days.

I mentioned that we had bought an inflatable kayak. It is a Sea Eagle Paddleski.  (info on Paddleski) What a great boat! It seats 2 people and gear, is so easy to get into and to carry. It takes about 10 minutes to inflate and fits into the back of the jeep. I love paddling it. As I am not nearly as obsessed with fishing as Jim is but enjoy being out on the lake with him, I do a lot of the paddling, which is ok with me.  I can’t wait to get it down to San Carlos and paddle the coastline on the sea down there.

On the 21^st we headed over to Tarryall Reservoir. We’ve written about it before as it is one of our favorite places. The fishing the 1^st day was great, Jim caught his limit. I’ve caught a couple but it has been cold and the wind has been insane ever since! To escape, we took a day trip down Hwy 9 toward Lake George and spent the day fishing the South Platte around the Happy Meadows campground.  What a beautiful section of river! I’d really like to spend a few days there. We’re here until the 31^st, the wind is supposed to calm down soon. We don’t have strong enough internet to post the blogs from here so these will all go out at the same time once we get back to Denver to restock and regroup.  Tarryall pictures (We actually left Tarryall a couple of days early because the wind started up again! I am so done with wind that blows so hard you can’t close the door!)