Fun Float
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:57 pm
My buddy Bob and I floated the Eagle here in W. Colorado today. Conditions were very tough. High water, and it was Gin clear. I dont know what was happening, but we had an extremely hard time getting drag free drifts. It seemed every run, and hole had a couple back eddys and/or conflicting current at different levels of the water column.
I did have fun, but I feel the river bested me. I managed 3 Bows, 3 Browns, and a Whitey about the size of a banana. Two of the Bows were only 16-17 inches long but very fat. They both were within 4 -6 ounces of three lbs. The Browns were about 14 inches long. I bet I get this river dialed in before the snow flys.
All three Bows took a size 16 PMD Soft Hackle. The Browns and the Whitey all took a size 14 Caddis Pupa.
At lunch I beached my raft on a section of river that looked like every rock was set out like a cobble stone road. The rocks were about two thirds the size of a bowling ball. On each and every rock was atleast one Giant Stonefly Shuck. Some rocks had as many as 7 or 8 shucks on them.
Heres a pic of the Eagle River as it makes it way down the valley to rondezvous with the Colorado. Only about 7 more miles to go.
The only pic of a trout I got was of this little guy. He's maybe 13 inches long but he fought with heart. He tangled in my leader and got a fly stuck above his eye. He was released a bit bloody, but wiser for the experience.
I did have fun, but I feel the river bested me. I managed 3 Bows, 3 Browns, and a Whitey about the size of a banana. Two of the Bows were only 16-17 inches long but very fat. They both were within 4 -6 ounces of three lbs. The Browns were about 14 inches long. I bet I get this river dialed in before the snow flys.
All three Bows took a size 16 PMD Soft Hackle. The Browns and the Whitey all took a size 14 Caddis Pupa.
At lunch I beached my raft on a section of river that looked like every rock was set out like a cobble stone road. The rocks were about two thirds the size of a bowling ball. On each and every rock was atleast one Giant Stonefly Shuck. Some rocks had as many as 7 or 8 shucks on them.
Heres a pic of the Eagle River as it makes it way down the valley to rondezvous with the Colorado. Only about 7 more miles to go.
The only pic of a trout I got was of this little guy. He's maybe 13 inches long but he fought with heart. He tangled in my leader and got a fly stuck above his eye. He was released a bit bloody, but wiser for the experience.