It's been way too long since Zach and I got out with our fly rods. July gave us a couple great opportunities though. We had a trip planned to spend a week in Estes Park, and we fished a good bit while we were there. Before we went to Colorado, we found a couple places to to a little warm-up fishing here closer to home. We were at Lake Brownwood for the 4th of July weekend. The lake was wall-to-wall boats and people, so we hit Pecan Bayou below the dam with our kayaks to escape the crowd. We weren't catching much - just a couple small bluegill. But then we got into a spot that was loaded with gar. Zach had his spinning rod and tied on a bluegill-looking swim bait. I tied on a big streamer on my 8wt. We caught several nice gar. Mostly long-nosed, but we caught a couple spotted as well as a couple alligator gar. Most were 30" - 40" long, but we hooked a couple that were 4' or a little better. We only got a handful actually in the boat. Most would come loose at the boat, but that was just as well. We didn't get any pics of the fish though. It was a great paddle, even without the fish.





A few days later, Zach and one of his buddies found a spot that had a bunch of carp and gar close to our house, so we took the fly rods to see what we could scare up. I got the rough fish grand slam - catfish, carp, and gar (spotted and gator).










Then it was time to head north - finally. Estes Park is beautiful. I hadn't been there since I was a teenager, so it was great to get back. It was (of course) very crowded in Estes Park and in RMNP this time of year. We managed to elbow our way into a couple of spots to fish though.








I even managed to get my wife to try fly fishing a little. She picked up casting fairly well after just a few minutes of instruction. She didn't hook a fish, but she enjoyed learning to cast. She's looking forward to going out with me again to actually catch something. That's a win!

I was talking to a guy in one of the fly shops in town (Kirk's), and I found out that they had access to some private waters. Bingo. No crowds. You had to go with a guide to fish them (no daily rod fee DIY access), so I booked it. The girls decided they didn't want to go with us, so Zach and I had the river to ourselves. We didn't get any dry fly action, but we did well high-sticking nymph rigs in the deep holes.












Trout are slippery.








It was a good month. I'm looking forward to fall. I hope to get out in the kayaks a few times. Come on cooler weather!

Beautiful pictures. I was in Estes Park last October and fished the Big T with Jerry from Kirk's. We fished private water down in the canyon near Grandpa's Retreat, which looks like it may be where you were fishing. We fished nymphs under hoppers and caught a bunch of rainbows and a few browns. Most were fairly small, but I did catch one rainbow that was 15 inches and hooked another that broke me off in a brush pile that my guide said was likely about 19 inches. It was my first time trout fishing and I couldn't have been happier. Looks like you fished in the park as well, which is something I didn't do, but will definitely do in the future.

Awesome pictures especially the trout pictures ! Thanks for sharing . Which rods and reels were you using on the trouts ?

Fantastic Post!

Yes sir. Grandpa's is where we fished with Kirk's guide. We fished the Big T in Moraine Park, below Moraine and well above Moraine, and also Glacier Creek and Mills Lake.



We used 2wts in the park, but we switched to 4wts and 5wts in the lower Big T where it's bigger water and bigger fish.

Greatness.

Thanks, Catfish. I was glad to get out with a fly rod in my hand. I was equally glad to get a fly rod in Zach's hand. He's been fishing a lot this summer with his friends, and he's been on a conventional tackle kick lately. It's been fun for him to explore new ways to fish. He's going at it completely backwards though. Most people start with conventional tackle and then find fly fishing later. I started him out on fly rods from the beginning, so he never really fished with conventional tackle much at all until recently. Hopefully, the Dark Side won't gain a permanent hold on his young soul.

Great Pics

Both accounts, beautiful.

Another set of Awesome pictures ! You look mighty proud of that son , looks like a great fisherman !

One super thread!

This awesome! Love the pictures and to see the young man out fishing! Going to have a fishing buddy for life right there. Righteous stuff brother!

He's good kid. I guess I'll keep him.




Thank you, sir.



That's the plan. 19 years in, and so far so good. He makes a pretty good hunting buddy too.












He'll move into the college dorm in 2 weeks. Time flies. I'm thankful for cameras. Got lots of great memories so far, and I'm planning on adding to them as often as possible. We may not get those opportunities quite as often in the coming years, but we'll make the most of whatever opportunities we're blessed with, I'm sure.