FALL FISHING DELANEY BUTTES
Top Place in Colorado to Fall Fish
DELANEY BUTTES FISHING INFO
Past Trips
Early Summer 08
Summer 2007
Fall 2006
Summer 2006
________________
Articles about Delaney
Fall Delaney
_______________
Map of Delaney
Click Here
_______________
Flies
Browns are spawning on North Lake and fishing is good to excellnt on all lakes. Successful reports have come in with guys throwing streamers, especially in the morning and evenings. Nymph fisherman reporting good results with large chironomids (black and/or red), scuds, eggs, and large attractor nymphs(Copper Johns, Princes, etc)
As far as the hatches go, expect to see more midge activity as the temps cool down. Much like the spring fishing, chironmid patterns and streamers will become the predominant flies to use.
Suggested Patterns: Chironocone in Black or Red Sz. 16/18, Damsels Nymphs, black buggers, purple leeches, etc
_______________
More at our Buddies at North Park Fly Shop
HERE
One thing every Fall I count on is Football and Football's at Delaney Buttes! This was a tough one, not due to the fishing but because it was my 1st Delaney Trip without my Favorite fishing Buddy Zeke...he did come with me though and will rest in Peace swimming for years to come at Delaney!
Tim with another Nice Cutthroat
Troutdawg with a nice Bow at South Lake
Every year we head out to Delaney to decide upon if South Lake is fishing well, North Lake is the Place to be or on occasion East Lake is the Hotspot. If you do much lake fishing or spend anytime at the Delaney's one thing is for certain...you never know what the fish will do, where to fish, what to use, or Most Importantly -Will the Mosquitos or Snow get me!
Dave, Andrew & Tim head out for Big Fish
I always bring more rods than I need
Yes it's True! The weather was absolutely Gorgeous this Fall weekend. Hard to believe that the same time last year it had 50mph winds, rain, hail and the worse part, I got stuck in a whiteout snowstorm. Much, much better this year and I think we may have had 30 minutes of wind the entire weekend.
What a great evening to be on the water
Yes that's our campsite in the Picture
I think everyone was able to hook up on a few fish and we all definitely had some break offs which for a few of the guys who haven't done much lake fishing, that's always fun to see. Tim was able to get a 23" Cutthroat towards the bank on a big Adams pattern after some nice fish were slamming some bugs falling off some branches during a breeze. Dave had some luck on a few chironomid patterns, callibaetis and also on some top dry action.
Dave fighting a nice Cutty near the campsite
Tim with a big one that took a dry
Fishing wasn't as good as we've had in the past but when you have nice weather like this, who cares! The Chironomid hatches were smaller than normal and as we found out from others, not as good as it normally is. Zachdog, whom many of you know from Flyfisherman, camped next to us gave us some insight as to how the fishing was. He was actually up there for a bit fishing, one Lucky Dog! We did have some luck around 10:30 to 2pm everyday with some bug activity and as long as the slightest breeze woudl stay away we often encountered 15-25 rings around us at any given time. One point on Sun aftrn on the southside of South lake sight fishing from our platform on the raft, we had close to 40 rings come up and close to a 10lb MONSTER snub our dry fly's, boy was that exciting to see though.
Troutdawg with Beast of a Brown/She was too big to pose for a good picture
What an evening at North Lake
A fishing buddy of mine, Brian Yamauchi tied me up a few of his favorite Chironomid patterns before my trip and as you can see from below, they're pretty close to the real thing. Thanks Brian for flies and extra tightlines this past weekend! Hope you can make our next trip.
Brian Yamuchi's go to fly all weekend!
Guess what this Bow took
As far as other patterns and fishing techniques went, we tried it all. The standard this time of year is to awake to splashes at 5:30am outside our tent and to a mixture of the Cherrio hatch already out in the water at 7am. After breakfast, some much needed coffee and aspirin, it was time to hit the water by 9am. You can still catch some early fish on crayfish or favorite streamers, chironomids and other nymphing, I prefer to wait it out and see some action before really getting too excited. Normally around 10-10:30 it starts to heat up and in no time you're casting all around you to fish in anguish trying to decipher what on earth they're taking!
Our top flies of choice were: chironomid pupa's, big cripple green drakes on top -yep I said it, pheasant tails, big adams dry, dead chicken -yep I said that too, rusty mohair leech, black copper johns, callibaetis nymphs, olive and oj scuds, a few more snowcone patterns and tiny tiny white midges.
Fish in that 6 to 8 foot water column / Look at the big one at 12feet
Man what perfect weather!!!!
For those that ever get up this way don't forget to try your luck at some big fish at night! Yes I am a night owl and live fo rthe night action! As with the daytime acitvity it can be hit or miss as maybe you've seen from my Big Fish pics at night from years past. I love it and anytime you have the opportunity to catch a monster nocturnal fish, or a WHAM on your tandem streamers at night will keep you coming back for more! I did catch a few at night this weekend but nothing picture worthy....it has to be a Big one for me to "chance" bringing out my camera for a picture with the opportunity to drop it like I've done before. Night flies -mouse patterns, moma trailing her baby on top towards shore, big black leeches, white muddlers or any white streamer of choice, any baitfish fly, or just anything that will make noise and cause that instinctive reaction. Good luck and don't forget to crimp barbs, wear a red light, bring that 6 or 7 weight, cast cast and cast and most importantly ENJOY the evening stars, it's hard to beat! Learn more also about night fishing from another Night fishing friend John Wilson with fly fishing Arkansas.
My Delaney partner in crime Brian Cabos has been there for a week with Pals, got there the morning after we left, so can't wait to hear how they did!
One other important note was that we Finally beat one of Charlie Myers articles about where to fish NOW....you didn't get us this time Charlie...HA!
Do I really have to leave this place!
MORE GREAT DELANEY PICTURES HERE
