I love having one client. So fun when you can pick apart water with one individual, especially this time of the year when water is tight and the Eagle River is running high. A great client, John, happened to be in town and managed a quick outing and I'm glad he did because this weekend's cold rain (and snow) really cleaned up the river and dropped the flows for our outing. I snuck out yesterday with the wife and daughter and it was eerily low and clear, even in Eagle, CO. It definitely rose today but was still clear enough for the Eagle River brown trout and rainbow trout to see our tiny bugs in the soft water. We also didn't see a single soul on the water besides the awesome guides at Sage Outdoor Adventures finalizing this year's training class. If you are looking to raft or drive side by sides on 6000 private acres while you are in town, make sure to give them a call!
John and I started in Eagle at the Brush Creek Confluence Park. This parking lot always has a car or two so I was tickled to grab it at 10am. There were active caddis from the second we stepped in the water and even saw rising fish when we approached. They ate the caddis well and a few gluttons decided they needed a big worm. The swing bite was strong too with multiple fish eating as we were recasting. We had size 18 caddis as well as size 12 caddis on our line and both were getting eaten. So fun to fish the Eagle River below Wolcott when the water temperatures are appropriate and the caddis are active.
We left them feeding and headed up the road to fish "The Ladders" between Eagle and Wolcott. These trout wanted a mix of worms, caddis and small baetis. BWO patterns haven't been fishing well, but small dark mayflies have otherwise. Go figure. We continued to get eats on all the soft edges and big slow seams. The air temps were delightful, the wading was hardly an issue, and the fish were on the feed. It was a lovely day with a great fisherman who I've had the pleasure of fishing with for a few years now that only continues to grow as a fly fisherman. It was awesome to find a small clarity window as the Eagle continues to rise and fall with an expected Spring influx in flows. Be safe fly fishing the Eagle River. Check flows and weather in advance and always tell someone where you are fishing.
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