Fly and Bubble Fishing – Antero Reservoir, South Park, Colorado
It was one of those South Park mornings; the wind stirred the tent and woke us up very early after a not so good night’s sleep. After enjoying a cold but hearty hatchback omelet (you know, the kind, which consists of everything that hasn’t been eaten yet, fried in a cast iron skillet on the old Coleman stove; no pepper needed, a lot of dirt has been spilled) there’s nothing like a good cardio workout to start your day. Do you remember the first neoprene waders from Simms? Really, did they have to make them that tight, with that sticky, non-slip interior? I was really sweating when my wife, Rhonda, suggested that I put them on like nylons. Woof! Easier!
Fly fishing and bubbles
There are seven “secrets” to fly and bubble fishing to help you get the most out of it.
1) Odor Control – Be very careful with suntan lotion, fuel, bug spray, etc., and you can use your own saliva, rub your fly against a fish, or squash some natural insects on the go.
2) Leader Preparation – After unrolling a leader, be sure to carefully run it across your hand or a piece of leather, being careful not to cut yourself.
3) Weigh the casting bubble: add as much water and / or shot to the casting bubble to achieve the desired depth.
4) Recovery: roll while pulling the rod to achieve the highest possible speed; it is impossible to move a fly through water faster than a fish can swim.
5) Rods – Use a medium action swivel rod, 6-1 / 2 to 7 feet … graphite rods are the strongest.
6) Reels: all launch reels will work; ideally a real open face swivel with a minimum recovery ratio of 5: 1.
7) Line / Leader – I use tapered guides from Best Fishing Secrets because it is small in diameter and has virtually no memory.
To Antero …
Antero Reservoir is about 25 miles from Fairplay, Colorado, it is very flat and shallow. Rhonda and I were able to wade far beyond the fishermen on the shore. We finally came to a standstill and started pitching with a fly and a bubble. We chose large streamers, specifically the Universal Fly and a fly and bubble launch pad. When I started my first recovery, a flash in the water caught my eye. Right in front of me, coming out of the deep water, was a 4-5 pound rainbow trout. The fish jerked and rolled uncontrollably; I thought he must be hurt. My landing net was instantly in the water, and I did a quick stab at the fish, hardly missing. A liter of adrenaline fills my veins; This is a big fish, and I’m going to catch it! Several more glitches with the network, and I’m getting very nervous. I’m following the fish now, excitedly yelling at Rhonda the matching game, louder and louder with each miss. Suddenly my line snagged at the bottom as I had just thrown before all the excitement. As I see it, there are no fish in my line; There is a fish that I am chasing with my net. Sacrifices must be made to be successful, so I do what any angler would do, raise the brake until the line breaks! Without further impediment, I can now focus again on the task at hand. The water is getting shallow now and it’s easier for me to move. My world now consists only of the web and that big fat Rainbow. My tunnel vision widens a bit and I see that I am getting closer to shore. Standing on that shore is a fisherman with a clenched jaw, tight lips, and a very angry look. Your rod is bent and bouncing with the tell-tale signs that you have a fish and a good one!
Realization hit me like a rockslide. This was your fish that I’ve been trying to land. I start to apologize profusely and the man doesn’t even acknowledge my existence. If I had had fishing boots, I hate to think about what could have happened. I didn’t even look to see him land the fish and head down, sulking toward my truck where Rhonda was waiting, her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m an idiot, honey,” I told him. “Yes, dear, yes you are,” she replied.