July 28, 2026
THE PIKES PEAK FLYFISHERS
http://www.pikespeakflyfishers.com
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President's Hatch
As summer begins to wind down, this
season has challenged anglers with low stream flows, warm water
temperatures, and changing fishing conditions, but there is still plenty
to look forward to. Colorado anglers have adapted by seeking
higher-elevation lakes, fishing during the cooler hours of the day, and
practicing good stewardship by giving stressed fisheries a break when
necessary. These challenges remind us how important it is to protect the
resource while appreciating every opportunity we have to be on the
water.
As summer begins to wind down, there is still time to enjoy time on the
water, mountain landscapes, and the camaraderie that makes our club
unique. Whether you're joining a club outing or exploring a favorite
stream or alpine lake, let's make the most of these remaining weeks of
summer and look ahead to another excellent season of fall fishing.
Support Our Club at Landon Mayer's Clean the Dream, August 15
One of the highlights this month is Landon Mayer's Clean the Dream event.
We encourage all of our members to attend and support this important
conservation effort. This event is a great opportunity to give back to
one of Colorado's best-known fisheries while spending time with fellow
anglers who share a passion for protecting our waters. Hope to see
everyone there.
Join Us on Our Club Fishing Trips
Our summer fishing schedule continues with several opportunities to
spend time on the water with fellow members. Whether you are new to fly
fishing or have years of experience, our trips are a great way to learn
new techniques, explore new waters, and enjoy the fellowship that makes
our club unique.
If you have been thinking about joining a trip, now is the perfect time.
Review the trip schedule in this newsletter and make plans to attend.
The friendships, shared experiences, and days on the water are what make
Pikes Peak Fly Fishers such a rewarding organization.
August Program – Erin Hale
Our August guest speaker will be Erin Hale, owner of
Cord 3 Outfitters (Wyoming), Clearwater River Collective (Idaho), and
Everest Outfitters & Guides. Erin is an experienced guide,
instructor, and conservation-minded angler who has spent years helping
anglers improve their skills on rivers and streams across the West. You
do not want to miss this presentation.
We've been fortunate this year to host an exceptional lineup of
speakers. Each presenter has shared practical knowledge, proven
techniques, and stories that members can apply on the water. We
encourage everyone to attend what promises to be another informative
evening.
The Peak Fly Shop Has a New Home!
If you haven't stopped by the new Peak Fly Shop location
(4416 Austin Bluffs Parkway) yet, be sure to add it to your next trip
across town. Brad and Sherry have moved into a larger location with
considerably more floor space, allowing them to expand their inventory
and improve the shopping experience.
The new shop features one of the largest selections of fly tying
materials in Colorado Springs—and possibly the entire state—making it
easier than ever to find feathers, furs, hooks, specialty materials, and
other hard-to-find tying supplies. They've also expanded their
selection of rods, reels, fly lines, and accessories. Please take the
opportunity to support one of our longtime club sponsors and thank Brad
and Sherry for their continued support of Pikes Peak Fly Fishers.
Looking Ahead to Fall
As the summer fishing ends and we enter fall, we can look back on club
outings, new friendships, successful fishing trips, and many enjoyable
hours spent on Colorado's waters. Yet some of the year's best fishing is
still ahead. Cooler temperatures, changing aspens, and trout preparing
for winter make fall one of the finest times to be on the water.
Thank you for your continued support of Pikes Peak Fly Fishers and for
helping make our club one of Colorado's leading fly fishing
organizations. We look forward to seeing you at our August meeting, on
an upcoming fishing trip, and at Landon Mayer's Clean the Dream event. Let's finish the summer strong and enjoy everything the fall season has to offer.
Fishing Quote
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
— Henry David Thoreau
Kevin Thomason
President
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Peak Fly Shop Open House
The
Peak Fly Shop is formally inviting all members of the Pikes' Peak Fly
Fishers to attend their 'official' Grand Re-Opening Party at their new
location at 4416 Austin Bluffs Parkway (near the intersection of Austin
Bluffs and Barnes, north side of Austin Bluffs, near Planet Fitness, ARC
Thrift, and WoodCraft).
The shop will be providing a BBQ lunch and we will have sales reps on
hand demoing some products. Landon Mayer will be at the shop giving a
presentation, and there will be sales throughout the store on Simms
waders and boots, rods & reels, and a lot more. The event starts at
10 AM on August 22. Save the date and we will hope to see you there -
more information forthcoming!
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Programs
August 3 – Erin Hale, Cord 3 Outfitters – Idaho and Wyoming fly fishing.
September – No meeting due to Labor Day holiday.
October
5 – (tentative) Cat Toy, Blue Quill Angler – Cat is one of Colorado's
most sought-after guides and innovative fly tiers. She will talk about
her favorite patterns and waters.
November 2 – Our own Ed Buck will present The Western Native Trout Challenge: Prospecting for Mountain Jewels Across the American West.
Discover the ultimate angling adventure. Join us in retracing a
2700-mile, multi-state backcountry journey in pursuit of the Western
Native Trout.
December 14 – Pete Mott, Trout Trickers
January 4, 2027 – Open
February 1 -- Annual Banquet – Greg Felt, Arkanglers – Greg is General
Manager and CEO of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District and
will talk about the structure, hydrology, and other aspects of this
important fishery.
Charlie Huff
Program Director
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Trips
August
is the last full month of summer, and we have several fishing
adventures and conservation opportunities ahead. From high-country lakes
to the cutthroat trout of South Slope Recreation Area, August offers
something for every angler. We also encourage all members to participate
in Landon Mayer's Clean the Dream on August 15, a
volunteer effort to remove trash and debris from the Dream Stream,
Eleven Mile Reservoir, and other South Park locations while helping
protect some of Colorado's finest trout waters.
Whether you're looking to explore new fisheries, improve your skills,
enjoy time with fellow members, or give back to the resource, we hope
you'll join us. Be sure to make reservations early where required, as
access is limited at several destinations.
August 6 – Pomeroy & Hancock Alpine Lakes Adventure
Experience one of the club's favorite high-country outings as we travel above St. Elmo to fish Pomeroy and Hancock Lakes.
Trip Details
- Meet at Safeway, West Colorado Avenue, at 6:00 AM to caravan.
- Stop in Buena Vista for fuel and supplies.
- A high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle is required. UTVs, ATVs, and dual-sport motorcycles are ideal.
- Fishing elevation approaches 12,000 feet.
These
alpine lakes offer opportunities to catch Colorado River cutthroat
trout and Arctic grayling while surrounded by mountain landscapes,
summer wildflowers, and historic mining remnants.
Mountain weather can change quickly, so dress in layers and bring rain
gear, sunscreen, water, lunch, and snacks. A short hike is required, and
a floating fly line with small dry flies, nymphs, and terrestrial
patterns should provide productive fishing throughout the day.
August 13 – South Slope Recreation Area
Join us as we fish for wild cutthroat trout in one of Colorado's best mountain fisheries. Reservations are required.
Meet at Safeway on West Colorado Avenue at 6:00 AM if you'd like to caravan.
August 15 – Clean the Dream
Join fellow Pikes Peak Fly Fishers in supporting Landon Mayer's Clean the Dream, one of Colorado's largest volunteer conservation events.
Each year, volunteers gather to remove trash and debris from the Dream
Stream, Eleven Mile Reservoir, and surrounding South Park public lands,
helping preserve some of the state's most valued trout fisheries. We
encourage all members to participate and demonstrate our club's
commitment to conservation and stewardship. Participants also have the
opportunity to win gear donated by Winston, YETI, Peak Fly Shop, and
many other supporters.
August 20 – South Slope Recreation Area
This may be our final South Slope outing of the summer and another
opportunity to enjoy quality cutthroat trout fishing before autumn
arrives. Reservations are required.
Meet at Safeway on West Colorado Avenue at 6:00 AM if you'd like to caravan.
September 23 – Jefferson Lake Fall Colors Adventure
Join us on Wednesday, September 23, for a fall fishing trip to Jefferson
Lake, an alpine destination nestled high in the Rocky Mountains. By
late September, the surrounding aspens should be displaying their autumn
colors, making this one of our most anticipated outings of the year.
Jefferson Lake offers excellent fishing for rainbow, brown, brook, and
cutthroat trout. Fish from shore or explore the lake by float tube,
pontoon boat, or kayak.
Meet at the Jefferson Lake parking lot at 9:00 AM. Members wishing to caravan should meet at Safeway on West Colorado Avenue at 7:00 AM.
Directions: Travel approximately 47 miles west on US
Highway 24 to Lake George, then turn right onto Park County Road 77
(Tarryall Road) and continue approximately 18 miles to Jefferson. Turn
left onto US Highway 285 North for approximately 0.3 mile, then turn
right onto Michigan Creek Road (Park County Road 35) and continue about 2
miles. Turn right onto Jefferson Lake Road (Park County Road 37) and
continue another 2½ miles to the Jefferson Lake Recreation Area entrance
and parking lot.
The Jefferson Lake Recreation Area charges an $11 day-use fee per vehicle ($6 with an America the Beautiful, Senior, or Military Pass), payable at the entrance station.
Kevin Thomason
President
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Fly Tying
I thought I would do something different this month and talk about fly tying kits.
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Orvis Chernobyl Ant
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Fly
tying kits are a great way to learn fly tying. If you are a beginner,
you can get a kit that has the tools, even a vice, materials, and
instructions to learn to tie a few patterns. Here are some sources for
fly tying kits that target beginners:
• Bonfire Bob
The
first three sources are rating the best beginner kits for 2026. Along
with the recommendations, some sites have helpful information for
beginner or novice fly tiers. J Stockard Fly Fishing and Feather Craft
have many of these kits for sale, plus individual fly kits. Also check
with the Peak Fly Shop for starter and fly pattern kits.
Now you have a few patterns under your belt and want to tie a specific
fly, for which you don't have all the materials (e.g., hooks, hackle,
dubbing, etc.). You can choose to purchase a kit for the specific
pattern, which comes with all the materials you need to tie a few of the
flies.
For me, an example was soft hackle and dry fly patterns. I found Glen River Fly Co.,
that provides quite a selection of different fly pattern kits and
purchased the GR Soft Hackle and Adams kits. The kits came with a
reference fly and all the materials and instructions needed to tie 11 or
more flies. I highly recommend them if you want to explore other
patterns. Other providers of fly pattern kits include Waspi and Flymen Fishing Company.
I decided to cover this topic due to receiving a fly tying kit from
Michele White at the June meeting. The kit is from Orvis and provides
material for a Chernobyl Ant. However, I searched the Orvis site and
could not find this or any single pattern kits.
Whether you are a beginner, novice, or experienced fly tier, keep in
mind that you may learn tying or a pattern faster with a kit.
Happy tying!
Greg Walters
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Ed Buck with his first bull trout after a long drive and 14 mile hike
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Dennis Erenberger
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Dennis Erenberger
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Dennis Erenberger
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Dennis Erenberger
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Don Logelin
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Steve Sleight
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Bob and Antonia Chastain on a Nak Nek trip purchased at the auction
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Bob with a nice grayling
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Antonia with a big salmon
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Bob with a big rainbow
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Antonia with another big salmon
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Dennis Erenberger's Trip With Landon Mayer
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Life is Good!
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Support our Sponsers!!
Special Shout Out to our most excellent sponsor
The Peak Fly Shop
4416 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 260-1415
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