May 26, 2026
THE PIKES PEAK FLYFISHERS
http://www.pikespeakflyfishers.com
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President's Hatch
No Club Meeting on June 1
Picnic on June 6
June / July 2026 Club Update
Memorial Day Tribute
As we have just observed the Memorial Day holiday, we would like to take
a moment to honor and remember the brave men and women who paid the
ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Their courage and
dedication have protected the freedoms we enjoy today, including the
opportunity to gather with friends, enjoy the outdoors, and share our
passion for fly fishing. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who have
served and especially to those who never returned home.
Current Fishing & Weather Conditions
As we head into June and July, fishing conditions across Colorado
continue to evolve rapidly. Runoff conditions will vary from week to
week depending on snowpack and temperatures. Even though the snowpack is
low hot days will melt what is there faster so flows and color of the
rivers can change daily through June into July. Tailwaters and
stillwater fisheries should continue to provide some of the most
productive fishing opportunities during early summer. We all are are
encouraged to monitor stream flows, weather patterns, and especially
afternoon water temperatures as summer progresses. Cooler mornings and
evenings will often provide the best fishing conditions while helping
protect trout during warmer periods.
Annual Club Picnic – June 6
A reminder that our annual club picnic will be held on Saturday, June
6th at beautiful Manitou Lake. The pavilion will open at 9:00 AM, with
lunch being served at 12:00 Noon. We will once again enjoy outstanding
barbecue catered by Roy's BBQ along with all the fixings. This is always
one of the highlights of the club year and a wonderful opportunity for
members and families to relax, visit, and enjoy time together in the
outdoors.
June & July Club Fishing Trips
We encourage everyone to participate in our upcoming June and July club
fishing trips. This summer's schedule includes trips to the South Slope
Recreation Area, North Catamount Reservoir, Dream Stream, and Tarryall
Reservoir. Whether you enjoy stillwater fishing, streamer fishing for
aggressive brown trout, or simply spending time on the water with fellow
members, there should be opportunities for anglers of every skill
level. Club outings continue to be one of the best ways to learn new
techniques, explore new waters, and build friendships within the club.
Banquet Schedule Update
Please note that the annual club banquet schedule has been updated. The
banquet will now be moved from November to February 1, 2027, with the
location still to be determined. Additional information regarding the
venue, banquet activities, auctions, and ticket details will be provided
as plans are finalized.
Final Thoughts
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." — A River Runs Through It
Summer is one of the best times of the year to reconnect with friends,
spend time outdoors, and enjoy the incredible fishing opportunities
Colorado has to offer. We encourage everyone to get out on the water
early and often, attend as many club outings as possible, and introduce a
friend or family member to the sport we all enjoy. Whether you are
chasing trophy trout, exploring new water, or simply enjoying a quiet
evening streamside, we hope this summer brings memorable experiences and
tight lines for all of our members.
Kevin Thomason
President
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Programs
June – No meeting (Picnic)
July 6 – Michele White – Michele will talk about her new book, The Bucket List, about fly fishing top private waters in the area.
Michele White is a prominent figure in the Colorado fly fishing
scene, known for her expertise as a certified professional fly fishing
guide, author, and outfitter of Tumbling Trout Fly Shop in Lake George,
Colorado. She is also actively involved in conservation as the VP of
Financial Development for the Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Michele has a diverse background - she initially pursued a
symphonic career (bassoon) in New York City but ultimately shifted her
path to geology. She holds a master's degree in Geochemistry of
Hydrothermal Ore Deposits with a minor in Biology from the University of
Colorado, Boulder.
Michele discovered her passion for fly fishing after moving
back to Colorado from New York City through the tutelage of her future
husband, Doug White. Together, they've been fly fishing and rowing their
dory on the Great Rivers of the West for over 20 years. They are both
certified boat handlers.
Fly fishing specialties - South Park. Michele specializes in
guiding and exploring tributaries of the South Platte River in South
Park, Colorado, including Tarryall River and the high alpine headwaters
in the Mosquito Range. South Park is a high alpine (9,000 ft elevation)
basin between mountain ranges of up to 12,000 ft.
Publications Michele White (nee Murray) was a contributing
editor/writer for Mountain Gazette literary journal. Her humorous
outdoors and traveling essays have been published in Discover the
Outdoors, EQUUS, Fly Fishing World, Native People's Magazine, New Tribal
Dawn, and The Aquarian (as Michele Murray). Her fly fishing books
(Michele White) include:
- "Subaru-able Brookie Venues in South Park, Colorado: Easily Drive, Park, and Fly Fish the High Country", (2021)
- "Joe Schmo Can Catch a Big Fish", (2020)
- "Between the Rivers", fly fishing stories with co-authors, Al Marlowe and Karen Christopherson, (2019)
- "Lesser Known Fly Fishing Venues of South Park", (2017)
- "Eulogies and Dead Horses", (2016)
Tenkara -
Michele is a certified Tenkara guide, (fly fishing without a reel using
soft hackle flies), she finds particularly suitable for senior
citizens, or people with mobility issues (she enjoys guiding older
anglers).
Fly Tying - Michele is an expert fly tyer and has participated
in several fly tying clinics as a Featured Tyer, tying her personal
patterns, such as the "Cancan Girl".
In summary - Michele White combines a technical scientific
background and passion for the outdoors to share her knowledge and love
of fly fishing, especially in the lesser-known waters of South Park,
Colorado.
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 – Open - Banquet is moved to March 2027
December 14 -- Trout Trickers' Pete Mott
Charlie Huff
Program Director
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Rod Building
We
completed the formal classes. One of the members has already put a bend
on his rod with a nice trout. We will have all members show off their
rods at a future meeting. We will start another class early in 2027.
Charlie Huff
Dave Hoover
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Trips
As
we move into the heart of the summer fishing season, the club has
several exciting June and July outings planned featuring a variety of
stillwater and stream fishing opportunities. From high-country
reservoirs and the South Slope Recreation Area to evening streamer trips
for large brown trout, these trips are designed to provide members with
enjoyable fishing, beautiful scenery, and opportunities to fish
together throughout the summer months. Please review the trip details
below and make reservations early where required, as some locations have
limited access.
June 4 – South Slope Recreation Area (Day Trip)
(New Trip Added)
We'll
take advantage of early access to this unique fishery as the South Slope
opens for the season. We will continue the tradition that we started
last year of having pie and ice cream on this trip. Please CLICK HERE to let Kevin know that you are attending and the number in your group NLT June 2.
Trip Details:
• For reservations go to: South Slope Reservation Page
• $15 per car
• Meet at Safeway on West Colorado at 6:00 AM if you would like to travel as a group
Expect cooler temperatures, lighter fishing pressure, and excellent
early summer fishing opportunities in one of the most scenic fisheries
in the region.
June 9 – North Catamount Reservoir (Day Trip)
(Changed from June 17)
We'll head up Ute Pass for a scenic day of fishing at North Catamount Reservoir.
Trip Details:
• Fishing: Shore fishing
• Meeting Time & Location: 8:00 AM at the parking lot at the end of Ed Lowe Road
This high-elevation lake offers beautiful scenery, cool temperatures, and consistent early summer fishing action.
Wednesday, July 8 – Dream Stream Mousing Trip
Meet at the main parking lot at 7:00 PM. Bring your mouse patterns,
large streamers, and headlamps. We will be targeting the giant brown
trout of the Dream Stream during the low-light evening hours when
aggressive fish are often on the hunt. This should be an exciting trip
for anglers looking for explosive takes and memorable summer fishing.
Monday, July 13 – Tarryall Reservoir / Tarryall Creek
Meet at the boat ramp parking lot at 9:00 AM. Shore fishing, boat
fishing, and creek fishing opportunities will all be available. Tarryall
offers a variety of fishing options, from stillwater trout in the
reservoir to smaller stream fishing in the creek, making this an
excellent mid-summer destination for all skill levels.
Thursday, July 23 – South Slope Recreation Area
Reservations are required, so be sure to secure your reservation early.
South Slope provides a unique high-country fishing experience with
beautiful scenery, cool summer temperatures, and quality trout fishing
opportunities. This continues to be one of the club's favorite summer
destinations.
We
are continuing to focus many of our outings on stillwater fisheries
this year while remaining flexible depending on flows, conditions, and
water temperatures. Additional trips may be added throughout the season
as conditions change.
Kevin Thomason
President
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Fly Tying
In
April, I went to the Bighorn in Fort Smith for the first time. Jim
White had told me of his many trips there, and I was finally able to
join him on a 3-day float of the Bighorn out of Fort Smith, Montana. It
was a phenomenal trip!
We had two bumps in the road during the trip. Day one, a dam gate
malfunctioned about 11:00 a.m. and released water at 2800 cfs (the flow
was 1440 cfs before that), which stirred up weeds, algae, moss, and
little floating islands of the same. Every cast came back with lots of
weeds and even got on the line while fighting fish (some got off due to
this). The final day was marred by afternoon winds and gusts up to 40
mph! Despite these inconveniences, the fishing was great.
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Silver Bullet Baetis
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Nymph fishing was the order for all three days, and the one fly that seemed to be most favored was the Silver Bullet Baetis by Lance Egan. From the Fly Fish Food website:
This simple fly is durable, has a great silhouette, and is relatively
drab in color, other than the silver bead. This pattern was designed to
complement the Iron Lotus and Thread Frenchie, in that the Silver Bullet
Baetis is truer to the drab coloration of aquatic insects.
This is a relatively easy euro/tight line fly to tie. The recipe:
- Hook: size 16 - 18 jig hook (e.g., Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless Hook - 16)
- Bead: 3.0mm - 3.2mm silver slotted tungsten bead
- Thread: Light Olive in 70 Denier or 8/0 thread
- Tail: Spanish Coq de Leon
- Rib: March Brown wire in Semperfli 0.2 or small to BR Ultra Wire
- Thorax: Peacock Black Ice Dubbing
To tie this fly:
- Add the bead to the hook and lock the hook into your vice.
- Tie in your thread and bring it back to the hook point.
- Tie in three to four fibers of Coq de Leon and wrap the stems up to the bead and cut off the excess.
- Tie
in the wire, keeping it on top of the hook shank and wrap the thread
back to the bead. Stop just short of the Coq de Leon so your first wrap
of the wire will not push the tail to the side of the shank.
- Wrap the wire forward, spacing it out to create nice segmentation. Tie the wire down and helicopter it off.
- Add
a small amount of UV resin to the ribs; you do not need much, just
enough to seal the thread. Use your UV light to cure the resin.
- Create a noodle of the Ice Dubbing to create a sparse thorax, and wrap it just behind the bead.
- Whip finish.
This fly should be a winner while nymphing or tightline nymphing on the
Arkansas, which has a large baetis population. You will find a
description and tying video at Fly Fish Food.
Happy tying.
Greg Walters
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PPF Members Helping Disabled Students Learn to Fly Cast
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Ed Buck and Dave Hoover on a Trip with Landon at Spinney
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Dave and Ed with a double hook up
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Ed with a hard fighting trout
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Ed with the biggest one of the day
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Ed with another nice silver rainbow
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Mike Plummer and Kevin Thomason with a double on a evening float trip with Royal Gorge Anglers
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Dennis Erenberger fishing with Hooker Outfitters purchased at the auction on the lower Colorado
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Kevin Thomason with a nice brown on the upper Colorado float trip with Kirks Fly Shop purchased at the auction
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Kevin Thomason with Kirks Fly Shop on the upper Colorado purchased at the auction
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Kevin Thomason euro fishing with Royal Gorge Anglers on the Arkansas
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Steve Sleight fishing with Hooker Outfitters on the lower Colorado on a auction purchased trip
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Tom Burdette with a 5 footer at Deweese Reservoir
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Kevin Thomason with a Rainbow Falls beauty
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