October 30, 2025
THE PIKES PEAK FLYFISHERS
http://www.pikespeakflyfishers.com
| | | President's Hatch
Thought from the Riverbank
As the days grow shorter and the chill settles over the Front Range, we find ourselves at that quiet crossroads between seasons — when the rivers slow, the mornings frost over, and memories of summer's catches linger just beneath the surface. November invites us to pause and reflect on the laughter shared beside a stream, the lessons learned from missed strikes, and the friendships that have grown stronger with every cast. Fly fishing has always been more than a sport; it's a rhythm — a way of seeing the world that rewards patience, presence, and gratitude. This month, as we gather for our annual banquet and prepare for the holidays, let's celebrate not just the fish we've landed, but the community we've built — one cast, one story, and one shared sunrise at a time.
Annual Banquet – Thursday, November 6 at Biaggi's
Our biggest night of the year is almost here — and we are sold out. Please Join us Thursday, November 6 at Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano in the Promenade Shops for an evening of great food, raffle prizes, and fish-filled stories with your fellow anglers.
This banquet is our chance to celebrate another successful season, thank our members, and look ahead to what's next for the club. We'll share highlights from this year's trips, honor our volunteers, and raise a toast to a wonderful 2025 fishing season.
Location: Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, The Promenade Shops
Time: Begins at 5:00 PM
No November Fishing Trip
Between the banquet and Thanksgiving festivities, we'll be skipping our regular monthly fishing trip this November. It's a perfect time to rest, spend time with family, and prepare your gear for the colder months ahead.
Use this downtime to: Clean and organize your fly boxes, Re-line your reels, tie a few new winter patterns, and share a favorite fishing story at the banquet!
We'll return to our regular outings once the weather warms — and in the meantime, there's plenty to keep the club connected this winter. Watch your email close this winter as if we have some predicted warm days, we will try to sneak a club trip in maybe to the Pueblo tailwaters, the Arkansas in Canon City or other warmer location.
Winter Luncheons at Mollica's – December through March
We're excited to announce that our monthly luncheons at Mollica's will return this winter! From December through March, we'll gather for casual mid-day meetups filled with great food, fishing stories, and camaraderie. These lunches are a fantastic way to stay in touch during the colder months — no waders required.
When: Monthly, December–March, 2nd Wednesday of the month at 11 AM.
Where: Mollica's Italian Market & Deli, Colorado Springs
Stay tuned for dates and details in the December newsletter!
The Peak Fly Shop November Update
There is a massive amount of activity going on at The Peak Fly Shop in November. - If you like to tie flies or want to learn, put it on your schedule to come on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00 PM. Lots of information on fly tying. The classes are every other Wednesday.
- There is a great seminar on "Using UV resins" scheduled for Saturday, November 15th at 10:00 AM. Make a plan to attend.
- FLY TIERS AND ANGLERS BEWARE! A citizens' petition has been filed by a group (from outside Colorado, of course) that would ban the commercial fur and related animal products in Colorado. While the ban contains an exemption for a few things, to include "the sale of hand-tied flies," it would, as written, NOT allow the sale of fur or feather fly-tying materials. This would be a devastating blow to the at-home fly-tier. All need to see the information below and share with your friends and families the link to send the CPW Wildlife Commission board an email or letter saying to vote down this initiative. This was submitted by a group from outside Colorado to infringe on our rights as fisherman and outdoorsman. Everyone please send your comments so they will be documented.
Final Thoughts
Henry David Thoreau said, "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." I fell into the category for a long time. When I was young, I fished to provide a few meals for our families. When my grandfather could not fish any longer, I would take the fish to his house, and my grandmother would fix them, and we would remember the times we spent on the lake or riverbank fishing or in the woods hunting in years past as we ate. Now however, my experiences are not all about what fish I catch, but the experience of fishing with good friends. I have so much fun on our club trips and other trips with friends. We celebrate when someone catches a monster fish, we laugh when someone catches a small fish, and we just enjoy the camaraderie of being out in nature. Fishing may be our excuse to spend time together but the sights and sounds of the wilderness are just as satisfying. What we are looking for is peace and serenity in a world of chaos. If you want to experience what I am talking about, make it a priority to spend some time on our club trips, banquets, luncheons, monthly meetings etc. Shoot me a message if you are interested in being a bigger part of Pikes Peak Flyfishers. Kevin Thomason
President | | | Banquet
This year's banquet date is Thursday, November 6 and will be at Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano located in the Shops at the Briargate in North Colorado Springs. The event starts and doors open at 5 PM. Appetizers will be served at 5:15pm followed by dinner service starting at 5:45pm. The banquet should end around 8:30 PM. During the evening there will be drawings for door prizes and our annual club awards will be presented. Our guest speakers this year are Brad and Sherry Tomlinson, owners of the Peak Fly Shop. Their topic will be on a destination spot: Patagonia. It should be an interesting and informative presentation.
The banquet is always a great time with good food, good stories and end-of-year fellowship. Hope to see everyone there.
Lou Lathon | | | Programs
November 6: Brad and Sherry Tomlinson of The Peak Fly Shop will present on fly fishing in Patagonia. This will show us some truly spectacular country, water, and trout.
December 1: Bill Kirk will demonstrate tying some of his favorite flies.
January 5, 2026: Our own Justin, creator of the most realistic Crayfish fly anywhere, will demonstrate this tie and talk about some of his fishing adventures with it.
February 2, 2026: Ed LeViness, Ed's Fly Shop, Montrose, Colorado will present fly fishing on the western slope waters.
March 2, 2026: Some winners of trips in the 2025 auction will present and talk about their experiences.
April 11, 2026: Auction Trip Reports
June 6, 2026: Picnic
July 6, 2026: Open
August 3, 2026: Erin Hale, Cord 3 Outfitters - Wyoming and Idaho
October 5, 2026: Open
November 5, 2026: Banquet
December 7, 2026: Open
Charlie Huff
Program Director | | |
The Peak Fly Shop November Update
OPEN FLY-TYING NIGHTS AT THE PEAK FLY SHOP - COLORADO SPRINGS
We will *not* be having Open Fly Tying Night on November 12th - instead, it will be November 19th - and Commission member Fran Silva Blayney will be on-hand to take comments and answer questions (about the CPW vote on banning the sale of fur and feathers in Colorado. See the details below. (thank you Fran!).
Come down every other Wednesday for our just-launched open fly tying night! At 6pm we'll have tables and chairs set up, with some snacks in the back, and best of all, a great mini-presentation on a pattern, technique or a specific material and how to use it. These presentations are 20-30 minutes and you're welcome to tie along with the presenter or just set to tying -- whatever you like! We have room to accommodate 20+ fly tiers in a friendly, social atmosphere, and we'd love for you to join us! We're tying every other Wednesday from 6 to 8pm at the Colorado Springs location!
FREE SATURDAY FLY TYING DEMO:
NOVEMBER 15th @ 10:00AM:
LYDIA WICKIZER: Tying with UV Resins
Based in Colorado Springs, Lydia Wickizer is a passionate fly tyer, angler, and self-proclaimed "unofficial hype woman for all women in angling". With a vise never far from hand she specializes in euro style flies. Lydia's presentation will focus on incorporating UV Resins to make your flies more durable, more fishable, and more distinct. This is a great seminar for those of you who have been asking us if UV resins are a big deal - I promise you, they are! Come see Lydia demonstrate their many uses and you'll be convinced. This is a free seminar, and we'll have coffee and pastries. First come, first seated - don't be late! Call the Peak Fly Shop at (719) 260-1415 for more information. CALL TO ACTION:
TELL CPW NOT TO BAN FUR AND FEATHER SALES IN COLORADO! | | | FLY TIERS AND ANGLERS BEWARE! A citizens' petiition has been filed by a group (from outside Colorado, of course) that would ban the commercial fur and related animal products in Colorado. While the ban contains an exemption for a few things, to include "the sale of hand-tied flies," it would, as written, NOT allow the sale of fur or feather fly-tying materials. This would be a devastating blow to the at-home fly-tier.
The Arizona-based "Center for Biological Diversity" has advanced this citizens' initiative to the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission asking them to amend a Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR), and CPW are considering the initiative. It proposes an amendment to 2 CCR 406-018, as follows (underlined section denotes an addition to the amendment): #018 – SALE OF WILDLIFE A. Except as prohibited by Federal law or regulations of the Wildlife Commission, any person
may sell, barter or trade nonedible portions of wildlife (fur, feathers, hides, hair, teeth, claws,
hooves, horns, antlers, skulls and bones) which were legally taken or acquired.
1. It shall be illegal to sell, trade, barter or offer to sell, trade or barter bear gall bladders,
bighorn sheep ram skulls or horns, bighorn sheep capes and velvet antlers. Velvet
antlers attached to mounted deer, elk or moose heads and bighorn sheep skulls and
horns marked in accordance with Commission Regulation #220(C), may be sold,
bartered or traded.
a. Wildlife and wildlife parts legally possessed under a valid commercial parks
license may be sold, bartered or traded in accordance with Chapter 11 of
Commission Regulations.
b. For the purpose of these regulations velvet antlers are those deer, elk and
moose antlers completely enveloped by soft vascular skin.
2. The sale, barter, or trade of furs from furbearers is prohibited, except as provided below:
a. Handtied fishing flies. This exemption applies solely to handtied fishing flies sold as a
finished product. It does not include or permit the sale of raw, tanned, or otherwise
processed furbearer parts, including fur, pelts, or other materials sold separately for fly-
tying purposes.
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT:
Email the CPW Commissioners! These are appointed positions and they do not face an election, but they are required to respond to citizen emails. This is not a time to send out a form email - such things are easily ignored. You need to email the commissioners with an original message expressing your concern and displeasure.
Many of the commissioners are not outdoorspeople. Stand up for your sport and your passion and let them know that a misguided ban on fur sales is not the way to protect wildlife. Your message need not be terribly long or involved. Let them know you oppose this amendment as written and that permitting the sale of flies tied elsewhere is not sufficient! Be assured that animal-rights groups are flooding the zone - it's time for us to do the same!
UPDATE: Thanks to three of you who jumped on this and emailed all the commissioners per previous instruction, we have new instructions on the best course of action to email the commission - and better yet, it's easier for you, too! Don't email each commissioner individually; while they will read your email, it is not considered public comment. Direct your comments to dnr_cpwcommission@state.co.us - they will be forwarded to each commissioner individually and you will be adding your comments to the public record (yes, they tally up messages in support of an initiative or against it). Remember, your comments will be public!
WHETHER YOU TIE YOUR OWN FLIES OR NOT, IT IS TIME TO STAND UP FOR THE SPORT WE ALL LOVE!
Link to the CPW Citizen Petition Form: https://cpw.widen.net/s/wt7xkltxdf/commercial_sale_of_wildlife_fur_petition_website
Additional Reading:
https://completecolorado.com/2025/06/23/animal-activists-push-colorado-ban-fur-sales/ | | | | | | | | Fly Tying
Like it or not, the summer weather is coming to an end. On Monday, Oct. 13th, there was snow in Salida (I was there) and even in Eleven Mile Canyon (I have it on good authority). So as the temperatures start to drop, this means one thing for us fly tiers, midges!
Midges are present in all the waterways that we fish here in Colorado, especially in tailwaters during the late fall and winter months. As a fly tier, you should definitely have some midge patterns that are your favorites for the months ahead.
Most midge patterns are very simple and easy to tie. In fact, with just thread and wire, you can tie up a simple midge. Typical thread colors are black, red, brown, cream, and olive. If white thread is all you have, you can use permanent markers to create your different colors.
Simple Midge
A typical hook for midges is the Tiemco 2488 and 2487 in sizes of 24 up to 18 (you can go smaller if you want; I don't tie anything smaller than a 22). For the simple midge, you want a thread body and wire for segmentation. Start your thread near the hook eye and then tie in a silver or copper wire. The wire size depends on the size of the hook; small to medium are typically used. Wrap the thread over the wire to just beyond the hook bend and back forward using touching wraps, stopping about an eye's width short of the hook eye. You want to keep the body thin, so don't overwrap more than needed. Wrap the wire forward with evenly spaced wraps. You want the wire to create the segments of the midge, so don't space them too close or too far apart (about 4-5 turns). Tie off the wire where you stopped the thread and helicopter the wire to break it (hold the wire after securing it and spin it with a little bit of pressure). Now wrap the thread to the hook eye and build up a small head before whip finishing the fly. That's it!
Once you have this down, you have many options to create other midges: - Use a different color thread for the head (whip finish the body thread after securing the wire and tie in another color, e.g., cream body with dark brown head).
- Add a tungsten bead for the head (this is a Zebra Midge).
- Use dubbing for the head (black body, silver wire, and black dubbing creates a Black Beauty).
- Wrap copper wire with touching wraps and a peacock herl head for a Brassie.
All of these imitate either the larva or pupa stage of the midge life cycle. You'll find other patterns online, including emerger patterns. Simple to tie and build up your fly tying skillset.
Here is a video by Tim Flagler that demonstrates the tying of a basic midge. I use a different thread instead of using a permanent marker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypN0BuUynwY&t=160s Happy tying!
Greg Walters
Fly Tying | | | |  | | Steve Sleight with a 43" redfish. | |  | | Jim Davis with a big North Platte Cutthroat | |  | | Dave Hoover with Greg Mueller, our guide, with a fat North Platte Rainbow | |  | | Oops! Another fat Rainbow for Dave Hoover. | | Support our Sponsers!!Special Shout Out to our most excellent sponsor The Peak Fly Shop 5632 Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80918 (719) 260-1415 | | | | |
