South Platte River - Deckers, CO - 4/17/2011

Per recommendation of Danny Brennan of Flies and Lies fly shop in Deckers, I tried a new nymph-dropper combo this day.  I fished a size 20-22 Sparke Midge Emerger (silver/tan) behind a size 14-16 Golden Stone Fly in a weightless configuration.  Used approx. 18" flouro tippet (6X) behind a 9' 5X flouro tapered leader.  Fished run 1/4mi. down river from large hill.  Also fished deep run 100yds upstream and hooked up with a gorgeous rainbow that took the stone fly out of the surface film immediately upon impact.  It was great to see a big girl with her nose up, taking dry flies this early in the season.  Once she was hooked, she ran like a freight train and my 5X tippet couldn't get her to turn.  One of these days this hook-and-lose-a-trophy fish saga will terminate.

Began fishing at 8am and fished until 1pm.  Landed two nice 18-20" fish and had three separate opportunities with 24-27" monsters.  Two came unhooked, one broke me off (see video).  Lesson learned, I need a larger net as I could have likely landed two of these fish with a larger net with longer handle.  Time to invest in a new net.  The feeling of hooking, seeing, and then losing three fish that would have each been a personal best is both saddening yet it heightens my addiction to this awesome sport.

Enjoy the videos!

This one didn't get away.

25" fish hooked well, fought, lost while trying to net.  Video 1

25" fish hooked well, fought, lost while trying to net.  Lady who was cheering me on from the shoreline offered to take control of the camera.  When she stepped into the water so I could hand it to her while fighting the fish, her black Lab decided to join the fun.  Video 2

Golden Stone Fly (size 14-16) and Tan Sparkle Midge Emerger (size 20-22)