Spent last summer in Charleston and absolutely loved it kayaking and fishing for trout and reds. I will be back to reside again at some point in my life. Scotty D and Dolphin Dave thanks again for showing me redfishville and that super secret Kiawah spot with monster reds.
However, this summer I got a job as a fly fishing guide in Aspen Colorado fishing the Roaring Fork River. So far the fishing has been pretty good, the snowmelt is falling off and the fish have stopped eating San Juan worms and are now focused on the caddis that are beginning to hatch. Lately the fishing has been tough but my clients have had good attitudes and have been rewarded with some nice fish. Attached are pictures of the fish I have been catching, the biggest being a 17 inch rainbow and a 16 inch brown. Lots of fish in the 12-14" range. These guys fight like hell on a five weight and you have to be very skilled and pretty lucky to get them out of the fast water and into the net. I did manage to hook one that was at least 20" and broke my rod. Story below, hope you all enjoy. If anyone makes it out this way for a trip this summer I’m more than happy to accommodate some great trout fishing!
I had found a good looking hole on an unexplored section of river and tossed my nymph rig into it next to a log in the water. 2 seconds of drift later the “log” turned and flashed, sucking in one of my flies. I was surprised but set the hook as the big fish moved and he immediately became very unhappy and took off downstream. I never got a good look at the fish but I’m pretty sure it was pushing at least 20", which the other guides say is about max size for the river. Anyways, the fish shot downstream and started peeling line off my reel. I took off after him climbing over boulders and racing downstream trying to keep up but he wrapped the line around a big logjam in the middle of the river and was still pulling hard. I’ve never had a fish take line off a fly reel like this, he was into my backing very quickly with the help of the current. No cho
Beautiful fish and pictures!! Really cool, thanks!
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Great story and pics. You still enjoying the T140 I sold you?
There is nothing - absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame
Still got the Tarpon 140 Too Busy! That is a great kayak. It’s back at home in Virginia, nowhere to really use it out here. I last took it out on a 30 acre private lake in West Virginia and hammered 45 massive (up to 11.5") bluegill from it. I’m trying to make a trip to the Outer Banks this summer and am excited to get into some creeks that you definitely can’t reach with a boat.
There is no normal life, there’s just life.
Tarpon 140
Knot the Reel World Fly Fishing LLC
Great pics. Reminds me of the job I had in Montana a few years back.
“There is a strange sense ofpleasure being beat to hell by a storm when you’re on a boat that is not going to sink.” JB
All i can say Hokie, is that you are a lucky man. i love living near the saltwater and especially fishing it, but there is nothing better than fishing in the mountains on a nice gurgling stream. very calming. those are some beautiful fish.
thats awesome!
“My fish served a whole lunchon. Your fish look like a munchkin”
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Certainly makes me miss my Jackson days! Have you run into a guy by the name of John Vogler I’m not sure if he is still a guide up there but say hi if you see him. Have fun out there.
Ahhhh Aspen… "where the beer flows like wine and the women ■■■■■ like the salmon of capistrano… " Sorry bro I couldn’t resist 
… I learned to fly fish around Colorado Springs… I do enjoy salt water FF much more and the flies are much easier to tie 
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Tarpon 160os
hokie, very nice! some beautiful water
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Nice story Hokie. Always wear a belt with your waders!!I’ve swam dozens of times in Colorado rivers, it’s alway exciting, especially with a big fish on. I guided on the Gunnison a few years back, if you want to get into some over 20" fish head over Kebler pass to Crested Butte when you get a few days off and fish the upper Gunnison and Taylor rivers.
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Thanks all! I do feel very lucky to have such an awesome job. Though at the rate its going I’m pretty broke! fantastic experience though and I’m getting much better at trout fishing.
Copeap- Have not run into a John Vogler. There are lots of guides out here. Any idea what outfitter he goes out of?
Nikon- Yea we hear that saying alot and it never gets old. I’m with you on the saltwater fly fishing. It is easier, fish are (generally) not so ■■■■ picky and the flies are definitely more fun to tie. That being said, fishing for these finicky fish is definitely making me a better fisherman. It’s amazing how much your presentation counts over fly selection. I’ll fish the same hole for 30 minutes before finally catching a fish. They will ignore a fly over and over until it is drifted PERFECTLY.
Chuck- I’ve got a belt now. Definitely could save your live if the water is rough enough. I missed the Salmonfly hatch on the Gunnison this June but am planning a 3 or 4 day camping/fishing trip in early September so I can hopefully hang one of those monster fish on a hopper pattern.
There is no normal life, there’s just life.
Tarpon 140
Knot the Reel World Fly Fishing LLC