Heading to Kona.

This is a work in progress for Blood Knot Magazine.

I hit up my local creek this week and caught a few dumb trout on #20 BWO. Believe me, it was satisfying as I have been seeking out larget trout all winter only to leave cold, hungry, dissapointed, angry, and defintely fishless. The latest excursion had me driving 5 hours only to scowl in the wind for 3 hours of “fishing”. It was about that time that I made up my mind to get into some saltwater. Now, I have no idea what to do when I have something larger than a 5 weight in my hand (ask my girlfriend) but the idea of wearing shorts worrying about applying enough sunscreen was appealing to me. The girlfriend has no problem going on these trips either.

So we booked tickets. Cheap tickets that make you travel for 24 hours for a 5 hour flight. That is when I started panicking. I spent an evening on the Google trying to find fly fishing in Kona Hawai’i. Nope. There isn’t any. There is a budding bonefish guiding industry on O’ahu. That is on a different island. The island of Hawai’i, also called the Big Island, not to be confused with the state, Hawai’i is much younger than O’ahu (where Waikiki and Honolulu are) and hasn’t developed flat areas off shore. In fact the southern most point of the U.S. and the Big Island (appropriatley named South Point) have water so deep that it is possible to catch large game fish like Wahoo (Ono) Tuna (Ahi) and even Marlin (A’u) from shore.

Time for me to scrunch my face at the Google again. What gear do I bring for an unknown fishery? I settled on a 9 weight rod for a few reasons. I don’t want to buy a 12 or 15 weight and go after marlin from shore. What would I do if I caught one?! Land it? I also don’t own a rod that size and really don’t think that I need to buy one living in Colorado.

I also don’t own any saltwater flies. I remembered that Jay Zimmerman had some advice on the life cycle of tubers and he might have some tips on how to catch fish somewhere unexplored. He, nor anyone else in the shop, had heard of fly fishing in Kona. I think they asked if I was bringing my passport.

Saltwater in CO.

Where do I start when I have no idea where to start? The beginning I guess.

There was a huge selection of flies, but I couldn’t tell the guys at the shop about the terrain, the fish, or the weather (other than it’s always perfect) so I bought a few clousers and deceivers. I had the genius idea that I could make some of these myself and I would enjoy it.

He has no idea...

These size 4 hooks are easy to work with compared to the #22 parachute adams I am used to making.

It looks like I will be walking the shore hucking these monster flies at random rock outcroppings and looking for the shallowest water that I can find. I have a stand up paddle board that I can use, but they are hard to balance on in a lake with no wind. I am hoping to borrow a kayak or one of those bicycles with the huge plastic wheels so I can explore more territory without paying for a boat.

Marlins eat chickens?

After the first round of clousers and deceivers, I headed to a craft store to pick up some colorful feathers, craft fur, and storgae containers. I hope these Kona fish will eat any sort of neon early 90’s looking club dancer that isn’t too far away from shore!

Another day on the Blue River.

Well the fishing continues. As well as the preparation for the Boulder Marathon. We received our medals and they are great. I also saw the awards that are being created for our winners. The barriers are reserved, the flags are ready, the expo is being sorted out, and volunteers are being recruited. Now we just plan for as much as we can.

Nobody else was allowed here today.

As for the fishing, I got skunked on some awesome looking private water. These were (in my mind) going to be big, dumb, and hungry fish. I guess nobody told them to be there. Then we fished the Big Thompson and I got some, but the biggest of the day took we down stream before spitting out my fly. Yesterday, we hit the Blue in Silverthorne for some afternoon action. Multiple times I had to check my fly to see if there was a hook attached because I missed so many.

The look of concentration.

Yesterday's best fish of the day nudged my fly with his nose the first time it passed by him. You rarely get another chance at the fish on the Blue River, but he took it the second time it drifted by. I was happy because I have been practicing tying these smallish (size 16) dries with Wulff like wings and I thought they would work well, and they did. It was a good fight and he was close enough for Moj to take pictures of him in the water. When he sensed the net nearby he took off downstream. I went sprinting after him not wanting to let him go. He somehow tied his line in a bow around a log and swam away with my kick ass new fly. I somehow contained the urge to snap my fly rod and settled on shouting expletives.  I will get a good one there one day. No more rookie mistakes!

Fish fanatic.

Yesterday I pulled a half dozen small trout out of Boulder Creek. I filmed some of it with my new iPhone 4.

Then after work, I work tried a mouse pattern that Moj had tied in March. It worked. I successfully caught a fish after midnight with a mouse pattern. It wasn't the 20" Brown Trout that I was hoping for, but the fact that it worked simply thrills me.

Parachute Adams.

3 of 6 today.

Today I got my run done early which left me time to fish before the next session of dog training. Yesterday, I went on a fish recon mission which proved that Eben G. Fine park is one of the best places to fish in Boulder. Sure the fish are small, but they are hungry and love to eat dry flies. I tied two parachutes and two foam elk hair caddis. The fish were rising aggressively which always makes for some fun fishing! The biggest issue that I am having is the trout's teeth are tearing the hackle on my parachutes. So my third fish tore the hackle off. I had given the other parachute to my friend and he gave it to a tree. Now it was time for the caddis. I have had good luck with green foam, but made another with orange foam. Orange to a trout is like red to a bull. Except the trout want to eat the orange objects. When fishing the St. Joe river in Idaho, the cutthroats would try to eat my orange indicator.
In the end I landed a couple with the green foam, but didn't try the all orange foam elk hair caddis. Tonight, I have swimming and indoor soccer. What a great day off. Life is good.

Snow day.

Arriving in Boulder was wonderful. It was a long drive from Flagstaff, but well worth it. Having an apartment is great.

The view yesterday.

Then it started snowing. Heavily. It is a nice change from the last 18 months. It has been a perpetual summer for a while. Now it really feels like winter. For better or worse, we live across the street from Front Range Anglers. I already went by and introduced myself. Moj got me a beginners fly tying kit this week. Oh no. Now I am in trouble. It is dumping snow and I drank way too much tea. Time to start tying flies.

The van today.

I began reading a book about fly tying. Then looking up websites, videos, anything that I could find to figure out how to tie flies. I started with a Woolly Bugger and then started making things up.

My Woolly Bugger.

After tying about 4 flies I was ready to rush out to Boulder Creek and give them a try. Sitting here warm and comfy, I was convinced that it would be fine to be out fishing in the snow. Then I looked out the window. And I sat down to tie some more.

My personal box.

I have no idea of some of the things that I tied. I plan on using them though! I don't know if they float or not. I don't know if I can trick the fish with them. I will try though.  The forecast is for more snow tomorrow, but  I am not sure if I can contain my excitement.