Trico Hatch Timing on the South Platte: How the Morning Runs
First light to 10:30 a.m. — when the spinner fall actually lands, how to read the rise so you know the stage, and what to fish once it quits.
The journal · Page 4 of 12
Blog.
River guides, fly selection, and field notes from the South Platte. Written from the water, not a desk.
Page 4
142 posts · page 4 / 12
Colorado's Drought Summer: The Flow Was Fine the Whole Time
Nine weeks of Dream Stream gauge readings from this site's own hatch reports. The flow never dropped, and the river went on the closure list anyway.
Chubby Chernobyl Dropper Fly Guide: South Platte Tactics
How to fish a Chubby Chernobyl dropper rig on the South Platte in late summer — fly selection, sizing, tippet setup, and where to target trout.
Trico Fly Patterns for the South Platte: Size, Wing, Silhouette
Six Trico patterns ranked by when I actually tie them on, why #22–24 beats #20 on this river, and the male-versus-female call that decides refusals.
Click-and-Pawl vs Disc Drag (for Trout): Which Do You Actually Need?
Click-and-pawl or sealed disc drag for trout? How each works, when each wins, and the honest truth about how little drag a trout reel really needs.
Why Bamboo Fly Rods Are So Expensive
Why hand-built cane costs so much — 100+ hours of labor, single-source Tonkin, taper precision in thousandths, and the value-cane tier that changed the math.
Dog Days: When the Water's Too Warm, I Go Up
Late August on the South Platte cooks the lower water. Here's the move I make instead — up to cold high-country creeks. Easier on me, easier on the fish.
When to Walk Away: Summer Water Temps and the Fish You Don't Catch
Warm water kills trout you release. Here's how I read summer water temps on the South Platte and when I'd rather drive home than cook a fish.
Euro Rod vs Indicator-Nymph Rod: Why They're Not the Same Tool
Both fish nymphs and both run about ten feet — but a euro rod and an indicator rod are built for opposite jobs. How they differ, and when to fish each.
How a Bamboo Fly Rod Is Actually Made
What really goes into a split-cane fly rod — from a culm of Tonkin bamboo to a finished hex blank, and why it takes over 100 hours.
Why Your Flies Cost Twice What They Used To
Trout flies held near $2 for twenty-five years. Now they are $3–$4.50 and climbing. The actual reason — tariffs on hand-tied imports — and what it changes.
How Many Fly Rods Do You Really Need?
The honest 1-rod, 2-rod and 3-rod trout quiver logic, what each one adds, and then my six-rod pile as the cautionary tale.