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Catch a Memory
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 Join Trout Unlimited for a national raffle benefiting Colorado Youth Outdoors & TU. Win the Trout fishing trip of a lifetime! Click below for details. Raffle Details |
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Greetings!
Wow what a long cold winter, I mean spring! We seemed to have by-passed spring altogether and headed straight into summer with the vengeance of runoff in full swing. Take a deep breath and be patient. The rivers will come back into shape before you know it. For now, it's time to concentrate on warm water fishing.
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New faces at the shop:
Mark Shamburg and Ty Clifton
 We are very excited to announce the addition of two new employees at the shop, Mark Shamburg and Ty Clifton.
In addition to guiding for the new Anglers All Guide Service, Mark will be working in the shop and doing some custom design work for some fabulous bamboo rods and machining his own brand of custom designed reels. A Colorado native, Mark has been making bamboo fly rods and reels since 2005. He has developed his own tapers for rods that are uniquely designed for fishing conditions we experience in Colorado lakes and streams. Mark is also an accomplished Steelheader having fished many rivers of the Northwest including the Sandy, Clakamas, Hoh, Bogachiel, Sol Duc and Kalama. In BC, he has spent time on the Skeena, Copper, Kispiox and Bulkley rivers.
 Ty joined us in April. As a customer, we were so impressed with his crazy pike flies and in depth knowledge of local huge game pike and carp fishing that we had to give him a job! If you have an interest in anything pike, carp or bass, stop by the shop and let him bend your ear for a while. We promise you won't go away without learning something new. Ty came to us from the Western Slope where he worked for Western Anglers as a guide and shop employee. Ty's passion for tying and materials has earned him the position of feather and fur master extraordinaire in the shop. He will be running our material and hook department in addition to managing our tyers demonstration calendar this coming winter. In addition to his pike and warm water expertise, Ty is also an aspiring Steelheader having spent time on the Salmon and Clearwater rivers swinging for winter Steelhead. Ty's Pike Flies-
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Warmwater Opportunities
Ty Clifton
 May is upon us and this usually brings on the beginning of run-off. To the average fly fisherman this means 45 days of little to no fishing. The purpose of this article is to provide some info and insight on how to fix that problem.
There are many great fishing opportunities for warm water species throughout the Denver Metro Area, and in most cases, these spots are not much more than a 20 minute drive from your house. In many of the smaller lakes around town you will have the opportunity to catch large and small mouth bass, pike, tiger musky, carp, wiper, blue gill and walleye. Each fish brings its own specific challenges to overcome if you are to catch them. For instance with carp, it isn't uncommon to see 20 pound fish in as little as a foot of water. These fish are usually much harder to catch than trout and the longer you spend chasing them, the more it will help you become a better angler overall. By the way, if you've ever fished for saltwater species, it's as close to bone fishing as you can get without being in the Keys! Treat your carp trips like a good warm up if you have an upcoming saltwater trip.
Most Anglers already have everything they need to pursue warmwater species, even if you've never done it before. Most bass fishing situations only call for a 5 or 6 weight rod. Pike, Tiger Musky, Carp, Wiper and Walleye require heavier tackle. Rods in the 7 to 10 weight range are most common. Blue Gill are a blast on a 2 or 3 weight. So get out there and give it a try and explore the Metro Area and all of the great fishing opportunities that we have close to home.
My warmwater hotspots for the final week of May are Chatfield and Cherry Creek Reservoirs. Both offer terrific carp fishing. At Chatfield you'll want to concentrate on the flats very near the inlet. The water is shallow and the flats are huge making it easy to walk and site-fish to carp pushing through the flats. Cherrycreek offers a variety of opportunities. With water temperatures on the rise, in the mid to upper 60's, the carp fishing is really improving. Focus your efforts on the flat by the east boat ramp. Killer flies for carp in this neck of the woods are the Clouser Swimming Nymph and Carpalicious in Olive, size 8.
 Clouser's Swimming Nymph
 Carpalicious (Olive)
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Hot Flies for May
Streamers! - Josh Willey
This time of year marks a distinct switch in focus for me when it comes to fly selection. Obviously, runoff is going to effect the amount of stream fishing we are able to do in this territory, and many people switch their focus to stillwater fisheries in late spring. This means one thing - furry, rubbery, shiny, feathery, delicious streamers!
Below I have highlighted a handful of killer warmwater, coldwater and crossover streamer patterns you need to have in your box. Whether you are beating the structure for big bass, chasing lunkers on one of our many trophy trout lakes or spanking the banks during high water, these babies are sure to please.
The Bellydancer Zonker from Idylwilde Flies is an amazing crossover
pattern for May. I use them mainly for chasing Smallies on local lakes,
but this fly also makes for a great highwater pattern where the
trout feed aggressively on streamers.
The UFO Slider looks like something straight out of the Bass Masters Invitational, and it fishes like it too! This is the ideal Bass Pattern for fishing vertically over sunken timber or weedbeds. It's time to get your jig on!
The Conehead Kiwi Muddler is a truly lethal pattern during high water conditions for use right up against the banks. These babies sink quickly, and have an awesome undulating action when you strip them through the current. They are also equally effective in stillwater situations.
 Barr's Bouface is one of the most versatile streamer patterns I have ever fished. This fly is simple in form, imitating a leech, but the wide range of sizes and varying tail lengths of this pattern make it ideal for everything from sunfish to pike.
 Silvey's Sculpin Leech from Idylwilde Flies is another example of articulated wonderment. These things look super fishy in the water, and their size makes them killer for catching a really wide variety of species.
 The Sculpzilla from Solitude Fly Co. is easily one of my favorite crossover streamer patterns. It always seems that whether the water is cold or warm, the target species speckled or striped, the Sculpzilla is a part of the mix. The articulated action of this fly in the water is part of what makes it so irresistible.
Is there anything in fly fishing more exciting than a really good top-water bass bite? Popper season is just about here! As the weather warms and the weed beds continue to grow, the bass and panfish will begin to look skyward hoping for wayward protein to fall into the water. The savage and explosive bite that often follows is one of the most awe-inspiring and rewarding angling experiences one can have. And the best part of it all is that the majority of the best top-water bass fishing can be found very close to your home.
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Hand Made Streamer Leaders
Gary Thompson
 Last fall, I had occasion to fish with Zack Dalton, Sales Manager for Rio Products, on a frigid fishing trip to the Missouri River in Craig, MT. We spent a good amount of time casting streamers in the mornings before the BWO's got rolling. Zack turned me onto an interesting leader he hand ties for streamer fishing which I have found especially useful for warm water species. It's a pretty simple concept that introduces a shock absorber to your leader system that will assist in absorbing the violent strikes that so often accompany streamer fishing. Click here to see the video that illustrates how to tie one of these leaders.
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June 24,25,26 Lower Dolores Dry Fly Trip
Hosted by Anglers All staff; guided by Telluride Outside.
We are hosting an all inclusive guided weekend trip to the Telluride area this June to fish what is widely considered one of the most technically challenging yet rewarding dry fly fishing experiences in Colorado. This trip won't be for everyone. It is not designed for the novice or amateur angler. That said, for those that can face the music, and those aficionados in the know, the Lower Dolores boasts a reputation this time of year for being one of the premier dry fly fishing experiences in one of the most pristine and scenic spots on earth. Searching patterns such as parachute hoppers and Turck's Tarantulas will be the order of the day, as well as match-the-hatch midge patterns on long leaders in the evenings. We'll be staying at the Dolores Canyon Ranch B&B, which is the only lodge on the Lower Dolores River. If you want to test your abilities with two of the most highly skilled guides in the state, contact the shop for details or take a loot at the trip details on our travel page. As your trip approaches, feed the fire by keeping up with our Telluride fishing report recently launched on our stream report page.
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Bamboo Fishing Clinic
Saturday, July 24th
 Are you a bamboo nut? Have you ever thought you might want to become one? This clinic is the perfect opportunity to show off your cane or learn more about these rods before taking the plunge. Bamboo is a very special material that creeps into the deepest recesses of your senses. Mark Shamburg will be hosting a guided fishing day for four intrepid anglers on a private piece of property we represent on the North Fork of the South Platte. In addition to enjoying some awesome fishing, Mark will be talking about bamboo rod design, the unique properties bamboo brings to the quality of your fishing, a review of taper designs, both traditional and new, demonstrating casting techniques that are unique to throwing cane, and fish fighting techniques that are employed when fishing bamboo. If you are already absorbed by the magic of cane or want to learn more about this addiction, we promise you won't go away from this clinic without learning something new. Click here to see the details online.
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 Free Hats!
Today through June 14th, get a free ball cap with a purchase of $30 or more from AnglersAll.com!
Take your pick from any Simms, Sage, Ross Worldwide, Ross USA or Anglers All logo ball cap. And all you have to do is spend 30 bucks online! All of these hats retail for $16 or more.
When ordering, just enter the hat style and color you want in the Comments Box on the checkout page, NOT in your shopping cart.
This offer is limited to ball cap styles that are in current inventory and will not be honored on wide-brim hat styles like the Solar Sombrero etc. This offer only applies to web purchases! Not applicable to in-store purchases!
Click here to view the hats online.
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Sometimes the months of May and June force us to get creative when it comes to finding time on the water. Don't be discouraged! There are tons of great stillwater and warmwater fisheries in our neck of the woods. Get out there and explore new water! We'll be here to provide you with whatever you might need.
Sincerely,
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Chris Keeley & Gary Thompson and the whole gang at the shop
Anglers All |
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