I have a friend, Nick, who is a graphite guy. He owns 2 fly rods: a Scott G2 904/4 and a heavy hitter for his annual Alaskan salmon fishing trips. Well, I brought him to the Colorado Clave a couple of years ago to introduce him to glass and the good people of FFR, and during the door prize event of the weekend, he, of course, draws #1 and winds up with a South Fork glass 7' #3 rod. Lucky guy!

Well, he finally christened it yesterday. And I brought him to the perfect stream to do so. He's still getting used to its slower casting action, but he could not stop smiling when his first "10 inch monster cutthroat" bent his glass 3 wt to the cork!

Yeah, we have another glass convert. . . .

As Nick reverently kneels to the fish gods, humbly requesting a trout offering, I am reminded of Tom Brokaw's quote, "If fishing is like religion, then fly fishing is high-church." Hmm, I wonder then what dry fly fishing with a glass rod in Colorado's high country would be? How about Heaven? More specifically "Cutthroat Heaven."


[While he's swinging his glass scepter, I'm wielding a glass-souled Winston DL4 8' #4, certainly one of my favorite rods of all time.]

A rain cloud-ridden sky dropped (needed) precipitation intermittently on us, but these gorgeous cutthroat still brought bright spots to the day.


These wary trout hide in the undercuts of these grassy banks. They usually give me a couple casts before they take off laughing, but every once in a while, it all comes together.


As we say farewell to paradise, the sky opens up and rains (hard) on us for the 45 minute hike back to the truck. . .


.. . but it was worth it to dream in these vivid colors that night.


Thanks for looking and have a great season, all. [And, Nick, register here on the forum!]

dbd ... beautiful report and good on you for bringing another convert into the fold.

You did it again ... great report and pics.

Wow & thanks for sharing Doc! Sure looks like a bit of heaven to me ...

Next time I hit CO, cofisher and I have GOT to come see you!

Great spot, great pics DBD!

Thanks for another great adventure, Doc! That outing did indeed look like a religious experience.

Whrlpool, I've always heard about that fishing above Sun Valley but have never been able to get there. We are renting a car near Sun Valley this year so maybe I can get some photos of your old fishing grounds. I have fished Boundry Creek, but you may be talking about way up there. Now that I think about it, isn't it called Copper Basin? Might have to have a four wheel drive for that trip, however. I'll check with Silver Creek Outfitters when I'm in Ketchum.

Beauty! Some of the prettiest trout on the planet. I remember Nick ... pretty good guy. Hard to imagine having a fishing buddy who is not a pretty good guy. We sure had fun the night of the raffle, did we not? Nice post, Doc. It was sure good to meet you guys on the banks of the Arkansas.

Pete - imagine yourself in a month casting to this cutthroat stream as well as the brookie stream that I posted about earlier. And bring a rain jacket, just in case.

Waco & Howard - you have a reservation to join me here when you guys cans cross the hill.

Wish I could take photo's that good!