Headwaters Chapter on Fraser Flats

On March 11, Colorado Headwaters Chapter President, Kirk Klancke, and chapter board member, Anna Drexler-Dreis, joined Good Morning Grand County to talk about water. Klancke was joined by Grand County Water and Sanitation District Manager, Bruce Hutchins, Klancke and Hutchins talk about the issues facing the water supply in Grand County and how the Learning by Doing initiative will help protect stream flows and temperatures of the Fraser River.

Klancke also speaks about the Fraser Flats River Enhancement project. Part of this project will include revegetation along the Fraser as well as stream channeling. Stream channeling will create a smaller river bed within the natural river bed to keep water consolidated during the low flow periods. This will keep the water moving faster, colder, and provide holding areas for trout.

Part of the project will also include a half mile of the river being open to the public for fishing. "We can improve the stream sections of the Fraser and its tributaries to the point where it will be healthier now than it was when I started fishing there 46 years ago," said Klancke.

Drexler-Dreis talked more about the Fraser Flats project, the first Learning by Doing project since its inception. The first step in the Fraser Flats project will entail planting willows along the Fraser River for just under a mile in an area that was heavily overgrazed. With willows in place, the river will experience more stable conditions and improve the stream banks to provide more trout habitat. Volunteers will help with the harvesting and planting of these willows.

The segments below were from the Good Morning Grand County episode on March 11, 2017. If you wish to view the whole episode, you can check out their YouTube channel!

CPW Needs Help from Anglers

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Press Release DURANGO, Colo. – Interested in catching a 20-inch rainbow trout? Thought so.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking for help from anglers to learn about the “catchability” of different strains of rainbow trout that are stocked in reservoirs.  Aquatic biologists have stocked Pastorius Reservoir with 800 of a new strain of rainbow trout as part of a special project. To increase angler interest and participation in the project, CPW is also stocking 100 rainbow trout “broodstock” which are in the 16-20”-plus  inch range.

To determine how the fish respond to bait, lures and flies, CPW has “marked” the 800 fish by clipping the small adipose fin that is located on the backs of the fish. Starting March 29 anglers at Pastorius are being asked to record the number of fish they catch that are marked (no adipose fin) and unmarked (adipose fin present) and to answer a five-question on-line survey.  The survey is expected to run about two weeks.  Clipping the fin causes no harm to the fish.

CPW has posted signs at the reservoir with a QR code and web link anglers can use to access the survey with their smart phones as soon as they get done fishing for the day.  Anglers are asked to record their catch, including fish they released, after each day of fishing. Those fishing can take the survey more than once.  The survey should only take a couple of minutes to complete.  A CPW volunteer will also be at the reservoir to answer questions.

“We rely on anglers to help us manage fisheries,” said Jim White, CPW’s aquatic biologist in Durango. “This information will be valuable for our hatchery and stocking programs. Plus, we’re giving folks a chance to land some big fish.”

The cell phone service at Pastorious Reservoir is good, so anglers with cell phones can record information on the spot. The survey can also be completed at home. No personal information will be collected through the survey.

The daily bag limit at Pastorius Reservoir is four trout, and the possession limit is eight fish. The reservoir is locate south of Durango on La Plata County Road 304

Anglers are reminded that they need a new fishing license for the year starting April 1.

Take a Moment to P.A.U.S.E

Photo provided by Troutfin Studio at www.markajessop.com By: Peter Stitcher of Ascent Fly Fishing

Exhale... You've done it.  You've successfully escaped the office.  You've tunneled under the suburb's privacy fences, and the incessant drone cell phones and email notifications are fading into the distance behind you.  In front of you lies a day without obligation and a river full of potential and the promise of hungry trout.  Before you run down the trail and lose yourself on the water, slow down and PAUSE for a moment.  Mother Nature has something to tell you, and listening will prove the difference between a day spent  staring at the water or one punctuated with tight lines and wet hands as you release fish back into the river.

This message is a story about which bugs are hatching, what the trout are eating, and which fly patterns will give you the greatest chance of success on this water, on this day.  The lines of this tale surround the river; it is recorded among the willows, whispered on the wind, and chiseled along the bed of the river.  Guided by the acronym PAUSE, the fly fisher can interpret nature's cues, tie on the perfect combination of flies, and be ready for an epic day on the water.

Parking lot to the River - Matching the hatch starts when you park the truck and continue on your way to the water's edge.  While not the most appetizing script to read, plastered to your windshield and the grill of your car is a record of the bugs that were flying and hopping along the lake or river that you are planning to fish.   The fragile wings of mayflies and sturdy grasshopper legs act like braille to the astute angler and are the first clues as to what flies they might fish that day.  As you leave the parking lot and work your way down to the water, observe what is hopping and flying around you.  Grasshoppers frantically leaping off the trail ahead of you, the wayward beetle landing on your shoulder, and the shrilling of the cicada, and caddis flies stirring into flight as you push through streamside trees are all indicators of food that might be falling or landing on the water.

Above the Water- Swallows flying and swooping over the water are going to be your first indicator that bugs are hatching from the water and dry flies might be on the menu!  As you reach the water's edge, watch for swarms of invertebrates over the water and streamside vegetation.  Even at a distance, the chaotic flight of the caddis, the purposeful straightforward flight of the stonefly, and the orderly wave-like motion of the mayfly will be evident, and will help to direct you to the most likely dry flies in your fly box.

Under the Water - It is beneath the surface of the water that trout do 75% of their feeding,  and that's where the angler's most important information will be found.  Using an Invertebrate Seine along the streambed and pulling rocks from the current to observe what is holding onto their surface will give you a detailed menu of which bugs are most abundant, as well as their size and color so that you can lay your fly box alongside and choose the closest match.

Spider Webs - Spiders are Mother Nature's PhD level Entomologists and are the most efficient samplers of insects along the river.  If it has been hatching or hopping along the water where you are fishing, the spiders will have caught them.  Look for spider webs in the bushes and snags along the river and hold your fly box up to their latest catch to match the hatch.

Eddies -  Like the Bermuda Triangle of Trout, swirling currents and backwaters along the edge of the river provide a catalog of the most active bugs in and on the water.  Spinning on top of the rotating current will be a sample of spent invertebrate cases, crippled insects, and expired post-spawn adults.  Beneath the surface of the water, the same currents that trapped the adults in their dizzying spin also  act to deliver aquatic insects to these collection points where they can be easily observed and matched by the angler.

Success never comes easily for the fly fisherman.  There is no such thing as a lucky fly that will produce every trip to the river, and there are no infallible guides equipped with crystal balls through which to foresee the next hatch.  However, for the fly fisher who takes a moment to PAUSE and observe, the rewards will be immediate, the fish will be more frequent, and the experience on the water will be that much richer!

Peter Stitcher is an Aquatic Biologist and the Chief Fly Geek at Ascent Fly Fishing.  At Ascent we don't guess what the fish are biting on, we know!  With our Biologist Crafted Fly Selections you can tell us where you are fishing, when you are fishing, your budget, and skill level, and we will match down to the life cycle to the fly what the fish will be eating when you are on the water! You can see our full spread of flies and gear, and read our Sci-Fly Fishing Blog at: WWW.ASCENTFLYFISHING.COM

Ascent Fly Fishing is also a proud Trout Unlimited Business partner, and have provided free TU memberships to more than 1000 of our clients in the last two years. 

A Celebration of Pat Oglesby

Pat Oglesby passed away on December 15, 2016. A lifetime member of Trout Unlimited, Pat was a recipient of the council's highest honor, the Silver Trout award, for his leadership, dedication, and work on protecting Colorado's fisheries. Pat resided in Grand Junction with his wife Carol and was very active with the Grand Valley Anglers chapter of TU. He embodied the true spirit of what Trout Unlimited is all about and will be missed dearly.

The following is a eulogy delivered by Pat's friend Shelley Walchak at the celebration of Pat's life on March 18th, 2017.

By Shelley Walchak

“A limb has fallen from our family tree I keep hearing a voice that says, “Grieve not for me Remember the best times, the laughter, the song. The good life I lived while I was strong. Continue my heritage I’m counting on you, Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through. My mind is at ease, my soul at rest, Remembering all how I truly was blessed. Continue traditions no matter how small Go on with your life, don’t just stare at the wall. I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin Until the day comes And we’re together again.” …Author Unknown

The optimistic, upbeat nature of that poem reminds me so much of Pat. It was just about 5 years ago when I met Pat and Carol at the Denver Fly-Fishing Show. I had gone to the show because I had decided I was going to take a year off work and go fly-fishing for a year in the Rocky Mountain States. I needed to find new friends who could help/join me in my quest.  I arrived at the show without knowing a soul and approached the IFFF booth to explain myself. I was immediately told that Pat and Carol were the folks I needed to meet. From that day forward a deep and loving friendship developed.  A year later I started my journey after much consultation from Pat. I was not long into my journey when I called Pat and Carol to see about a trip to the Taylor River to go fly-fishing. Now, a trip to the Taylor would seem like a perfectly reasonable thing to do except it was January…. And of course the Taylor is near Gunnison, regularly listed as one of the coldest spots in the country. It didn’t matter to me – I was going fishing and I didn’t care what kind of weather I was going to have to endure.

On the last day I saw Pat in October, we talked at length about that trip. He said he had been astonished by my single-mindedness – maybe simple mindedness as well. But, he had agreed to go and I met him and Carol for a couple days in Gunnison.

It had snowed feet just days before we got there but Pat and Carol still showed up. He kept asking me if I still wanted to go and I insisted I did. He was willing to see this through and so we headed up toward Avalanche Hole.

Pat decided he was going to stay up top and spot fish for Carol and me. It was somewhere between 10 – 20 degrees and they both thought I was crazy – but I was in love – in love with fly-fishing and I would do anything to be near a river. And so, Carol and I clamored over 5 foot drifts and made our way down to the river.

After four fishless hours and a propane heater gone dry – we made our way back to Gunnison and ate a hearty meal at a local restaurant. It was no surprise to me that Pat ran into some folks he knew. He seemed to know people wherever he went.

Our excursion ended the next day for them as bad weather rolled in and the temperature dropped even lower. Off they headed to Grand Junction although I was bound and determined to catch at least one fish on the river. Bad weather turned into a blizzard and the fish got the best of me.

It was this passion that we shared deeply – as I’m sure many of you will attest to. Fly-fishing can be a very affirming, very spiritual experience. Pat understood that. Fly-fishing is about ritual and mystery. It’s about acknowledging a power greater than our own. Recognizing that we play a small part in the scheme of things.

It’s also about faith. Faith that the next cast will be the one, that the fish on the line will make it onto shore, and that if this day didn’t go well the next would be better. It’s about our connection to each other, taking comfort in each other’s company and joy in each other’s success.

I found that connection with Pat and he will always have a special place in my heart. Saying these words makes me think of a poem by Delmar Pepper that goes like this.

I've finished life's chores assigned to me, So put me on a boat headed out to sea. Please send along my fishing pole For I've been invited to the fishin' hole.

Where every day is a day to fish, To fill your heart with every wish. Don't worry, or feel sad for me, I'm fishin' with the Master of the sea.

We will miss each other for awhile, But you will come and bring your smile. That won't be long you will see, Till we're together you and me.

To all of those that think of me, Be happy as I go out to sea. If others wonder why I'm missin' Just tell 'em I've gone fishin'

Pat did his good deeds by stealth. He never advertised the fact that he helped so many people in so many different ways. He never talked about his numerous acts of kindness. Yet I believe that almost everyone here today has been at the receiving end of that kindness.

I will miss him as a fountain of general knowledge. If I ever needed to know anything there was always a good chance that Pat would know the answer. If he didn't he'd make sure he found the answer for me.

I will miss him most of all as a friend because good friends like Pat don't happen often in a lifetime. Throughout the years, I’d call to speak with Carol, as a friend and editor of my book, and if Pat picked up, it was an hour before I got to Carol. And sometimes, Carol would have to wait for another day.

To honor Pat, I’m going down to the bank of a river. I’m gonna cast my line out over the swells, and hope for lots of fish, and regardless of whether I get a bite or not…I will be glad and thankful to simply be convening with the spirit of Pat, casting out his own line…not just to pass the time, but to make the passing of time a gift, and a lesson on how life ought to be lived…patient, thoughtfully, and with eager anticipation of the nibble or strike at the hook.

I imagine this is what Pat would say if he could be here…

Don’t grieve for me now, I’m free I’m following the path laid out for me. I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way I’ve found my peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I’ve savored much. Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me. I am set free.

I give you this one thought to keep I am with you still. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. So not think of me as gone I am with you still in each new dawn. …Author unknown.

Keep Grass Green while Conserving Water

Who doesn't love standing barefoot on cool, green grass during the summer? Sure, standing in a river wetting a line is by far the way to spend your days, but many people enjoy the look and feel of a healthy lawn- especially after a summer's day on the water. Xeriscaping is an awesome trend to conserve water while keeping your home's landscape appealing. But it's a common misconception that having green grass and being an effective steward of our water supply don't go hand in hand. Of course using little or no water on landscapes is the best way, but there are ways to keep your grass green while keeping our rivers and trout healthy.

• Rely on the Mother Nature: Sure, this one is obvious but it should go with saying that grass is more resilient than one may think. Grass lawns can tolerate up to two months in hot, dry conditions and still come back when there is water available. Kentucky bluegrass, a common grass along the Front Range, is very drought resilient. "During hot, dry spells, you can let your lawn naturally turn brown and go dormant... Grass will bounce back when rainfall and cooler temperatures return," according to Scotts.
• Use a rain barrel: Staring last year, it is now legal to use a rain barrel to collect up to 110 gallons of water in Colorado. According to Conservation Colorado, using rain barrels could conserve up to 1,200 gallons of water each year per household. A study by the state of Colorado found that in just Douglas County alone, 97 percent of rain water was lost to evaporation and vegetation. Using these barrels, the rain will be collected in a covered unit to reduce the amount of evaporation. The water collected can be used to water the grass or other vegetation without having to turn on the sprinklers or hose.
• Recycle water: Use the waste water from daily household usage like showering or washing dishes for use on your lawn. Collect the waste water by plugging the drain to then scoop the water with a bucket and water trees, shrubs, or portions of the grass that need more attention- most likely the portions in direct and intense heat. (Bonus Tip: Planting water efficient or native trees can help keep grass shaded and covered from the heat).
• Mow Smart: When cutting the grass, keep the lawn blade sharp and the setting high. With a taller height- 3 to 4 inches is the recommended setting- the grass will keep the soil shaded and protected from the sun and increase the ability to retain moisture. Instead of throwing away the clippings, spread them around the lawn. If the grass is cut high and the clippings are small, they will break down quicker and return nutrients to the soil as well as offer more shade for the soil. TrueGreen says, "Don't throw away those clippings when you mow. Be sure to spread them around your lawn to give it an extra source of organic nutrients. Mulch also has the same effect of helping the area retain moisture."
• Water at the right time: Running the sprinklers or watering the grass in the morning or at night is ideal as less water is lost due to evaporation from the heat. It is also not necessary to water every day. About one inch of water every week is needed for healthy grass. Switching to water efficient sprinklers and using a timer is a great way to ensure you are not over watering.

Overlap Season

By: Jack Bombardier, Confluence Casting In many mountain towns, there is said to be a fifth season, in addition to the usual four, called Mud Season. That’s true in much of Colorado, but the Centennial State can also claim to have a sixth season, one I like to call Overlap Season.  This occurs when you can fish, ski or golf within the same period of time.  Overlap Season usually begins sometime in March, or can be as late as April, but this year it began in February.  The snow is still deep, the fish are biting, and the fairways are greening up.  Although I’m not a golfer, I do try to make the most of the skiing and fishing opportunities that I can. It’s an awesome time of year to live in Colorado, and makes me glad that thirty-one years ago to this very month, I made it my home.

The Lower Upper Colorado River looks just gorgeous right now, low and clear and as olive as Al Pacino’s cheeks.  Water temps are up to fifty degrees, and from what I’ve seen “fifty” is the magic number in the springtime.  Fifty makes trout very, very happy.

But then your gaze rises above the water’s liquid allure, and up towards the mountains, where the pristine white blaze of perfect, pristine show shines like chrome.  That snow beckons surely as does the river, but there’s the knowledge that the window to enjoy those perfect slopes is closing fast.  To try and fool a fish?, or go carve through some aspen trees at Beaver Creek?  Hope to hold a crimson striped, spawning rainbow trout I I your hand, or hop off a cornice at A-Basin and carve a turn into some wind-deposited powder?  So many choices, and so short an Overlap Season to take advantage of!

How long the river will stay as perfect as it is now, on March 15^{th 2017}, is difficult to say.   With the deep snowpack we have, one would expect the water managers to start releasing water fairly soon to make room for the Big Melt.  But it’s been a weird winter, one which has flipped the pattern of the past few years.  For the past several winters now, we’ve had a lot of snow early in the season, and a lot in the spring, with the middle stretch of January and early February being dry and cold, without much snow.  This season, it was awful early, with Vail and Beaver Creek opening late and the World Cup races at the Beav being cancelled due to lack of snow (and overnight temperatures to warm to make it). But then the snow finally came, and by the end of February we were looking at snowpack numbers we haven’t had since the epic year of 2011.

Now it’s the middle of the March, and not only has the snow pipeline shut off, but the short-term prognosis is for more warm, dry weather. What that means for fishing is that as long as the water in the reservoirs stays up there, the fishing should be great!  This might be the best spring fishing since we had in the drought year of 2012, with one big difference. 2012 was a drought year and though it fished great back then, the Lower Upper was dominated by brown trout.  Low water conditions that fall led to the release of 30,000 catchable-size rainbows into the river, and those rainbows and their offspring are going to be spawning this year. This spring the river has fished well, and should get even better once the bugs start moving.  So if you want to make the most of Colorado’s Sixth Season, get up here soon and make sure you pack your skis and fishing gear.  You can even put a golf bag in the back if you still have room! So please give me a reason to leave my old Volant Chubbs in the back of the Saab, and come fishing!

Buy your Colorado 2017 fishing license now

From Colorado Parks and Wildlife Coloradans can purchase a 2017 fishing license starting March 15 through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. An annual license is good starting April 1, 2017 through March 30, 2018. CPW provides a range of options for anglers from the annual fishing license to the one-day fishing license as well as educational opportunities for those new to angling.

“Colorado provides outstanding fishing across the state for an amazing diversity of species ranging from cutthroat trout and kokanee to walleye and bluegill,” said Doug Krieger, CPW’s aquatic section manager. “I encourage experienced anglers to introduce a friend or family member to fishing this season. Fishing is a great activity to share with someone else and a great chance to get outside and enjoy Colorado’s natural resources.”

CPW stocks 90 million fish annually into waters throughout Colorado in order to ensure good angling opportunities. CPW does not receive general tax dollars and fishing license fees support all statewide hatchery and fish-stocking operations.

Buy a license online at CPW’s secure license application portal or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.

For individuals aged 18 through 64, a $10 Habitat Stamp is required with the first license purchase for the year. For more information, read about the Habitat Stamp.

Youth under age 16 can fish for free and CPW provides opportunities throughout the season to learn how to fish. Check the calendar on the CPW website for upcoming clinics.

Don’t forget to buy a state park pass when you buy your license. Colorado state parks offer 37 places to fish, 365 days of the year.

Get tips and stay up to date on Colorado fishing regulations by reading the 2017 Colorado Fishing Brochure. CPW also sends customers that sign up through the secure license application portal emails providing updated fishing conditions, tips, news and upcoming events as well as regulation updates.

Meet the TU Staff- Brian Hodge

Brian Hodge is an aquatic restoration biologist with Trout Unlimited’s Western Water and Habitat Project. He lives outside of Steamboat Springs and works on projects in the White and Yampa river basins. In 2015, Brian received the prestigious Rise to the Future Award from the U.S. Forest Service in recognition of his work in protecting watershed resources in the Routt National Forest.  We recently caught up with Brian and asked him a few questions: Tell us about your work and its goals.

My work is anything related to fishery restoration—from identifying, designing, and fundraising for restoration projects, to implementing and monitoring those projects.  I typically partner with private landowners and agencies, and I’m especially interested in conserving native fishes.  One of my primary goals is to plan and implement projects that benefit coldwater fish and landowner alike.  By helping to improve irrigation efficiency, for example, we might improve stream flows for trout and operational efficiency for ranchers.

What motivates you to conserve coldwater fisheries--why do the fish matter?

The fisherman and father in me hope to conserve fisheries so that I have opportunities to catch fish in the future and my son has opportunities to catch fish in the distant future.  And in my opinion, there’s a difference between catching wild and hatchery fish.  But fishing is only a piece of it—for me, conservation is about more than preservation of fishing.  The scientist in me knows that removing or replacing one piece of an ecosystem might set off a string of dominoes, with undesired results.  I see the logic in conserving the original pieces.  Finally, some part of me is, and always has been, drawn to fish.  I can explain why I like working on lakes and streams and why fish fascinate me, but not necessarily why it was fish—and not deer or football—that captured my interest 25-30 years ago.  Fortunately, I found a way to build a career around my interest.

What do you do for fun apart from work?

When I’m not working, I like to spend time with my son.  We ski, fish, and hunt, among other things.

What’s something people don’t know about you?

I coached junior ski racers for 12 years.  Ski racing is a great sport and, in my opinion, among the best for developing the mind, body, and spirit of young athletes.

Favorite book?  

I couldn’t choose just one favorite book, though a book I read about once a year is Indian Creek Chronicles by Peter Fromm.  It’s a true story about a 19-year-old who skips a semester of college to guard salmon eggs on the Selway River in Idaho.  It’s a great read on a camping or backpacking trip.  Other books I like are River of Renewal by Stephen Most and Totem Salmon by Freeman House. There’s definitely a fish theme.

Do you have a conservation hero?

I don’t know that I have a hero, but I know that I’m constantly motivated and inspired by the people I work with.  I work with an outstanding group of conservation biologists in northwest Colorado and, of course, I don’t have to look too far within TU to find conservation leaders.  If TU’s Chrysten Lambert and Brian Johnson (among others) succeed in removing four dams from the Klamath River, they’ll be my conservation heroes.

Mike Clark: Bamboo Master

By Randy Scholfield, TU communications director for the Southwest.  When he started making split-cane bamboo rods 40 years ago, Mike Clark had no idea he could make a living from his hobby.

“I built them to satisfy my fishing interests,” he says.

Then, one day, a man wandered into his heated garage workshop and asked to buy one of his rods. He offered to pay $250 for it, which kind of blew Mike away.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I can actually sell these?’”

That was 40 years ago, and Mike Clark has been steadily making traditional bamboo rods—and amassing a legendary reputation for craftsmanship—ever since. His South Creek Ltd. cane rods now sell for thousands of dollars, and there’s a long waiting list.

From his workshop in downtown Lyons, Colo.—a comfortable, rustic space filled with displayed rods and the tools of his trade—Mike makes handcrafted rods, about 40 of them a year. He estimates that he’s made more than 1,000 rods in his career.

A few years ago, there was so much demand that he had a five-year waiting list—that’s right, five years. Mike stopped taking orders for several years just to catch up.

The good news: in 2012, he started taking orders again. Almost immediately, he had more than 80 orders to fill.

He’s tried to find ways to speed up the process and turn out more rods, he says. But it can’t be done—not without sacrificing quality. And he’s not about to do that.

He’s one of those craftsmen for whom tradition means doing things the right way. No shortcuts.

Why bamboo? “It’s natural. It’s simple. It works,” Mike says. The slower, smoother action appeals to many anglers, as does the allure of tradition: bamboo rods got their start in America before the Civil War and reached a high point in the last century, when Colorado rod manufacturers such as Granger, Wright-McGill and Phillipson produced high-end cane rods that are still prized by collectors.

With his finger, he traces the grain down—each grain line is straight as an arrow and matches the grain on the next piece, all down the rod length. You won’t find that on machined rods, he says, where the grain oftectun veers out of alignment. Under stress, that piece can pop out. Hand-planing throughout the process gives the rods more uniform strength and stability.

Mike has designed his rods in the popular taper style of those Colorado companies, but he’s taken that tradition to another level with handcrafted details and exceptional finish.

“People are fascinated that someone is still making bamboo rods by hand, not someplace in China,” says Kathy Jensen, Mike’s longtime assistant and office manager. “What Mike is doing here is a 130-year old technology. He’s still making rods the traditional way.”

He starts with culms of Tonkin cane—the strongest and straightest grained bamboo species—stacked and aged for years in his shop. He then splits them and shaves the strips into equilateral triangles tapered down to precise tip dimensions, using metal forms and block planes. It takes a steady arm and good eye.

That’s a key to his craft: unlike the (still very fine) mass-produced bamboo rods on the market, which are machined, he hand planes each rod strip down to exacting specs. Then he glues the strips together into blanks and adds nickel silver hardware, exotic woods and other finishes.

While there are many amateur and professional cane rod builders out there, few of them plane by hand at every step. Instead, they do “rough cuts” with a machine and then finish planing by hand.

Mike allows that you can make very good rods that way, but the difference of a true custom rod is in the details.

He shows me one of his rod sections. With his finger, he traces the grain down—each grain line is straight as an arrow and matches the grain on the next piece, all down the rod length. You won’t find that on machined rods, he says, where the grain often veers out of alignment. Under stress, that piece can pop out. Hand-planing throughout the process gives the rods more uniform strength and stability.

For Mike, “custom” also means designing rods to the exact specifications of each angler. He likes to spend time with them to learn their casting styles and fishing preferences. “I can tweak a taper for them,” depending on their individual needs. He also follows their lead on aesthetic finishes and materials, from choosing the color of silk threads to adding ivory with scrimshaw or jade reel seats and diamond inlays.

He makes clear, though, that he’s primarily interested in making great fishing tools, not art pieces—he wants his customers to fish with his rods, not hang them on a wall.

Over the years, he’s slowly built his business, largely through word of mouth. He’s friends with local fly-fishing author John Gierach, who has written about South Creek rods and put his own name on a couple of signature rods. He also sells the flies of another famous friend—A.K. Best.

That cachet has attracted bamboo buyers from around the world, including celebrities like guitarist and fly-fishing enthusiast Eric Clapton, whose letter of thanks for a rod hangs on the wall, among many other testimonials.

While Kathy has made a few rods under his supervision, she wouldn’t feel comfortable putting the South Creek Ltd. name on one of her rods.

“Our clients pay for Mike’s high level of craftsmanship and years of experience—you can’t duplicate that.” It’s one reason why, when Mike retires, the South Creek Ltd. name and business will be retired, too.

While Mike’s not planning to retire any time soon, he’s planning to cut back on the number of rods he makes, to about 30 a year.

“We want to slow down and go fishing a bit,” he says.

He’s devoted to his local water, the St. Vrain, and in recent years has worked with the local Trout Unlimited chapter to raise thousands of dollars to restore the river habitat, which was badly damaged by extreme floods a couple years ago.

“We’re getting our fishery back to health,” he says.

Then he excuses himself to get back to his workbench. He has orders to meet.

For more info on South Creek Ltd. rods, go to www.southcreekltd.com.

Meet Dan Omasta, CTU Grassroots Coordinator

Let me begin by saying how honored and excited I am to be a part of the Trout Unlimited family as the new CTU Grassroots Coordinator.  Joining this team of dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, and avid sportsmen and women is a dream come true. Growing up on the dirt roads just east of Parker, Colorado, I was fortunate enough to explore the many streams and lakes that this great state has to offer. In particular, I often found myself hiking up small creeks in the Gunnison Basin in search for the pockets of eagerly-feeding brookies that never once questioned my poor presentation or choice of fly.  By the time I was twelve years old, I had my own fly rod and I was hooked.

After graduating from the University of Colorado with a political science degree focused on land management and environmental policy, I did what any young conservation professional would do – I told my parents that I was moving to Crested Butte to be a ski bum.  This was certainly not the big life decision they were expecting, but (as parents do) they understood my deep connection to the mountains and rivers of Colorado.

While backcountry skiing and raft guiding in the Gunnison Valley certainly had their perks (and still do), after two years into my ski-bum career, I felt a strong drive to get out and do more.  That’s when the second “big life decision” phone call happened: Mom, Dad, I am moving to New Zealand to go fishing.  What started out as an adventure on the other side of the globe quickly turned into a vision for my future.  While living on the North Island, I was lucky enough to work for an outdoor adventure company that paired rafting and fishing with conservation efforts to protect a native species of duck.  The work was more than simply taking clients out for a fun day on the water or getting them into some big fish (and yes, they are big!) – we were out there to check traps, monitor mating pairs, and discuss the effects of the local hydropower regime on the native ecosystem.  This was what I wanted to do when I returned home.

After moving back to Gunnison in 2013, I worked with a team of fellow raft guides and conservationists to start a non-profit rafting company.  River Restoration Adventures for Tomorrow (RRAFT) is a small outfitter dedicated to protecting critical watersheds through community engagement and hands-on restoration work.  Over the past three seasons, our team has worked with over 400 community volunteers and youth to conduct various conservation projects on over 300 miles of riparian corridor throughout Colorado and Utah.  Our trips ranged from cottonwood planting projects with Delta and Cedaredge High School youth, to overnight trips with the Adaptive Sports Center and Peace of Adventure, to 10-day surveys of invasive plant species along the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon with the National Park Service and the Southwest Conservation Corps Ancestral Lands crews.  Not only were we making a difference for the rivers, we were helping to inspire and engage the next generation of stewards.

Rivers hold a special place in my heart.  They are the lifeblood of our public lands and the key to healthy communities.  As we enter this new era of water management, a changing climate, and significantly increased demand for flows, our rivers and headwater streams will need our help now more than ever.

I am excited to be a part of the Colorado Trout Unlimited family as we all work together to protect and restore these critical ecosystems.  I am optimistic in Coloradoans’ abilities to find common ground and their ability to build bridges that allow for mutual benefit.  And I am looking forward to working with all of you – the driving force of TU – to protect our watersheds for the generations to come.  Thank you all for the hard work, resources, and time that you give for our public lands.  I am looking forward to meeting you and seeing you out on the river!