Downtown, downtown … Ghillies is now downtown!
After seven years in business, Ghillies has move. Our new location is 117 S. Nevada Ave., in the Kitchen Design Specialist building, between Colorado Ave. on the north and the Goodyear tire store to the south.
Why the move? ... Good question. The simple answer is we believe we can better serve our customer base from the new location. Being downtown, it’s centrally located. The new store has plenty of free, off-street parking, and also will be in easy walking distance from downtown businesses, offices, restaurants and other attractions.
The new location is a convenient stop along the way for fishermen heading to waters west on Highway 24, and with nearby access to Interstate 25, also to the south and north. It’s also a logical staging point for guided fishing trips, so don’t be surprised to see some additional guide-service tie-ins in the future.
Newsletter
BVK Series
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FREE TFO ROD CASE
A LICENSE TO FISH
Anglers are reminded that their 2011 Colorado fishing licenses
expired at the end of March. New licenses are required after April
1, and are valid through March 31, 2013. Licenses can easily be
renewed online. Log on to link below, click on the Buy & Apply
for Licenses link and scroll down to the Start Now box.
JUAN
RAMIREZ
Fly Tying Lessons
Ghillies 10-part series of winter fly tying classes will begin
on Nov. 18, with expert tier and veteran instructor Juan Ramirez
conducting a session on working with hair. The class will run 6:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and cost $25. All materials and equipment will
be provided, but students are welcome to bring their own vises
and tying tools. Call the shop at 531-5413 to reserve a spot.
Future classes will include working with foam, tying the Copper
John, tying attractor patterns, tying the RS-2 family, streamers,
South Platte River patterns, Arkansas River patterns, still-water
patterns and techniques and tips for tying better flies.
Each class may be taken independent of the others.
Eight-class packages are available for $150.
ANTERO TO REMAIN LOW
Denver Water has announced that Antero
Reservoir will remain at its current drawn-down level through 2012.
The reservoir will remain open for recreation and Colorado Parks and
Wildlife
will continue to manage the fishery. The reservoir was lowered by two
feet last May as part of an ongoing engineering evaluation of the dam.
The dam has experienced excessive seepage for many years and has been
under a storage restriction by the state since the early 1990s.
HAPPY MEADOWS STREAM IMPROVEMENTS
The U.S. Forest Service South Park Ranger District is proposing to continue the Happy Meadows Restoration Project during August and September along a 2-mile section of the South Platte River below Lake George. Restoration efforts include reduction of the width-to-depth ratio and adding structure to increase the bank stability. A copy of the plan is available for review at the South Park Ranger District office in Fairplay.
South
Platte River, Elevenmile Canyon: Through some minor fluctuations, recent
flows have been pretty close to 93 cubic feet per second, about the long-term
average for the date. Rainbow trout appear to be finishing up their spawning
cycle. Fishing has been good. Blue-wing-olives are the primary attraction,
with cloudy days producing especially good dry fly fishing. If surface
activity is not evident, nymphs and emergers such as Pheasant Tails and
RS-2s have been effective. Though solitude remains elusive, the crowds
typical of the canyon in winter and early spring have diminished somewhat.
South Platte River, Dream Stream: Recent flows have been fairly steady
around 102 cfs, about average for the date. The main spawning run from
Elevenmile Reservoir has about run its course and springtime crowds are
down. Blue-wing-olives are likely to come off on most days, though the
hatches may be scattered. The section from the barns upstream to the
dam tends to be best for resident fish. Pheasant Tails, RS-2s and little
midges have been effective.
South Platte River, Deckers area: Recent flows have been steady at bout
100 cfs, which is a close to the long-term average and a very good level
for fishing. Both Cheesman Canyon and portions of the lower river have
been fishing quite well. Some long-time observers believe the fishing
is the best since the fires of a decade ago, Blue-wing-olive hatches
remain sporadic, but fish are tuned in to them. Much of the activity
occurs in the afternoon, and the section above the Deckers bridge can
become a bit crowded then Variations on the Adams pattern have been effective
when trout are rising to the mayflies. Otherwise, try a gray or olive
RS-2 or a small Flashback Pheasant Tail. A fine leader tippet and drag-free
presentation remain ever-important. Midges and assorted nymphs also are
on the menu for trout. The fish generally have good color and appear
somewhat larger than in the past year or two.
Arkansas River, upper: Wednesday afternoon's flows were 363 cfs below
Granite, 308 at Wellsville and 321 cfs at Parkdale. The river has been
rising from tributary flows and increased releases from Twin Lakes but
remains at a good level for fishing. Though tributaries might add a touch
of ice tea to the river, it remains fishably clear. Caddis have appeared
upstream as far as Howard, and unless cooler weather and the increased
flow slow things down, should be in Salida and above by the end of the
week. Fishing the caddis hatch can be good on a given day and blue-wing-olives
continue to hatch, offering anglers two very good possibilities. If tout
are not rising to either, drifting a nymph can be productive.
Arkansas River, Pueblo: The release from Pueblo Dam was 274 on Wednesday,
up from the past few weeks but still considerable below average for the
date. Consequently the river remains at a good level for fishing. Blue-wing-olives
and midges still are coming off, and streamer flies and nymphs also can
be effective. The crowds of the winter months have all but disappeared.
Fishing can be good, but anglers are reminded that flows below the dam
are subject to some dramatic fluctuations as the irrigation season in
the valley below gets under way.
Antero Reservoir: Little has changed. Shoreline and belly-boating fishermen
report fair to good action, though most of the trout have been smaller
than anglers have come to expect the past few years. Even so, an occasional
larger fish has been taken. Woolly Buggers scuds and leeches have worked
as well as anything. Fishing usually is best when a moderate chop is
on the surface. The lake will open to trailered boats on May 3. The north
boat ramp will be open seven days a week, and the south ramp will be
open Thursday through Monday. Belly boats, pontoons and similar hand-launched
craft may be used at any time. Only small trailered boats, canoes, belly
boats and other smaller craft will be able to launch from the south ramp,
while any size boat can access the north boat ramp. All boats must be
inspected for aquatic nuisance species before entering the water.
Inspection stations are located at each boat ramp. Inspections and trailered
boating will end Oct. 31.The reservoir is to remain at last year's drawn-down
level throughout 2012.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir: Fishing might have slowed a little but remains
quite good. Trout still are cruising along the shoreline looking for
feed. Small midges, Woolly Buggers and scuds have been productive. The
Chironomidae hatch, the first major hatch of the season, usually begins
in late May, but with the unusually warm recent weather it might start
earlier. The rainbow-trout spawning season is winding down, but the Homestake
ditch and South Platte River inlet areas still are productive locations
for fishing. Shoreline fishermen looking for variety also have reported
catching some northern pike on streamer flies. The river above the reservoir
still is producing good-sized trout and should remain a good location
until the flow comes up.
Pikes Peak North Slope: All three reservoirs will open for the season
on May 1. Admission, payable at the Pikes Peak Highway tollgate, will
be $4 per person.
Entry, payable at the Pikes Peak Highway tollgate, costs $4 per person.
Children under 16 are admitted free. Season passes also are available.
North Catamount Reservoir is open to fishing with artificial flies and
lures only; other methods are OK at Crystal and South Cat. The area-wide
limit for lake trout (mackinaw) is two fish. Belly-boats and other hand-carried,
non-gasoline-powered craft are permitted. No trailers are allowed.