Cimarron River Days

Hi there!  Since I've become a bit more of a "country girl" this past year I've discovered that I want to strive for a more complete experience of the outdoors and not be as obsessive about fly fishing.  (Meaning, I may take two days off of fishing to do something outdoors.)  So, this weekend I headed out backpacking in the Chama River Canyon Wilderness.  I hiked my butt off and found a couple of elk sheds!  

Anyway, it's still the time to try for still water or the Cimarron.  Pretty much all other rivers are in run-off.  This week I decided I would focus on some tips for the Cimarron.  Last time I fished I was trouble shooting my own fishing and tried to make a mental list tips I should share.  I've since forgotten some of them, but at least I'll have something to write about later on when I do remember them.

1. Early in the season definitely use a dry-dropper.  This week they seemed to key in on a lighter colored hare's ear nymph.  I'd recommend using a beadhead so it'll sink into the fast currents more quickly.

2. If you find the fish are primarily hitting the dry (in the summer, usually), take off the dropper.  This helps you cast into tighter areas and have fewer tangles.

3. The fish have started to move into the faster pockets (my last Youtube video is already inaccurate...).  Cast directly above rocks where the current is slower for a chance at picking pockets.

4. You'll get a lot of glare in the evening because you will face the sunset when you are fishing upstream.  Wear a hat with a brim and good polarized sunglasses.  I like to watch for strikes that I guess are in the area of my fly and set the hook.  It can be frustrating, but that time of evening makes for great fishing!  

5.  I'll think of more later on!

Tight lines.