Do you have a lucky hat?

It was a beautiful warm day in the mid 70′s. Common of what we get in Colorado throughout September. I began out by checking the stream flows on the stream flows internet web page at fly-fishing-colorado.com. The South Platte beneath Cheesman Dam was just perfect running 250 CFS. The h2o ought to be clear and not as nicely much moss yet.

I was fishing the bridge pool where CO 67 and a Jeffco Highway arrive together. The h2o was crystal clear. The pool had just sufficient moss in it to offer fish safety and challenging fishing for the fisherman. Subsequent two hours, I had only had a few of strikes but could not get hooked up.

So I headed to the car for my key weapon. The “Fortunate Hat” or in my scenario “Fortunate Cap”. Mine is prior and dirty. I bought it in 1990 on a trip to Cancun, Mexico. How lengthy it has been my lucky cap, I rightly can’t remember. Most likely some twelve years or so. It has a logo on the front that says “Difficult Rock Cafe”. It is not even a fishing cap. Nevertheless when I put on it, I almost always catch fish.

Armed now with my fish catcher, I headed back again to the pool. On the way, I observed a hatch of very little insects coming off. Letting one land on my hand, I examined it. It was a baetis hatch acquiring began.

Hurriedly, I clipped off the RS2 from the 7X dropper and tied on a 24 baetis I had bought on a recent San Juan River, New Mexico trip.

Wading carefully to my casting place behind a medium rock, I dropped the two fly rig into one of the runs feeding the pool. The currents swirled the fly into the depths of the pool and by some big rocks in the middle. Then out into the faster currents at the tail of the pool.

Absolutely nothing this cast. Repeating this precise exact same drift pattern for the third time, I felt a powerful strike and elevated my rod to set the hook. Subsequent a great 5 minutes of enjoyable, this beautiful rainbow arrived to my net.

A few of casts later, I hooked up with a truly nice brown. This one was as well as minutes of enjoyable prior to netting.

All through the subsequent hour, I caught and released 3 much more bows on my #24 baetis out of the bridge pool prior to the hatch tapered off. Switching back again to the regular rig I generally fish. (A #16 flashback, gold ribbed, bead head hare’s ear upper and a #eighteen or #twenty gray RS2 dropper on 7X tippet) I fished the west financial institution downstream from the bridge. Subsequent catching and releasing a few much more body fat 15 or 16 inch rainbows, I headed upstream toward Deckers, CO stopping a mile beneath to fish. This is one of my preferred locations of the S. Platte. Frequently it will be crowded but these days there were only a few of other fishermen upstream from me. I fished a few of little pools, whilst wading toward a main pool farther out. I caught and released a few of little twelve inch bows from these pools. At the larger pool, I additional much more excess weight to get nearer to the bottom. This pool is deep even at 250 CFS. About minutes later, the line stopped dead fifty percent way through my drift. I knew that a great fish was on. Raising the rod, the battle began. Subsequent ten minutes, the fish was nevertheless racing up and down the pool. Lastly I got his head to break h2o. Pondering I had won the battle, I place as nicely much pressure on. With a pop of broken tippet, the fish disappeared into the depths of the pool.

That was the last fish of the day. But my tally was 9 very nice fish for a day on the S. Platte. I had fished the S. Platte off and on for several seasons. This was my greatest day on the Platte.

I had worn my “Fortunate Cap” a fantastic deal that 2000 season. The 2000 season was my greatest ever before with more than 425 fish hooked and released.

Was that cap accountable? Of system not! This kind of a factor would be superstitious. “Right!” All I know is that I seldom get skunked when that cap sits on my head. Most likely I invest much more attention to my drifts and to fishing conditions when I put on my Fortunate Cap.

It just could not be that cap! Could it?

If you do not have a Fortunate Cap or Hat perhaps you ought to.

Tight Lines and Great Fishing,

Marshall Estes, editor
www.fly-fishing-colorado.com
Colorado Fly Fishing Suggestions
copyright 2004 Marshall Estes

About The Author

Marshall Estes , editor Colorado Fly Fishing Suggestions has been a fly fishing and fly tying enthusiast for more than thirty years. Examine out our other issues at http://www.fly-fishing-colorado.com.

editor@fly-fishing-colorado.com