Colorado: Back Roads, Mountain Passes & Healthy Rivers

by | Fresh Water

Colorado 2007 Video

Last year was a new beginning for me. I packed up my truck and made my way from Maine to Colorado in search of something different. It was bitter sweet leaving the place where you have grown and to watch your friends and family wave goodbye, but I figured that Maine will always be there and a plane ticket is generally in my budget. After a grueling 32 hour drive and a minor detour to Wyoming I started to settle in to my new surroundings. I learned new terms like pre-runoff, runoff, juju baetis, pow pow (powder) and more of the like. I didn’t have any friends so I spent most of my time on the river in search of trout and in fly shops meeting fisherman. As time progressed I made friends, bought a raft, which thus far is the best purchase I have ever made, and did little trips around the state fishing different water. One day I heard that the green drake hatch was going off on the Taylor River about 3 hours south of me. I had just finished work, my girl was out of town and I have never seen anything like it. I packed my truck and spent 3 days down there in a little shack tying mice patterns (for night) and casting size 12 drakes to giant tail water trout. From there I would drive over to the South Platte and fish the Dream Stream for more of the same. I guess you could call me a tail water junky, and that would pretty much sum it up. But, when there is the potential to catch a 10lb fish can you blame me? Most of my days off were spent of the Yampa River about an hour north of me. The Yampa is not a big river but it is gin clear and holds some of the brightest Rainbow Trout ever. Nestled in a small canyon you can fish midges (dry or wet), scuds, sculpins and woolly buggers. All do well, and it feels good to chuck a big streamer at them after exhausting your midge box. I always had my camera (s) with me and had intended doing a video many times through out the year but, since I fished alone setting up the right angles and getting good shots cut into my fishing time. I ended up with a pile of content sitting on my hard drive collecting dust when I decided to go through it and see what I forgot. The video closely sums up my first summer and fall out here in the Wild West. Hopefully 2008 is as generous.

8 Comments

  1. jeremy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Joey,

    Some people talk about things, and other people do things. I remember when you were living in Maine and you said, “I am outta here, I am moving to Colorado.” I just thought your were just saying it for something to say … then, you and Amos did it. Packed the truck with everything and crossed the country, posted up in whereever you are and now a year has gone by. Killer man! I can’t wait to fish with you sometime out there and have you show me around some of your stomping grounds .. at the same time, I hope you and Amos come back to Maine sometime .. I miss fly fishing and playing guitar .. kinda hard to just swing by for a little jam or a few casts when your 3,000 miles away .. but whatever, looking forward to june when you come back to maine to fly fish ..

  2. levey on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Yo, joey the movie is pretty sweet bro. Nice to see what the first year can bring. I’m in that stage right now I’m hoping that My first year is as fruitful as your first year was. Its Feb so, its only gonna get better from here. Hit me up if your ever in Park City UT.

  3. colehatch on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Sweet video! I lived out there for quite a few years and sure miss it. I’m in NW MI right now and am seriously considering a move back out there. I’ve spent alot of time in all those places and your video brings back some sweet memories. Thanks for the ride!

  4. ChrisR on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Great vid Joey. CO is definitely a special place. I miss quite a few things. I do wish I spent more time exploring the great fishing that CO has to offer. Especially hiking up some of the small mountain streams to try and catch the native cutts that dwell there. That is on my list of must do’s.

  5. NiC on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Joey.. man what a cool video.
    I really liked the way you put it together. I hope that we will see more videos from you in the near future and don’t have to wait untill next year 🙂

  6. freind on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Dude, you are holding those fish out of water far to long. Hold them and count
    one and two, put them back…

  7. Austin on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Hey joey…great video..looks like you are certainly living life to the fullest out in colorado. would love to experience your neck of the woods some day, under your guidance. some of those browns are giant! would love to catch one of those…. And, looking forward to fishing with you back here in maine….

  8. NiC on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Joey..
    What program did you use for editing your video ?