I got to give my Oni rod and Tenkara USA Ayu II a workout today on clear creek again. This time, with avid tenkara angler, Phil Echelman. It was a great day with lots of fish caught, and some neat streamside discoveries.
I actually started fishing just above tunnel #1before I met up with Phil. By 9:30, a lot of spots I wanted to hit were already taken so I decided to stop at the first pull off that was vacant and make a few casts before heading further up the canyon. Right away, I caught my first fish using the downstream twitch presentation with my 13′ Oni rod, an 18′ #3 level line, and a Kamikaze Kebari:
Later, I met up with Phil above tunnel #3 and we started off on a very nice stretch with lots of fishable water for two people. This is rare on Clear Creek. The water is somewhat compartmentalized meaning you normally have to park, fish for a while, then drive to another spot. So it was nice to be able to stay on one stretch for a while.
In total, I caught about a dozen fish or so–all browns which is par for the course. They ranged from 6″ to 12″.
I used two flies today. The majority of my fish were caught on my go-to #12 dark Kamikaze Kebari (see pic below), but I also got a few fish on a #12 Ishigaki Kebari with grizzly hackle dead drifted.
It’s no surprise that larger, darker flies were working. There were a significant number of active stoneflies today. I caught this guy crawling around on a rock and there were plenty more like him getting ready to crawl out of their nymphal shucks:
Can you believe how fast they move? As you can see in the video, I had a hard time keeping up! I also ran across signs of the gruesome demise of some animal. I thought about taking the fur, but couldn’t figure out what I’d use it for in terms of tenkara flies so I left it. Does anyone know what this is (or was)?
This was a much needed trip for me as I haven’t been able to get out much lately. And, it was great to reconnect with Phil who some of you might know from the S**t Tenkara Anglers Say video or tenkara forums. Phil is a brilliant engineer and we’re exploring plans for some pretty interesting DIY tenkara gear. Of course, I’ll post about it when the time comes. But for now, it was just nice to enjoy the river and fish. Now, back to the drudgery that is the Sunday before Monday…
Must be the futuristic fish from 20013! Now when you come back to 2013 you exactly where to find them.
Jason, just a guess on the animal but it might be a coyote. Looks kind of like the patches I’ve seen for sale. Great report.
nice fishies. What do you think of the Ayu II. I like it but it feels a little tip heavy to me (but I’m new to tenkara).
Cool post Jason. Really enjoyed this one, a lot of variety in it.
Those were some purtty fish. I have never caught a brown. My guess on the fur is the same as john above looks like coyote. lots of underfur with long dark guard hair. Looks like y’all had a good time.
Great report! That canyon is beautiful! Spring has sprung, and the fishing will only get better!
What color is your go fly? It looks black but not sure.
Hi Tom. Yes, black thread, copper wire rib, and either grizzly hackle or Brahma hen in silver badger.
Great post. Please keep the rod length, length of line and tippet, fly used and type of presentation used. It really helps a novas like me. Thanks.
Hi Jack,
I used two setups. One was a Tenkara USA Ayu II with a 20 ft #3 level line and the other was my Oni rod with the 12 ft titanium line I recently reviewed. Both rods are 13 ft. Hope that helps.
great post jason. my creek-down-the-way has all but dried up(that and the poachers decimated the sunfish population), and it’ll be weeks till have the time to get away far enough from my pad to fish. life in the big city, i reckon. so, as much as it pains me have to live vicariously through your posts (and those from chris stewart, at the tusa site, etc.), i really look forward to them, and i’m happy to know that someone somewhere is hollerin’, “there he is!” and “yah buddy!” and whatever else we exclaim when it all comes together.