Lees Ferry Fishing Report

By: Terry Gunn

April 20, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 5 to 8.0

Walk-In: 5 to 8.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!
Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 56 High 87

The spring weather has been better than normal with very few windy days.

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 2-3 No Crowds during the week & 4.5 on the weekends

Walk In: 1 Nobody here during the week & 3 to 4 on the weekends

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Fly Fishing Up-River.

The recent fishing has been good, though not as great as some springs of years past. I attribute this to our lighter than normal midge hatches that have occurred so far this spring. The midges were late in arriving and for reasons that are not clear, the hatches are not as heavy as we have seen in past years. This could very well change; there have been some years where the hatches in May and June were huge and the projected water flows should be conducive to big hatches this year. It is likely that the reason for the lighter than normal hatches (or late hatches) is linked to the high water flows of 2011 and could also be due to the higher water temps that these flows brought to the river; river temps actually got up to 60 degrees last December before plummeting to 46 degrees (normal) in less than a week. I don’t think that there is a long term change in the midge population but just a cycle that we are going through. The fish are still feeding in the deeper water and we are seeing a bunch of fish in the riffles that want to feed, but are just waiting on the midges to show up.

A great way to get to the feeding fish in the deeper water is to drift flies from a boat. This is a terrific way to cover lots of water and show fish that get very little fishing pressure a fly. The trick is to know where the fish are and then set up your drift do that the boat drifts through the area that contains the most fish. You always want to cast away from the boat towards either shore. The trick is to get a perfect dead drift the same as when you are wading. The best way to do this is to fish slack line on the water. You will need a long leader and the right amount of split shot and as a general rule, if you cannot see the bottom, you are fishing water that is too deep.

Current flow forecasts are for perfect wading flows. Since the snowpack in the Rockies is much below normal, we’ll see low flows for at least the next year. Keep in mind that the water flows will be lower on the weekends and holidays. To help put the current flow levels into perspective; our current high flow is approximately four vertical feet lower than the flows that we saw in 2011…the river is finally back to normal. It is really good to be back in the river, wading and sight casting.

To help understand why midges are so important to our fishing success it’s good to know more about the lifecycle of midges and their importance to the trout diet. The adult midges contribute very little to the trout diet. It is rare that you will see an adult trout rise to feed on an adult midge; the reason is that the amount of energy expended is not worth the food intake. The adult midges breed then release their eggs into the water. The eggs sink and hatch into a tiny caterpillar (larvae) that lives on the bottom of the river for an extended period of time. At some point the larvae pupates and forms a chrysalis. The midge pupae will release in mass, and countless pupae will begin slowly drifting to the surface. This in turn flips the feeding switch for the trout and the fish will move into the shallow riffles where the pupae are concentrated by the shallow water. This is when the trout are feeding so heavily that they get careless and will eat our fly if it has a close resemblance to the midge pupae that they are feeding on.

The bigger the hatch the better the fishing; this is why the best fishing always occurs during big hatches and why the midge hatches are so important to the trout diet. The biggest midge hatches always occur in the lower water flows. During the lower flows trout are not eating worms or scuds because these food items are not available; the only time that worms and scuds are available is during the high water flows when the higher velocity water moves the suds and worms around. If there are no midge hatches in the lower flows the fish will not be feeding and the fishing will be slow. I go into a lot more detail on fish feeding behavior here: http://www.leesferry.com/main/area-information/fishing-101

Be sure to stop by the shop to see the flies that are currently working. The flies change on a daily basis and every day the LFA guides let everyone at the shop know the top producing flies and how to use them.

The spawn is very weak this year. I figure that this is a “compensatory response” due to the fact that the spawn and recruitment has been so successful the past couple of years. This is a natural response by the fish and I have seen it many times over the years and next year will likely be different.

The streamer fishing has been picking up and will likely get hot when the water flows increase this summer. The reason for this is that the higher flows move larger food items around (scuds, worms, etc.).

Walk-In Fly Fishing Report: by Dean Windham

Lees Ferry Walk-in fishing report 04-20-12

The good news is the fishing in the walk-in is really good, and I mean really good. The bad news is that you are not here.

The weather has been great and everyone is catching fish.

Midges have been the ticket for the last couple of weeks. Some of us have been using a double midge rig also known as a “double tiny rig” and this has been very productive. All of the more traditional set ups have also been taking nice fish. This includes San Juan worms, glo bugs and scuds. We have heard that some of the more adventurous are using streamers and getting some larger fish. Several fish over 20 inches were reported this week. So bring all of your flies when you come up here as just about everything is working. Just get up here; you don’t want to hear that you missed some really great fishing.  In fact the creel surveys indicate that this year’s fishing is the best in the last 10 years.

The flows are still fluctuating so this must be considered when setting up your nymphing rig. The biggest mistake I see here is that anglers don’t have the depth right. If you are not hitting the bottom on every other cast you are too high. You can adjust the depth by adding more weight or lengthening your indicator from the first fly.

The upper boulder field has been producing some nice fish on a consistent basis. This is an area with lots of pocket water and the early morning and later afternoon seems to be the best time to fish here. Also try the upper area above the boulder field where the water is deeper and you might hook a larger fish.

From the big rock down to the Paria is still a classic seam area with lots of fish in lots of sizes. Early morning and evening have also been very productive here. Keep in mind that you do not need to cast far. It is only 8 to 10 feet from shore to get to the first seam. Again keep in mind the rising flows will make it a challenge and conditions change all day. This is an area where streamers have been working well. The streamers appear to be really better in the late afternoon and evening. In this area the fish will fight very hard so make sure that your leader and tippet is new and the knots are tight.

The area where the Paria enters the Colorado River is also a good place to get some nice fish. I fished this area all week and caught fish in all sizes with the larger ones at 19 to 20 inches. Streamers are being used very effectively here in the late afternoons. Again the seams are not far off of the silty area where the Paria River enters the river so you don’t need to wade too far out or you will be in the middle of the holding fish. This is a great area to practice you long dead drifts. The double midge rig has been a top producer here. But word of caution when wading in this area, be very cautious due to the silt that can be almost like quick sand. A wading staff is a good thing to have here.

So to wrap things up the rating for the walk-in the past few weeks is an 8 some people have called it a 9 or 10!) So what are you waiting for? This is the time to visit Lees Ferry and catch the lunker you have only dreamed about.

Spin fishing walk-in report 04-20-12

With the low flows this has made spin fishing at the walk-in much more difficult. Fish are being caught using panther martins and kastmasters as well as drifting glo bugs and wooly buggers. But this has not been as productive as the fly fishing. To be successful you need to fish later in the day when the water is higher so that you are just off of the bottom. The best area is from the big rock down to where the Paria comes into the Colorado. So my suggestion is to bring a fly rod and learn to nymph fish and you will have a blast. As we get closer to summer the flows will increase and the spin fishing will again be great. Hope to see you on the water soon.

Spin Fishing Up River:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom. The fish are spawning in deep water and if you know where to look we are catching lots of big fish that are wearing spawning colors. You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout. Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable. When spin fishing up river look for the seams that are out where the fast and slow water meet. This is where you will find some nice fish holding. Don’t be afraid to make long cast but accuracy is important.

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com  Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

Here is a report form one of our customers.

Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 9:50 AM Subject: [Lees Ferry Anglers] Fishing report

My Son Scott and I decided to fish Lee’s Ferry as a “last minute” hey lets go fishing trip. The walk in on Saturday was crowded and a bit slow, but worth the effort. On Sunday we fished with Guide Jeff English from your shop. Again a last minute booking so we were fortunate to get him. Jeff put us on fish all day and needless to say we caught a boat load. Dry-dropper was the ticket. I have been fortunate to fish some A+ and blue ribbon fisheries with great success. Sunday was as good if not the best day as any I ever had on the Big Horn, Madison or Yellowstone!!! Thanks Jeff!!! AND your teaching moment was a success—I now understand that if you don’t land the fish, it is never the fishes fault…;} Thanks to the shop staff and kitchen for great treatment! We’ll see you in July/!!!

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop maintains a large inventory of Abel, Sage, Winston, Temple Fork, Tibor, Galvin, Orvis, Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Ex Officio, William Joseph, Fish Pond and Rio among others. We have been one of the largest fly tackle retailers in the southwest U.S. and we are Arizona’s oldest fly shop. We guarantee our prices to be the same or lower than any other fly shop or retail store. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and no sales tax on out of state sales. Call us for the best advice!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winter season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captain’s Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren, Tyler Smith, Kevin Campbell, Dale Gauthier, and Jared Nelson make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith, Dean Windham, Andy Vincent and Katie McClenathen work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

Lees Ferry Fishing Report

By: Terry Gunn

March 30, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 6 to 8.0

Walk-In: 5 to 8.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!
Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 56  High 84

The weather this past week has been near perfect. Spring has arrived at Lees. The migrating birds are passing through and the midges are really starting to hatch.

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 2-3 No Crowds during the week & 4.5 on the weekends

Walk In: 1 Nobody here during the week & 3 to 4 on the weekends

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Fly Fishing Up-River.

The river is running 7,000cfs to 13,000cfs and the same exact flows are forecast for April and May. The key will be the ramp rate and when the water rises and falls. The recent ramp rates have been inconsistent and we will just have to wait and see what they give us the next two months. The water flows will be lower on the weekends and holidays. To help put the current flow levels into perspective; our current high flow is approximately four vertical feet lower than the flows that we saw last year…the river is finally back to normal. It is really good to be back in the river, wading and sight casting.

The midge hatches are just now beginning which means that they are really late this year. I’m not sure why they are so late but I would imagine it has something to do with the high water flows of last year and likely our warmer than normal water temperatures that occurred from June-December 2011, when the river water temps were 10-degrees above normal due to the huge water inflow into Lake Powell last spring. The good news is that the midge hatches nave really picked up the last few days and should continue to grow in intensity and duration the next few months.

To help understand why midges are so important to our fishing success it’s good to know more about the lifecycle of midges and their importance to the trout diet. The adult midges contribute very little to the trout diet. It is rare that you will see an adult trout rise to feed on an adult midge; the reason is that the amount of energy expended is not worth the food intake. The adult midges breed then release their eggs into the water. The eggs sink and hatch into a tiny caterpillar (larvae) that lives on the bottom of the river for an extended period of time. At some point the larvae pupates and forms a chrysalis. The midge pupae will release in mass, and countless pupae will begin slowly drifting to the surface. This in turn flips the feeding switch for the trout and the fish will move into the shallow riffles where the pupae are concentrated by the shallow water. This is when the trout are feeding so heavily that they get careless and will eat our fly if it has a close resemblance to the midge pupae that they are feeding on.

The bigger the hatch the better the fishing; this is why the best fishing always occurs during big hatches and why the midge hatches are so important to the trout diet. The biggest midge hatches always occur in the lower water flows. During the lower flows trout are not eating worms or scuds because these food items are not available; the only time that worms and scuds are available is during the high water flows when the higher velocity water moves the suds and worms around. If there are no midge hatches in the lower flows the fish will not be feeding and the fishing will be slow. I go into a lot more detail on fish feeding behavior here: http://www.leesferry.com/main/area-information/fishing-101

Be sure to stop by the shop to see the flies that are currently working. The flies change on a daily basis and the LFA guides let everyone at the shop know every day the top producing flies and how to use them.

The spawn is very weak this year. I figure that this is a “compensatory response” due to the fact that the spawn and recruitment has been so successful the past couple of years. This is a natural response by the fish and I have seen it many times over the years and next year will likely be different.

The streamer fishing has just been so-so and will likely not pick up until the water flows increase this summer. The reason for this is that the higher flows move larger food items around (scuds, worms, etc.).

Walk-In Fly Fishing Report: by Andy Vincent

The Walk-in continues to fish well with the lower flows allowing anglers much more access to the river. Zebra midges are still the best choice with San Juan worms and scuds working as well. Fish are hitting the dry fly sporadically now so the dry dropper is a viable set-up for fishing different columns in the water. When all else fails fishing a black or olive wooly bugger in the deeper, slower water will work. We are starting to see fish in the shallower water of the upper boulder field so this could be a good place for the dry dropper rig. The area above and below the “big rock” is always a good area to find fish as they have quick access to deep water when spooked. The lower flows are making for much more fishable water around the confluence of the Paria with the Colorado. Be careful when wading this area as the shifting sands and fast water make this a treacherous place to fish. Remember that the water flows will be lower on weekends and holidays and higher on weekdays. As the midge hatches increase expect the fishing in this section of river to get better every day.

Spin fishing the walk-in:

Spin fishing has not been as good as fly fishing the past few weeks. The river flows are fluctuating and these flow changes appear to make the fish take the spinner only at certain times of the days. The feeding habits have been changing on a daily basis so I can’t give a specific time but mid-day has been when I have had the best luck. Gold is the color and it works with kastmasters or panther martin size 1/4 oz. or size 6. Jigs and bouncing Glo-Bugs works has been working well at times if you can get the lure down to where the fish are. There is a lot of moss in the water due to the fluctuating flows so you will have to clean off the moss every other cast or so..

Spin Fishing Up River:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom. You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout. Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable. When spin fishing up river look for the seams that are out where the fast and slow water meet. This is where you will find some nice fish holding. Don’t be afraid to make long cast but accuracy is important.

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com  Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

Here is a report form one of our customers.

Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 9:50 AM Subject: [Lees Ferry Anglers] Fishing report

My Son Scott and I decided to fish Lee’s Ferry as a “last minute” hey lets go fishing trip. The walk in on Saturday was crowded and a bit slow, but worth the effort. On Sunday we fished with Guide Jeff English from your shop. Again a last minute booking so we were fortunate to get him. Jeff put us on fish all day and needless to say we caught a boat load. Dry-dropper was the ticket. I have been fortunate to fish some A+ and blue ribbon fisheries with great success. Sunday was as good if not the best day as any I ever had on the Big Horn, Madison or Yellowstone!!! Thanks Jeff!!! AND your teaching moment was a success—I now understand that if you don’t land the fish, it is never the fishes fault…;} Thanks to the shop staff and kitchen for great treatment! We’ll see you in July/!!!

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop maintains a large inventory of Abel, Sage, Winston, Temple Fork, Tibor, Galvin, Orvis, Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Ex Officio, William Joseph, Fish Pond and Rio among others. We have been one of the largest fly tackle retailers in the southwest U.S. and we are Arizona’s oldest fly shop. We guarantee our prices to be the same or lower than any other fly shop or retail store. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and no sales tax on out of state sales. Call us for the best advice!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winter season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captain’s Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren, Tyler Smith, Kevin Campbell, Dale Gauthier, and Jared Nelson make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith, Dean Windham and Andy Vincent work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

Lees Ferry Fishing Report

By: Terry Gunn

March 14, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 7.5 to 8.0

Walk-In: 5 to 8.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!
Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 46 High 76

The weather this past week has been clear and warm (70’s). Spring has arrived at Lees Ferry and the trees are budding out and the birds are migrating. A cold front is expected at the beginning of next week that will bring moisture and cooler temperatures for a few days. The fishing has been so good that the fish have even been happy in crummy weather!

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 1 No Crowds during the week & 3.5 on the weekends

Walk In: 1 Nobody here during the week & 3 to 4 on the weekends

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Fly Fishing Up-River.

New water flows began March 1 and the river is running 7,000cfs to 13,000cfs; the water is slowly and steadily rising throughout the day and not dropping until late in the evening. This flow is very different from the flows in February which were rising and then dropping at noon and then rising again after 5 PM. The current flows are better for fishing as fish are much happier with rising water than falling water. These new flows have really opened up the river creating an abundance of wading opportunities. To help put the current flow levels into perspective; our current high flow is approximately four vertical feet lower than the flows that we saw last year…the river is finally back to normal. It is really good to be back in the river, wading and sight casting.

The most important news is that the sun is moving higher in the sky each day and sunlight is really starting to shine through much of the canyon. The prolific spring midge hatches are sure to follow and should start any day now that the air is warming. The hatches are starting but have yet to pour off. When the midges really come off, the fish move from the deeper water into the riffles to feed on the abundant feast of the emerging midges. This is when the entire river fishes good. Until the midge hatches begin in earnest some areas of the river fish better than others.

The spawn is very weak this year. I figure that this is a “compensatory response” due to the fact that the spawn and recruitment has been so successful the past couple of years. This is a natural response by the fish and I have seen it many times over the years and next year will likely be different.

Nymphing the riffles using either a standard nymph rig or double tiny has been very productive with the rising water conditions. Glo-Bugs or San Juan Worm with a zebra midge dropper or using two zebra midges of various sizes and or colors has been fishing the best.

Using a dry fly with a dropper such as a Zebra Midge or Glo-Bug has had some success depending on the water one is fishing. The dry dropper rig has been most productive in the shallower water. As the weather continues to warm up and the midge hatches increase, the fishing in the riffles and the back eddies will get better. Another option as the fish move into the shallows is using a double tiny rig as described on our website. http://www.leesferry.com/main/area-information/fishing-techniques-rigs-gear

Although the water has come down another option is fishing a small streamer or wooly bugger. With these lower flows a person can wade and continue to fish streamers. The better streamer areas tend to be where the riffles drop off into slower deeper pools. Emphasizing the swing then stripping the fly up the seam has produced some good fish. The key to successful streamer fishing is varying the strip retrieve. When streamer fishing, we were recommending  a Teeny 120 or 200 grain sinking tip or a similar line in the higher flows. But now a shorter and lighter sink tip line will work better and even a streamer fished on a long leader and floating line will work in several areas of the river.

Walk-In Report: By Andy Vincent

This area of the river has been fishing well. Nymphing has been the most productive technique lately. Fishing with a Midge below a San Juan worm or bead head scud has worked well. Managing your depth and weight is the key to success. You want your rig to be double the depth of the water your fishing from your lead to your indicator and increase or decrease weight to match the water speed and you should do well. You can also try Glo-bugs as there has been some spawn activity. Extend the drift and cover as much water as possible to increase your chances. Stripping Wooly Buggers is also productive when all else fails. Olive, brown and Black have been working well but don’t be afraid to try other colors. As far as areas in the Walk-in to fish, the confluence of the Paria with the Colorado always seems to be productive as well as the area just above and below the big rock. The Boulder field should turn on as the temperature increases and hatches take off. Look for the clean rock and gravel to concentrate your efforts. The areas with lots of moss tend not to hold the fish as well.

Spin fishing the walk-in: By Dean Windham

Spin fishing has not been as good as fly fishing the past few weeks. The river flows are fluctuating and these flow changes appear to make the fish take the spinner only at certain times of the days. The feeding habits have been changing on a daily basis so I can’t give a specific time but mid-day has been when I have had the best luck. Gold is the color and it works with kastmasters or panther martin size 1/4 oz. or size 6. Jigs and bouncing Glo-Bugs works has been working well at times if you can get the lure down to where the fish are. There is a lot of moss in the water due to the fluctuating flows so you will have to clean off the moss every other cast or so.

The upper walk-in area is not great for spinners as the water is low and there are many underwater obstacles such as rocks and branches. The area at and below the large boulder fishes very well and has some nice seams out about 20-30 feet from shore. There are some really fat fish holding in these seams that will take spinners or drifted jigs and Glo- bugs. The trick here is to keep moving and change your lure or color of your lure often.

Always be aware of the rising flows and enjoy all of the great scenery.

Spin Fishing Up River:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom. You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout. Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable. When spin fishing up river look for the seams that are out where the fast and slow water meet. This is where you will find some nice fish holding. Don’t be afraid to make long cast but accuracy is important.

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com  Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

Here is a report form one of our customers.

Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 9:50 AM Subject: [Lees Ferry Anglers] Fishing report

My Son Scott and I decided to fish Lee’s Ferry as a “last minute” hey lets go fishing trip. The walk in on Saturday was crowded and a bit slow, but worth the effort. On Sunday we fished with Guide Jeff English from your shop. Again a last minute booking so we were fortunate to get him. Jeff put us on fish all day and needless to say we caught a boat load. Dry-dropper was the ticket. I have been fortunate to fish some A+ and blue ribbon fisheries with great success. Sunday was as good if not the best day as any I ever had on the Big Horn, Madison or Yellowstone!!! Thanks Jeff!!! AND your teaching moment was a success—I now understand that if you don’t land the fish, it is never the fishes fault…;} Thanks to the shop staff and kitchen for great treatment! We’ll see you in July/!!!

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop maintains a large inventory of Abel, Sage, Winston, Temple Fork, Tibor, Galvin, Orvis, Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Ex Officio, William Joseph, Fish Pond and Rio among others. We have been one of the largest fly tackle retailers in the southwest U.S. and we are Arizona’s oldest fly shop. We guarantee our prices to be the same or lower than any other fly shop or retail store. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and no sales tax on out of state sales. Call us for the best advice!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winter season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captain’s Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren, Tyler Smith, Kevin Campbell,  and Dale Gauthier  make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith, Dean Windham and Andy Vincent work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

Report by: Terry Gunn

March 4, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 5 to 7.5

Walk-In: 5 to 8.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!
Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 36 High 63

The weather last week was cold and windy. The forecast for the coming week is for sunny and warmer weather into the 70′s!

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 1 No Crowds during the week & 3 on the weekends

Walk In: 1 Nobody here during the week & 3 on the weekends

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Fly Fishing

Fishing upriver has been OK the last few of days; however, the recent weather has been unseasonably cold and windy and has not been conducive to great fishing conditions and that is reflected in the lower fish rating.

New water flows began March 1 and the river is running 7,000cfs to 13,000cfs; the good news is that the water is slowly and steadily rising throughout the day and not dropping until late in the evening. This flow is very different from the flows in February which were rising and then dropping at noon and then rising again after 5 PM. The current flows are better for fishing as fish are much happier with rising water than falling water. These new flows have really opened up the river creating an abundance of wading opportunities. To help put the current flow levels into perspective, they are approximately four vertical feet lower than the flows that we saw last year…the river is finally back to normal.

The most important news is that the sun is moving higher in the sky and sunlight is really starting to shine through much of the canyon. The prolific spring midge hatches are sure to follow and should start any day now that the air is warming and the weather is forecast to be stable the next week.

The spawn is very weak this year. I figure that this is a “compensatory response” due to the fact that the spawn and recruitment has been so successful the past couple of years. This is a natural response by the fish and I have seen it many times over the years and next year will likely be different.

Using a dry fly with a dropper such as a Zebra Midge or Glo-bug has had some success depending on the water one is fishing. The dry dropper rig has been most productive in the shallower water. As the weather continues to warm up our midge hatches will only get better which should turn the fishing on in the riffles also the back eddies. Another option as the fish move into the shallows is using a double tiny rig as described on our website.

Although the water has come down another option is fishing a small streamer or wooly bugger. With these lower flows a person can wade and continue to fish streamers. The better streamer areas tend to be where the riffles drop off into slower deeper pools. Emphasizing the swing then stripping the fly up the seam has produced some good fish. The key to successful streamer fishing is varying the strip retrieve. When streamer fishing, we highly recommend a Teeny 130 or 200 grain sinking tip or a similar line. The reason for the Teeny is that the sinking tip is twenty feet which allows the streamer to cover more water effectively especially the deeper drop offs.

Walk-In Report: By Dean Windham

This area of the river has been fishing consistently good. There have been days that the walk-in fishing is almost as good as upriver. Fly fishing is doing better than spin fishing right now. The flow fluctuation has been happening long enough that the fish have become used to the flow schedule. So the routine has been great fishing early in the morning as the water rises then off and on the rest of the day.

The upper area in the walk-in has been producing fish but they seem to be smaller than those found in the lower section. If you fish the upper boulder field, try just above the boulders where the water is calmer and deeper. But do be careful if you are wading, it can get deep here quickly. Fishing in the boulder field is good in the pocket waters near boulders or in some of the seam areas.

At the area just above the big boulder the river makes a right had turn there are several seams. Work these seams from the inside out and you will find lots of fish. The morning is the best time to fish here but in the late morning and afternoon, fishing below the big boulder will be productive. Below the big boulder you will find the seams are closer to the shore and you don’t need long casts or drifts; this helps when the wind is blowing.

Midges have been the choice here. Using a midge upper with a midge dropper has been working well the past few days. Again be aware of the flows and constantly adjust your weight to get the fly down to the fish.

The area where the Paria River enters the Colorado River has been producing very nice fish and in good numbers. Mornings are best but mid-afternoons have been good also. Midges, San Juan worms, and scuds have all been working at different times so don’t be afraid to try something different. Here the drifts can be difficult so always think about adjusting your weight if you are not getting takes. This area has several seams that are easily reached by wading and long dead drifts work very well here.

So the walk-in for fly fishing would be a steady 8 for the past week and with the increasing sunlight it will only get better.

Spin fishing the walk-in:

Spin fishing has not been as good as fly fishing the past few weeks. The river flows are fluctuating and these flow changes appear to make the fish take the spinner only at certain times of the days. The feeding habits have been changing on a daily basis so I can’t give a specific time but mid-day has been when I have had the best luck. Gold is the color and it works with kastmasters or panther martin size 1/4 oz. or size 6. Jigs and bouncing glo-bugs work well at times if you can get the lure down to where the fish are. There is a lot of moss in the water due to the fluctuating flows so you will have to clean off the moss every other cast or so.

The upper walk-in area is not really very good for spinners as the water is low and there are many underwater obstacles such as rocks and branches. The area at and below the large boulder fishes very well and has some nice seams out about 20-30 feet from shore. There are some really fat fish holding in these seams that will take spinners or drifted jigs and glo bugs. The trick here is to keep moving and change your lure or color of your lure often.

The lower area where the Paria River enters the Colorado River has been hit or miss. At times this area is very good but lately this area has been off somewhat.

If you do fish this area you will need to have patience and be very cautious due to all of the silt. Always be aware of the rising flows and enjoy all of the great scenery.

I would rate the spin fishing at a 6.5 to 7.

Spin Fishing Up River:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom. You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout. Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable.

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com  Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

The AZ Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a very small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. More recent samplings have turned up no sign of the disease, which may mean that it was a “one time” exposure, where the disease was not established or that the disease is present but at a very low prevalence. Anglers should still use caution in cleaning their equipment both before and after they have fished here or in other waters. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org

Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop maintains a large inventory of Abel, Sage, Winston, Temple Fork, Tibor, Galvin, Orvis, Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Ex Officio, William Joseph, Fish Pond and Rio among others. We have been one of the largest fly tackle retailers in the southwest U.S. and we are Arizona’s oldest fly shop. We guarantee our prices to be the same or lower than any other fly shop or retail store. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and no sales tax on out of state sales. Call us for the best advice!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winter season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captain’s Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren and Tyler Smith make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith, Dean Windham and Andy Vincent work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

A note from one of our customers:

Subject: Thanks

Greetings,

My name is Bill and I had the opportunity to fish Lee’s Ferry a few weeks ago while on vacation. My wife and I stopped by your shop to buy a fishing license and talk about the fishing. The salesman behind the counter was a great help, I wish I could remember his name. He suggested a lure, size and color, that I bought. And told me a good place to go fishing in the walk in area. He also told me the best time to be there on the water. He was right on. I caught several nice trout the largest being about 16 inches all released. The fishing was good, the scenery was assume, the weather was COLD and WET. I was not dressed for it.

The best part I looked up river and there was the salesman from behind the counter fishing about 50 yards from me, with a friendly wave.

Can’t wait to come back.

Thanks again

B

Report by: Tyler Smith

February 22, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 6.5 to 7.5

Walk-In: 7.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!

Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 36 High 59

The weather has been very mild and dry. The forecast is for sunny warmer weather.

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 1 No Crowds during the week & 3 on the weekends

Walk In: 1 Nobody here during the week & 3 on the weekends

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Be sure to take a look at our new website, it is vastly improved and full of great information about fishing Lees Ferry wwww.leesferry.com

Fly Fishing

Fishing upriver has been good the last few of days. The river is running 8,000cfs for the majority of the day and increasing to 13,000cfs in the evening, but dropping back down by the morning. These new flows have really opened up the river creating an abundance of wading opportunities. The key to a successful fishing day is to follow the sun. Where ever the sun is hitting on the water should make for better fishing. Next month the projected flows will fluctuate from 7,000cfs to 13,000cfs. Very similar flows to the month of February.

Fishing the seams, riffles and drop offs from the gravel bars has been the most productive. We are primarily nymphing using Zebra midges, Glo-bugs Scuds, San and Juan Worms of various sizes and colors. The smaller fish tend to be higher up on the riffles and the bigger fish seem to be right on the edge of drop offs and in the deeper water just after the drop off. The best fishing has been just on the inside seam in the slower current.

Using a dry fly with a dropper such as a Zebra Midge or Glo-bug has also had some success depending on the water one is fishing. The dry dropper rig has been most productive in the shallower water. As the weather continues to warm up our midge hatches will only get better which should turn the fishing on in the back eddies. Another option as the fish move into the shallows is using a double tiny rig as described on our website.

There are some actively spawning trout in a few areas on the river. A person may consider fishing a Glo-Bug below a Scud or fishing a Glo-bug with a midge dropper especially on cloudier days. However, the spawn is much weaker compared to last spring.

Although the water has come down another good option is fishing a small streamer or wooly bugger. With these lower flows a person can wade and continue to fish streamers. The better streamer areas tend to be where the riffles drop off into slower deeper pools. Emphasizing the swing then stripping the fly up the seam has produced some good fish. The key to successful streamer fishing is varying the strip retrieve. When streamer fishing, we highly recommend a Teeny 130 or 200 grain sinking tip or a similar line. The reason for the Teeny is that the sinking tip is twenty feet which allows the streamer to cover more water effectively especially the deeper drop offs.

Walk-In Report:By Dean Windham

Spin fishing the walk-in has been good this week.

Spin Fishing Up River:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom.

You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout.

Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable.

Report from one of our customers:

I rented a boat from you all and fished the river on Sunday with 2 friends. First off the boat ran great. We had some issues the last time out and we appreciate that they are all resolved.

On to the fishing – 3 words — Best Day Ever. The weather cooperated wonderfully. Our party had 2 experienced Lees Ferry fisherman and one total noob. Our noob got a fish on the third cast and ended up with at least 20 to hand for the day. I got a fish on the first and second casts, missed the fish on the third and had one on the fourth. I had only two casts all day that did not have a strike or a fish and on those I had the flies stuck to the indicator. We each had over 100 fish to hand easily. It was truly and incredible day. I give the up river rating a 10 (maybe an 11).

Fish were hitting eggs, midges and worms with the eggs getting the most fish. We’ll be back soon.

Rusty

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

The AZ Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a very small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. More recent samplings have turned up no sign of the disease, which may mean that it was a “one time” exposure, where the disease was not established or that the disease is present but at a very low prevalence. Anglers should still use caution in cleaning their equipment both before and after they have fished here or in other waters. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org

Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop maintains a large inventory of Abel, Sage, Winston, Temple Fork, Tibor, Galvin, Orvis, Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Ex Officio, William Joseph, Fish Pond and Rio among others. We have been one of the largest fly tackle retailers in the southwest U.S. and we are Arizona’s oldest fly shop. We guarantee our prices to be the same or lower than any other fly shop or retail store. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and no sales tax on out of state sales. Call us for the best advice!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winter season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captain’s Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren and Tyler Smith make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith, Dean Windham and Andy Vincent work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

A note from one of our customers:

Subject: Thanks

Greetings,

My name is Bill and I had the opportunity to fish Lee’s Ferry a few weeks ago while on vacation. My wife and I stopped by your shop to buy a fishing license and talk about the fishing. The salesman behind the counter was a great help, I wish I could remember his name. He suggested a lure, size and color, that I bought. And told me a good place to go fishing in the walk in area. He also told me the best time to be there on the water. He was right on. I caught several nice trout the largest being about 16 inches all released. The fishing was good, the scenery was assume, the weather was COLD and WET. I was not dressed for it.

The best part I looked up river and there was the salesman from behind the counter fishing about 50 yards from me, with a friendly wave.

Can’t wait to come back.

Thanks again

B

Report by: Tyler Smith

February 22, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 6.5 to 7.5

Walk-In: 7.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!

Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 36 High 59

The weather has been very mild and dry. The forecast is for sunny warmer weather.

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 1 No Crowds during the week & 3 on the weekends

Walk In: 1 Nobody here during the week & 3 on the weekends

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Be sure to take a look at our new website, it is vastly improved and full of great information about fishing Lees Ferry wwww.leesferry.com

Fly Fishing

Fishing upriver has been good the last few of days. The river is running 8,000cfs for the majority of the day and increasing to 13,000cfs in the evening, but dropping back down by the morning. These new flows have really opened up the river creating an abundance of wading opportunities. The key to a successful fishing day is to follow the sun. Where ever the sun is hitting on the water should make for better fishing. Next month the projected flows will fluctuate from 7,000cfs to 13,000cfs. Very similar flows to the month of February.

Fishing the seams, riffles and drop offs from the gravel bars has been the most productive. We are primarily nymphing using Zebra midges, Glo-bugs Scuds, San and Juan Worms of various sizes and colors. The smaller fish tend to be higher up on the riffles and the bigger fish seem to be right on the edge of drop offs and in the deeper water just after the drop off. The best fishing has been just on the inside seam in the slower current.

Using a dry fly with a dropper such as a Zebra Midge or Glo-bug has also had some success depending on the water one is fishing. The dry dropper rig has been most productive in the shallower water. As the weather continues to warm up our midge hatches will only get better which should turn the fishing on in the back eddies. Another option as the fish move into the shallows is using a double tiny rig as described on our website.

There are some actively spawning trout in a few areas on the river. A person may consider fishing a Glo-Bug below a Scud or fishing a Glo-bug with a midge dropper especially on cloudier days. However, the spawn is much weaker compared to last spring.

Although the water has come down another good option is fishing a small streamer or wooly bugger. With these lower flows a person can wade and continue to fish streamers. The better streamer areas tend to be where the riffles drop off into slower deeper pools. Emphasizing the swing then stripping the fly up the seam has produced some good fish. The key to successful streamer fishing is varying the strip retrieve. When streamer fishing, we highly recommend a Teeny 130 or 200 grain sinking tip or a similar line. The reason for the Teeny is that the sinking tip is twenty feet which allows the streamer to cover more water effectively especially the deeper drop offs.

Walk-In Report:By Dean Windham

Spin fishing the walk-in has been good this week.

Spin Fishing Up River:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom.

You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout.

Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable.

Report from one of our customers:

I rented a boat from you all and fished the river on Sunday with 2 friends. First off the boat ran great. We had some issues the last time out and we appreciate that they are all resolved.

On to the fishing – 3 words — Best Day Ever. The weather cooperated wonderfully. Our party had 2 experienced Lees Ferry fisherman and one total noob. Our noob got a fish on the third cast and ended up with at least 20 to hand for the day. I got a fish on the first and second casts, missed the fish on the third and had one on the fourth. I had only two casts all day that did not have a strike or a fish and on those I had the flies stuck to the indicator. We each had over 100 fish to hand easily. It was truly and incredible day. I give the up river rating a 10 (maybe an 11).

Fish were hitting eggs, midges and worms with the eggs getting the most fish. We’ll be back soon.

Rusty

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

The AZ Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a very small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. More recent samplings have turned up no sign of the disease, which may mean that it was a “one time” exposure, where the disease was not established or that the disease is present but at a very low prevalence. Anglers should still use caution in cleaning their equipment both before and after they have fished here or in other waters. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org

Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop maintains a large inventory of Abel, Sage, Winston, Temple Fork, Tibor, Galvin, Orvis, Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Ex Officio, William Joseph, Fish Pond and Rio among others. We have been one of the largest fly tackle retailers in the southwest U.S. and we are Arizona’s oldest fly shop. We guarantee our prices to be the same or lower than any other fly shop or retail store. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and no sales tax on out of state sales. Call us for the best advice!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winter season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captain’s Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren and Tyler Smith make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith, Dean Windham and Andy Vincent work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

A note from one of our customers:

Subject: Thanks

Greetings,

My name is Bill and I had the opportunity to fish Lee’s Ferry a few weeks ago while on vacation. My wife and I stopped by your shop to buy a fishing license and talk about the fishing. The salesman behind the counter was a great help, I wish I could remember his name. He suggested a lure, size and color, that I bought. And told me a good place to go fishing in the walk in area. He also told me the best time to be there on the water. He was right on. I caught several nice trout the largest being about 16 inches all released. The fishing was good, the scenery was assume, the weather was COLD and WET. I was not dressed for it.

The best part I looked up river and there was the salesman from behind the counter fishing about 50 yards from me, with a friendly wave.

Can’t wait to come back.

Thanks again

B

Report by: Tyler Smith

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 6.5 to 7.5

Walk-In: 7.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!

Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 33 High 58

The weather has been very mild and dry. The forecast is for more of the same.

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 1 No Crowds

Walk In: 1 Nobody here

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Be sure to take a look at our new website, it is vastly improved and full of great information about fishing Lees Ferry wwww.leesferry.com

Fly Fishing

Fishing upriver has been good the last few of days. The river is running 8,000cfs for the majority of the day and increasing to 13,000cfs in the evening, but dropping back down by the morning. These new flows have really opened up the river creating an abundance of wading opportunities. The key to a successful fishing day is to follow the sun. Where ever the sun is hitting on the water should make for better fishing.

Fishing the seams, riffles and drop offs from the gravel bars has been the most productive. We are primarily nymphing using Scuds, San Juan Worms, Zebra midges and Glo-bugs of various sizes and colors. The smaller fish tend to be higher up on the riffles and the bigger fish seem to be right on the edge of drop offs and in the deeper water just after the drop off. The best fishing has been just on the inside seam where the slower current meets the faster water. Using a dry fly with a dropper such as a Zebra Midge, Glo-bug or Scud has also had some success depending on the water one is fishing.

There are more actively spawning trout in a few areas on the river. A person may consider fishing a Glo-Bug below a San Juan worm or a Scud. However, the location of the spawning beds will change depending on the current river flows.

Although the water has come down another good option is fishing a small streamer or wooly bugger. Stripping the wooly bugger has been successful but the key is to vary your strip retrieve. This particular method may produce some larger fish. When streamer fishing, we highly recommend a Teeny 200 grain sinking tip or a similar line. The reason for the Teeny is that the sinking tip is twenty feet allows the streamer to cover more water effectively especially the deeper drop offs.

Walk-In Report:By Dean Windham

Spin fishing the walk-in has been good this week.

Spin Fishing Up River:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom.

You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout.

Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable.

Report from one of our customers:

I rented a boat from you all and fished the river on Sunday with 2 friends. First off the boat ran great. We had some issues the last time out and we appreciate that they are all resolved.

On to the fishing – 3 words — Best Day Ever. The weather cooperated wonderfully. Our party had 2 experienced Lees Ferry fisherman and one total noob. Our noob got a fish on the third cast and ended up with at least 20 to hand for the day. I got a fish on the first and second casts, missed the fish on the third and had one on the fourth. I had only two casts all day that did not have a strike or a fish and on those I had the flies stuck to the indicator. We each had over 100 fish to hand easily. It was truly and incredible day. I give the up river rating a 10 (maybe an 11).

Fish were hitting eggs, midges and worms with the eggs getting the most fish. We’ll be back soon.

Rusty

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

The AZ Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a very small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. More recent samplings have turned up no sign of the disease, which may mean that it was a “one time” exposure, where the disease was not established or that the disease is present but at a very low prevalence. Anglers should still use caution in cleaning their equipment both before and after they have fished here or in other waters. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org

Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop maintains a large inventory of Abel, Sage, Winston, Temple Fork, Tibor, Galvin, Orvis, Simms, Patagonia, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Ex Officio, William Joseph, Fish Pond and Rio among others. We have been one of the largest fly tackle retailers in the southwest U.S. and we are Arizona’s oldest fly shop. We guarantee our prices to be the same or lower than any other fly shop or retail store. We offer free shipping on all orders over $100 and no sales tax on out of state sales. Call us for the best advice!

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winter season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captain’s Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren and Tyler Smith make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith and Dean Windham work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

A note from one of our customers:

Subject: Thanks

Greetings,

My name is Bill and I had the opportunity to fish Lee’s Ferry a few weeks ago while on vacation. My wife and I stopped by your shop to buy a fishing license and talk about the fishing. The salesman behind the counter was a great help, I wish I could remember his name. He suggested a lure, size and color, that I bought. And told me a good place to go fishing in the walk in area. He also told me the best time to be there on the water. He was right on. I caught several nice trout the largest being about 16 inches all released. The fishing was good, the scenery was assume, the weather was COLD and WET. I was not dressed for it.

The best part I looked up river and there was the salesman from behind the counter fishing about 50 yards from me, with a friendly wave.

Can’t wait to come back.

Thanks again

Bill

ShareThis

Posted in River Reports

Report by: Tyler Smith

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Recent Fish rating

Upriver: 6.5 to 7.5

Walk-In: 7.0

Spin-Fishing: 7

Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!

Today’s Weather: Sunny, Low 30 High 48

The weather has been very mild and dry. The forecast is for more of the same with some clouds moving in.

Crowd Rating

Upriver: 1 No Crowds

Walk In: 1 Nobody here

Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early

Be sure to take a look at our new website, it is vastly improved and full of great information about fishing Lees Ferry wwww.leesferry.com

Fly Fishing:

Fishing upriver has been good the last few of days. The river is running 9,550cfs for the majority of the day and increasing to 16,000cfs in the evening, but dropping back down by the morning. These new flows have really opened up the river creating an abundance of wading opportunities. Beginning in February the river will be running around 7,000cfs for the majority of the day and increasing to 13,000cfs in the evening and dropping back down by the morning. The key to a successful fishing day is to follow the sun. Where ever the sun is hitting on the water should make for better fishing.

Fishing the seams, riffles and drop offs from the gravel bars has been the most productive. We are primarily nymphing using Scuds, San Juan Worms, Zebra midges and Glo-bugs. The fish tend to be right on the edge or in the deeper water just after the drop off. Using a dry fly with a dropper such as a Zebra Midge, Glo-bug or Scud has also had some success depending on the water one is fishing.

There are more actively spawning trout in a few areas on the river. A person may consider fishing a Glo-Bug below a San Juan worm or a Scud. The spawn should only improve as we get later into January and February. However, the location of the spawning beds will change depending on the current river flows.

Although the water has come down another good option is fishing a small streamer or wooly bugger. Stripping the wooly bugger has been successful but the key is to vary your strip retrieve. This particular method may produce some larger fish. When streamer fishing, we highly recommend a Teeny 200 grain sinking tip or a similar line. The reason for the Teeny is that the sinking tip is twenty feet allows the streamer to cover more water effectively especially the deeper drop offs.

If this is your first time fishing at Lees Ferry or if it has been a long time since you last fished the Ferry we strongly recommend hiring a guide for the day. Not only will hiring a guide improve your chances at catching fish they will also give you advice on how to fish, where to fish and help improve your skills and techniques. It is a great way to learn the water.

If you’re contemplating a trip to Lees Ferry, I would say go for it. Fishing has been good. We have had a really mild winter thus far with comfortable temperatures. The crowds have virtually disappeared for the season it is as though you have the whole river to yourself. Weekends tend to have a little more traffic than during the week days. We have rooms available. Our winter rates are fifty dollars a night for one or two people from now until February 29th, 2012. If you have any questions please give us a call at 1-800-962-9755.

Walk in:

Fishing has been good and fairly consistent. Nymphing with San Juan Worms, Glo-Bugs and Zebra Midges has been effective. Scuds tend to work better upriver, but are worth a try. Another great option is fishing a woolly bugger like a streamer using a Teeny T-130 or a T-200 sink tip. Dead drifting a bugger with a dropper below an indicator on a floating line may also produce some good fishing.

The fishing was better in the softer water up in the boulder field as well as from the bottom of the boulder filed to the Paria Riffle. The best way to fish the area is to start fishing in close and systematically working your way out.

Stop by the Fly Shop for more tips and to pick up some local fly patterns. We’ll see you then.

Spin Fishing:

Spin fishing is good! It’s all about bouncing Glo bugs, San Juan Worms and Scuds off the bottom.

You can also try fishing with gold Kastmasters, black and gold Panther Martins #5s or Rapalas in Perch or trout.

Also definitely don’t forget about the marabou jig, this one has been working great and has been very reliable.

Report from one of our customers:

I rented a boat from you all and fished the river on Sunday with 2 friends. First off the boat ran great. We had some issues the last time out and we appreciate that they are all resolved.

On to the fishing – 3 words — Best Day Ever. The weather cooperated wonderfully. Our party had 2 experienced Lees Ferry fisherman and one total noob. Our noob got a fish on the third cast and ended up with at least 20 to hand for the day. I got a fish on the first and second casts, missed the fish on the third and had one on the fourth. I had only two casts all day that did not have a strike or a fish and on those I had the flies stuck to the indicator. We each had over 100 fish to hand easily. It was truly and incredible day. I give the up river rating a 10 (maybe an 11).

Fish were hitting eggs, midges and worms with the eggs getting the most fish. We’ll be back soon.

Rusty

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

The AZ Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a very small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. More recent samplings have turned up no sign of the disease, which may mean that it was a “one time” exposure, where the disease was not established or that the disease is present but at a very low prevalence. Anglers should still use caution in cleaning their equipment both before and after they have fished here or in other waters. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!

*****CLOSEOUTS******

PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00

Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:

Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. We are excited about the winterl season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)

Meet the Guides:

THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captains’ Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Skip Dixon, Natalie Jensen, Tyson Warren and Tyler Smith make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Ted Welling, Tyler Smith and Dean Windham work in the fly shop. We strive to provide you with the best customer service in the industry. All of our prices in our shop are the same or less than any of the Big Box stores and we really do appreciate your business.

Subject: Thanks

Greetings,

My name is Bill and I had the opportunity to fish Lee’s Ferry a few weeks ago while on vacation. My wife and I stopped by your shop to buy a fishing license and talk about the fishing. The salesman behind the counter was a great help, I wish I could remember his name. He suggested a lure, size and color, that I bought. And told me a good place to go fishing in the walk in area. He also told me the best time to be there on the water. He was right on. I caught several nice trout the largest being about 16 inches all released. The fishing was good, the scenery was assume, the weather was COLD and WET. I was not dressed for it.

The best part I looked up river and there was the salesman from behind the counter fishing about 50 yards from me, with a friendly wave.

Can’t wait to come back.

Thanks again

Bill