BONEDALE FISHING REPORT #1

Many years ago when I worked as the editor of The Flyfish Journal one of my favorite duties was trading weekly correspondence with Kea Hause, a long-time friend and fly-fishing guide from Colorado’s Roaring Fork valley. Ostensibly, the exercise was intended to curate content for the magazine’s blog, gathered in weekly “fishing reports,” though over time, it simply became a way to explore language and stay connected throughout the seasons. Kea is gone now, having passed away from complications related to a backcountry ski accident, and the rivers and valleys he called home for more than fifty years are left with an enormous drift to fill. Equal parts explorer, artist, dreamer, addict and riverman–he was a rare, untouchable soul, blessed with an innately curious spirit. The following are his letters. He would want you to read them. He would want you to SHOW UP, WORK HARD AND DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO. He would want you to follow the Plastic Jesus. He would want you to feather the oars, and let God take care of the rest. Aye Aye Captain.

BONEDALE FISHING REPORT #1

THE CERULEAN SKIES ABOVE YOUR FAVORITE FREESTONE 

God I hate typing. But you have to do what you have to do. I HAVE BEEN TROUT FISHING. I can’t remember when the Fork has been better in thirty years. I have been pasting massive BROWN TROUT, not the pellet feeding cows, on Mice and biigg Stones with 1X fluoro on HEAVY 200R hooks and size 8 Renegades. We need to revive the Renegade and Double Ugly with the right colored hackles. Giff still comes to Alpine Angling to buy Hares Ears. The long and short of it is, I’m getting serious about the fishing business. I don’t even have myself booked right now. Drop everything you’re doing, come jump in my boat and we can save our sport. Here’s a secret–let’s put the fun back into fly-fishing. Who doesn’t want to strip Mice and Girdle Bugs for big fish? Hell, if we have to, we can twitch ANYTHING for big Kamloops. I have a million ideas for flies. Here’s one we need right now–200R nymph hook, brown mottled chenille, salmon colored legs, a touch of bluish-white sparkle dub for the stomach and brown-orange grizzly hackle. The big news in the drainage are the Golden Stones, or Stoneflies period. It’s happening on the whole west slope, and most people don’t even know. That’s why the Convertible kicks ass. I’m stealing that fly back also–foam body, dub ribbing, tan and ginger POLY wings front and back, 200R hook, flexi-floss legs in amber and brown. Okay, here’s my deadliest mayfly nymph–200R, purple bead, thorax in light blue crystal flash, copper ribbing and coat with thinned-out epoxy. The baby blue is translucent and reflects its environment just like any animal. Hell, call it the Bonefly Baetis, and if you want to make it really deadly cut off the hook and tie 3X FLUORO TWO INCHES OFF THE BACK with a small stinger, so you can floss ‘em like they do with Eggs. For that matter, we can do all this stuff on tubes. Christ, no one sells beads and toothpicks in fly shops anymore. Most guides don’t realize how deadly it is. God won’t allow me to catch fish on Eggs anyway. The right color for a San Juan Worm is burgundy–fleximent on the post. The main thing is don’t make it too heavy, so you can fish it shallow. Put the Worm on a rubber tube, so you can slide it up and down the leader. We could do the same thing with Eggs. Glue the rubber sleeve into a plastic bead in all the right colors. Most guides don’t have the time to tie up a bunch of bugs, myself being the exception. The answer for our country is making shit here. Believe me my friends, crossover is the future. Kayakers should be in Simms for Chrissake. I have limited powers, but I have tons of ideas. Why doesn’t someone make a fluorocarbon hook? Anyway, I’m essentially a river guide and always will be. I have faith in Simms and Ross Reels. Anything American is a no-brainer for a REDNECK LIKE ME. I cannot afford to buy more gear every year, and I’m not going to be part of the problem, buying shit from Cabela’s and Wal-Mart. People have to support their local fly shops, and Carbondale is my hometown. I need to put my energy into protecting this drainage. If you know any good causes to donate float trips, count me in. Everyone needs to donate more fishing trips, especially now. There are only three good fishing movies–Jaws, A River Runs Through It and Waterworld. 

Live from the WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Kea C. Hause

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Kea and David Santini fish the Roaring Fork River near Carbondale, CO. Photo: Copi Vojta