Well 2018 is ending tonight and I’m reflecting on the year and the fishing season we had at Lindner Ranches. By no means it was a challenging season. Low snow-pack levels and minimal rain made for low rivers and hot temperatures. The old timers in the area have mentioned it was the toughest and driest they have seen in ages. Mother nature does what she wants, when she wants, so hopefully she got that trend out of her hair and is ready to change things up a bit.
With that said, I gotta honestly say, we were truly blessed to have the season we did. Our regulars and new clients still came out to fish with us and we can’t thank them enough for adjusting to the conditions and making the best of a tough fishing season. A large portion of the state struggled with the same challenges we had, and for the most part, guides and outfitters in the region didn’t have the season they needed to make the ends meet. We are hoping for a rebound in the 2019 season, and want to wish everyone thats in the outdoor industry, good luck and good weather and hopefully, are able to bounce back from the cards mother dealt to us in 2018.
Since we are on the subject, let’s look at current conditions in our neck of the woods and what that means for ‘19. So we are a little below average for December. 67% to be exact but that’s usual for this time of year. Our big storms come in mid to late winter and early spring so I’m optimistic that the trend we are on will continue to grow. In relation to 2018, we are currently 217% above last year. That’s comforting to know at this point because I am confident it will be a better season water wise than last. 2017 was a killer water year, if you don’t recall, and we are right in line at this point in the game with that season and have the same stats to date as we did then. So…yea, I’m feeling pretty good about it so far. It’s snowing now and our local ski area, Wolf Creek, is reporting 2” of snow in the past 24 hrs, and 6” over the past 72 hrs.
Booking season is in full swing and we have some great availability for the 2019 season. People ask me a lot what time of the summer is the best for fishing and I normally give them this long winded explanation about conditions, angler pressure, runoff timing, their preference on style of fishing but the best answer to this question is this…anytime. The summer in Pagosa country always has excellent fishing conditions. Not to mention the fall can be sometimes more productive than the summer but all in all, you can’t go wrong booking a trip from late June all the way into mid-November. I love dry fly fishing, I love to nymph fish, I love to streamer fish, I enjoy the wait of a trout finding my fly on the surface of one of the ponds and setting the hook on the unsuspected 20+ inch, un-pressured, trout that goes months without seeing another angler. It’s all fun to me and the enjoyment never ends regardless of the time of season or weather. But, that’s just me. If you’re looking for optimal conditions, then that can be a challenge. It’s like asking a surfer when the swell is going to be good at some amazing break in Indonesia. You have an idea of when it has the potential to be “going off” but you really don’t know unless you study the conditions,and the weather patterns. It’s really all about just getting there. That’s the best opportunity you will have at getting the perfect wave, or in the his case, the perfect hatch or day on the water, so to speak. Get your butt to the spot, because we have all heard the phrase before, “…you shoulda been here yesterday.”
One last thing, on a somber note, and I hate to bring this news to you, but I feel obligated to share Woodrow’s passing with our guests, especially the ones who loved him, and more than likely, enjoyed his company more than mine at times. It’s still difficult to talk about and share in this newsletter, and I hate mentioning it in this forum, but Woodrow passed the day after Thanksgiving up at El Rancho. I won’t go into the details, but it was a freak accident and I’m deeply saddened that he’s gone. He was truly my right hand man and the most loyal and loving dog ever. Rest assure, he was doing what he loved, chasing, hunting and living the dog dream, in the most beautiful setting every dog would dream to be a part of. His boundless energy and playfulness, not to mention his extreme tenacity, was part of his personality and he lived a great life. He will truly be missed.
