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 Here are a few samples of what we here from anglers
who fish at Sylvan Dale:
Steve Musick, Denver: I came up last Thursday for a day of fishing in the Valley. Inside of two hours I set personal records twice. First up on Mother Lake a 28-inch Donaldson, easily 7-8 pounds, lunched on a midge on 5X tippet (it was a size 18, bead head olive green midge emerger fished on a tippet greased to within 6 inches of the fly). Then down on Island Lake I landed a bigger fish on an olive matuka. Paradise. I gotta get a bigger net!
Mike and Christine Fong’s Inside
Angler, a treasured
information source about fishing destinations, contains
a nice write-up of Sylvan Dale in the May 1995 issue,
including a this description of Mike’s 27 inch,
8 pound rainbow:
I peaked over and saw a large rainbow approaching.
I placed the Pheasant Tail five feet ahead of the rainbow
and slightly short to my side so the leader would not
be seen. After the fly had fallen a foot, the rainbow
turned. I could see the white of its inner mouth as
it closed on the fly. Gently lifting the rod, the trout
turned abruptly and took off. thirty yards of backing
disappeared and after a pause, another thirty yards
followed. Soon, the rainbow was nearly all the way
across the pond. After 15 minutes of steady, relentless
pressure, I was able to gain the upper hand. ...It
was one of the hardest fighting rainbows I’ve
ever caught.
David Stacey, Chicago: Just a quick note to
let you know how much I enjoyed my trip with Don Barz
lastweek - April 13. Tried to fish in float tubes,
but after an hour and a half of kicking wildly to stay
in place (or at least it seemed that way) b/c of the
wind, we started sight fishing from shore. As the wind
died down, the fishing picked up. Caught four fat rainbows
- one 24 to 25",
two 21", and one 19" (have pictures being
developed of the three large ones). Ended up losing
two. Almost all were caught on a green wooly bugger
(Chuck has the pattern), 5 wt sink tip line, and 6X
tippet. Overall great time - just what I was hoping
for. Since I don't have Chuck or Don's email address,
please pass along my thanks - both were professional
and enjoyable to fish with (Chuck had another party
on site as well). Looking forward to the next trip!
Gordon Penley, Ft. Collins: On April 2nd I had the
pleasure of fishing at Sylvan Dale Ranch and was guided
by Chuck Prather of Flyfishing Services. This turned
out to be one of the best fishing experiences I’ve
ever had – I caught many very large rainbows
in Mother Lake including the largest fish I’ve
ever caught, a fish Chuck estimated to be in the 8-10
pound class. Chuck was very personable, knowledgeable,
and seemed to have exactly the right flies and tactics
for the changing conditions of the day. I fished both
trophy lakes with success and I really enjoyed the
secluded setting and quality of the fisheries. I hope
to be speaking to Chuck soon about returning with some
of my angling buddies as I know they would enjoy the
experience.
Greg Sheets. Loveland. I caught a 20-inch rainbow
in the Big Thompson River in May at a location which
will remain secret. The rainbow was taken on a #8 bead
head Prince nymph, dead drifted along the edge of a
diagonal cut in the current. The water was a little
high and a just a bit off-color, so I was using a 4x
tippet with two size B split shot. I've gone to using
the yarn "fluff" strike indicators for all
of my nymphing, and I think it makes a big difference
with respect to strike detection. It was a surprisingly
light strike, and I think the yarn helped me detect
it. It made a fast run, and it took almost 4 minutes
to land it as I was using my four-weight Sage RPL.
I wasn't expect a big one like that fish!"
Joe Wall, leader of the Cold
Shot Band, Orlando Florida.
My wife and I had a great time at the ranch again this
year. We're still talking about the skunk that almost
sprayed me and the bear I came face to face with, but
mostly, we're still talking about the huge 29 inch
brown trout, the 25 3/4 inch brown trout, the 23 inch
brown trout and all the other brown trout, brook trout
and rainbow trout we caught and released on Sylvan
Dale waters. ...My wife and I are looking forward to
visiting Sylvan Dale again next year. Keep those fish
big and happy for me.
Greg Sheets (again): Hello David...thought
you'd like to know that the River is fishing well in
the lower "Valley" stretch.
I've been prospecting and can tell you that those wonderful
wild rainbow's and brown's are doing well. We have
had mild weather this winter and the lower River remains
ice free. I have fished the "Cottonwood Hole" several
times and have caught several fish on each excursion.
Last week, I caught 15 trout from the same hole, ranging
from 10"-18"....all wild fish, and all on
nymphs. Still waiting for the fish to start looking
up, but I think that with our unusually mild winter
the fish will be cooperating earlier than usual this
year. The Valley Lakes are frozen, but the occasional
wind opens up Mother Lake and the large fish that live
there can be taken on small midge patterns. I LOVE
this kind of fishing! Big fish on small tippetts and
even smaller flys......Hunting fish is a hoot!
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