Spring, midges, and low flows

17" Rainbow

16" 

19"

19"

Hello to all my fellow fishers out there. The fishing at the ferry is fantastic, it's spring so, midges midges and more midges. Zebra midge patterns #18-#14, blk/slvr, red/slvr, grey/black, any midgy combination you can come up with if you tie. Egg patterns are still producing in some places on the river, worms are also producing in some places, and to my surprise I have been pulling a few fish on scud patterns. Most flies are in #16, but anything from #18 in the midges to #12 in the worms and scuds. 

The fish are in great health, getting some good girth out there, fat and happy fish. 

As always right lines and always remeber to keep that tip up,

Mick Lovett

MCO 

For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com

Fly Fishing is an American Tradition

All the way across the country from the fly fishing at Lee’s Ferry, The American Museum of Fly Fishing sits in Manchester, Vermont. It showcases the history, traditions and practices of the sport of fly fishing. Even though Vermont is far away from the Colorado River and Northern Arizona, one thing’s for sure—fly fishing has shown itself to be one of the most nationally appreciated hobbies and pastimes time and time again.

Fly fishing in the United States got its start when anglers tried using artificial lures in the streams of the Catskill Mountains of New York in the late 1800s. One fisherman, Charles F. Orvis, developed America’s first fully modern fly reel. Today, there are Orvis stores around the country selling products for people who like to spend time outdoors in nature.

The sport of fly fishing increasingly caught on right through the turn of the century. It has been said that fly fishing peaked in the 1920s, as anglers took to the waters of New England and the Midwest en masse. Writer Ernest Hemingway helped expose the sport to people through his writing, including the 1926 book The Sun Also Rises. Then, in the 1950s, another peak time for fly fishing occurred as new developments in the rods, fly lines and leaders made the sport less expensive, and thus more accessible to the general population.

Brad Pitt—yes, Brad Pitt—helped fly fishing enjoy yet another resurgence in the 1990s when he was seen fly fishing in the 1992 Robert Redford hit movie A River Runs Through It.

Marble Canyon Outfitters’ Mick Lovett is an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guide who landed his first fish on a fly rod at Lees Ferry when he was 4-years-old. Our fly fishing experiences carry on the time-tested tradition of fly-fishing in one of the most spectacular natural settings in the country. Visit our website to book your trip today.

For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com

Tips for Fitting in on Your Lee’s Ferry Fly Fishing Tour

We here at Lee’s Ferry Fly Fishing have the pleasure of offering fishing trips for people of many experience levels. If you are relatively new to fly fishing, you might feel a little out of place when you embark on a trip down the Colorado River. Of course, there’s no reason to feel this way, but it’s still a great opportunity to learn more about fly fishing so that you can feel more a part of the group.

One of the easiest things you can do is research some common fly-fishing terminology and equipment. If you understand different types of fishing equipment you will have an easier time adjusting to your first trip, without needing to ask what everything does. Knowing the terminology can also help you interact with other fishers and understand what everyone is talking about on the boat. There are plenty of resources out there, and of course your guide and fellow fishermen will be happy to give you a few pointers.

You should also spend a little time practicing using your reel. While it takes time to become experienced at something like changing your spool, if you are familiar with your reel you will have a better chance of catching fish right away. Becoming familiar with several different types of knots can also be useful. Most reels come with instructions on some of the basic knots you may need to use. Spend some time away from the water familiarizing yourself with the basics.

Coming prepared is also another important tip. You will want to make sure you dress appropriately for the weather and boating conditions, while making sure you have enough storage space for all of your equipment and supplies. If you are organized you will be able to quickly pinpoint where all of your gear is and ready yourself at a moment’s notice.

These are just a few ways you can make your beginning fly fishing trips as safe, fun, and enjoyable as possible. Stay on your toes and you will be well on your way towards acting like a pro. Remember, don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re ready for a true Lee’s Ferry fly fishing adventure, contact Marble Canyon Outfitters to make reservations today.

For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com

Fly Fishing as Therapy: How Angling Can Help PTSD

While fly fishing is not often seen as the most glamorous activity out there, it’s been garnering a great deal of attention in the press for a very virtuous reasons. It’s been has been embraced as a way for veterans of war to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Many organizations have been formed to promote this cause, and it’s been highlighted in countless news stories

Water has been a source of healing since ancient times, and fly fishing involves wading in the water, casting a long line, and seeing what can be caught. Indeed, many men, war vets or not, have found a peaceful serenity in the joy of being out in nature, breathing in the air, listening to the birds, and trying to catch ever-elusive fish.

When a person has gone through a traumatic experience, as is prone to happen in the chaos of war, the images and sounds of those dangerous times can haunt them for years to come. PTSD is something that too many soldiers suffer with; fly fishing, however, calms them.

Putting a person’s mind and body at ease is no easy task in a world that’s full of traffic, pollution, noise and people. So a fly fishing “getaway” is an ideal situation for people who want to escape to a quiet, pretty place, away from the crowds and the city. We’re proud to be a part of this peaceful outlet, and encourage those who feel like they could benefit from this therapeutic activity to try it.

Marble Canyon Outfitters at Lees Ferry offers guided fly fishing experiences in northern Arizona. In the Colorado River at the head of the Grand Canyon, this dynamic area is like visiting another planet—far from the suburban look of most of America, this is an out-of-the-way, relaxing place where the fly fishing is great and the surrounding scenery will enliven your senses like nowhere else can. 

For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com

10% Discount on all Trips for the Month of December!!!

Hello to all my fellow fishers out there. Marble Canyon Outfitters is offering a 10% discount on all trips booked in the month of December 2013. The winter fishing is fantastic at the ferry and December is my personal favorite of the winter months. The spawn is just starting, so we have a mature fish in shallow water staging for a spawning location, and once the spawn is in full swing a possibility for sight fishing becomes a reality. The coloration of the fish is just pure beauty, with the vibrant reds, and the silvery females. I would like to share the winter fishing experience with everyone, I know you will all love it just as much as I do. If we can be of service please let us know.I look forward to fishing with you all. As always "may all your lines be tight, and always remember to keep that tip up." Mick Lovett Owner/Operator Marble Canyon Outfitters For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com

Lee’s Ferry Fly Fishing Water Conditions

Lee’s Ferry is a great place for fly-fishing, and a unique spot on a world-famous, historic waterway. Anyone who has witnessed the Colorado River, with its intense rapids framed by enormous canyons, can attest to its dramatic appeal. Historically, Lee’s Ferry served as a convenient place to cross the hazardous Colorado. These days, it is a great place to enter the water for an unforgettable day of fishing.

While the Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountains, Lee’s Ferry itself gets its water directly from Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. The activity of the Glen Canyon Dam, which created Lake Powell upon being built, is very important to the fishing conditions of Lee’s Ferry on any given day.

The dam, built about 50 years ago, provides electricity by hydropower, and is an object of much controversy for many in the Southwest because of the changes it has caused to the environment surrounding it. The measured supply of electricity to residents affects the flow of water allowed to pass through the dam, which in turn affects the conditions and depth of the fishing waters downstream. For example, water tends to flow more during the day, when more electricity is being used. Water flow also increases seasonally, as more power is used during the hottest and coldest months, and in some years more than others.

While the changes are generally gradual, water levels are known to rise by a foot or two throughout the day. These variations are in addition to natural influences on water flow, including snow run-off and rainfall.

Of course, these changing conditions affect the fly-fishing technique appropriate for that particular time. Low waters mean more wading, while higher waters might force anglers to fish from the boat, either anchored or adrift. Adjustments to technique are also important for differences in water depth and flow. Your fishing guide can be a huge help in this area. On-the-fly advice is critical when changes can occur from month to month, day to day, or even hour to hour.

At Lee’s Ferry, a mix of natural and man-made wonders lead to a gorgeous fly-fishing site where ever-changing conditions require additional strategy. To see what makes Lee’s Ferry such an attractive place for fly-fishing with the best guides on the Colorado, set up a trip with Marble Canyon Outfitters at Lee’s Ferry today.

For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com

November Fishing fallowing the HFE

For More Details, Visit Home at http://www.LeesFerryFlyFishing.com

Fat 18" female

16" male turning red

19" female

Nice 16"

18" female

Hello everyone, 

The fishing at the ferry is good, weather is even better. 

There is plenty of feed for the fish following the HFE. I turned rocks everywhere I stopped Sunday and Monday, and found worms under every one. The moss on the shores that was still wet, had a few scuds, and the midges are hatching as they should be for the temperatures. 

We caught fish on patterns in all three categories. San Juan worm patterns in the rust, brown, and red in size 14. Scuds in grey, ginger, and pink in size 14 produced well. In the mornings before the water starts to rise, we caught most of our fish on black midge patterns, sizes 16-18.

The fish are in great health and as you can see from a couple pictures above they are starting to think about spawning, so egg patterns will get better from here on out. 

If anyone is looking for one last fishing trip before the the end of the year, I would recommend it.

If we can be of service please let us know.

"May all your lines be tight, and always remember to keep that tip up"

Mick Lovett