Haven't really seen many, if any, Browns in Mother Lake until last Sunday. Bill Franz told me they put a bunch in, including this fat 19 incher caught by Mario. Four avid anglers showed up for the Front Range Angler's Hogfest, and were rewarded with, Bows, Browns, and a Bluebird day.

Clear blue skies are not the most welcome sight when fishing still water, but considering the cold, wet weather we've been having lately, it felt good to be putting on sunscreen. And aside from a predictable mid-day lull, Mother Lake seem to be enjoying the sunshinge too. Insects everywhere ... primarily small midges, but also Chronomids, Mayflys, and a some "what kind of bug was that?" Most of our takes were underneath the surface with small midge pupa or larve imitations. However, in the afternoon, on Bill Franz suggestions we broke out the big Chronomids with great success. Even though there were lots of risers, we had no luck on surface flies. Lots of inspections but they came with clear refusals.

During the midday excursion from Mother, Patrick took Doug and Jeff to the Bass Ponds and the river and scored in both places. I took Mario and Mike to Weldon which was acting unusually finicky. We had some takes and a hook up, but moved on ... better to be slow at Mother than at Weldon. When returned to Mother, some clouds had arrived. Adding the Chronomids got us quickly on fish.

It was a good long day at Sylvandale with at least six Browns and twice that many Bows landed. Maybe a Front Range May Hogfest should be annual trip?

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