Author Topic: Hi, I am Hopper Juan and I have an addiction... (Read 807 times)

Juan Ramirez · « **on:** February 24, 2010, 10:28:03 AM »

I love to fish and tie flies.

I live in Colorado Springs, CO

Here is a bit of info about me.

I copied this from something I did earlier last year.

I AM ORGINALLY FROM Northern New Mexico. I grew up in Springer, a small community on I-25 about 3 hours south of here. Springer is not unlike Colorado Springs, in which it can be a harsh landscape. You get it all; hurricane force winds, rain, snow, blazing heat, bitter cold and lightning; all in the same day! The wonderful Sangre de Cristo Mountains lay to the west of me and unlike the same mountain range in Colorado, these are low slung mountains lacking the jagged and sharp peaks, but the wonders are the same. In these mountains you can find my favorite fish, the Rio Grande Cutthroat. Of course I am biased and think that these fish are the prettiest of all cutthroats.

I started fishing around the age of 10, chasing catfish in a local stream. This is where my strong commitment of catch and release was solidified. I learned the hard way. Every fish that was caught was kept. Eventually, there were no fish left in that stream. I started fly-fishing about 12 years ago. The switch from earthworms to San Juan Worms was not all that difficult for me. I was selected and mentored by perhaps the best fisherman and fly-tier I've yet to meet. I spent five years watching, fishing and learning from this person.

I started tying flies when I was about 13, using a hand me down tying kit to make a few disastrous looking things. I really didn’t know what to do with that mess of floss and feathers. I gave it up. I returned to it while I was in college in Durango, Co. When I returned to New Mexico, I continued with it. When I sold my first dozen woolly buggers, I thought I might be on to something. That was a few thousand dozen flies ago. I have tied flies and guided for Dos Amigos Anglers in Eagle Nest, NM. Today, I continue to tie custom orders for people and have several patterns in Ghillies Fly Shop. I am also a part time guide for Anglers Covey in Colorado Springs, CO.

Some of my favorite flies are the Cimarron Special, Foam Back Emerger, The Hopper Juan , and my U.V. Pearl Jam Midge and Ice Emerger. My favorite rivers to be on are the Cimarron River in Northern New Mexico, the Animas River in S.W. Colorado and the Conejos River in Southern Colorado. My favorite bugs are spring and fall Baetis, followed by Summer PMDs. I love to fish these small flies using my
beloved Scott G-series rods. I also don’t mind using the G2 and new S4 rods.

I have lived in Colorado Springs for a little over three years now after relocating from Los Alamos N.M.

I am also on the Montana Fly Company design team.

Check out my blog here: http://hopperjuan.blogspot.com/

Juan

Jeremiah Hamilton · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2010, 11:43:10 AM »

I been to your blog before nice ties! And if your look for a cure for your addiction, there isn't one, you just have to learn how to live with.

Welcome
Jeremiah Hamilton

Todd Oishi · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2010, 11:56:21 AM »

Welcome Juan! I really enjoyed viewing your blog and watching you tie the RS2. Looking forward to your contributions on this site!

Cheers,
Todd

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2010, 12:33:18 PM »

Wow! Your blog is jam packed with great fly shots. Thanx for sharing.

Chris Smith · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2010, 02:59:46 PM »

Welcome Juan. I happened across your video tying tutorials a few weeks ago...great stuff!

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2010, 03:09:55 PM »

Welcome to the site and great blog.

Warren Weglinski · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2010, 03:31:12 PM »

Hi Juan,
great blog, Loads of new info here.
I will be in my machine shop tonight building a vise like the one Rim Chung is tying on.
This is the simplest and wide open vise to work the small flies on.
Thanks for the pic.

Warren

Rich Strolis · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2010, 04:04:52 PM »

Juan,
glad to see you here, and to finally say hello even though we have found one another through vimeo and our vids. Good guys here Juan, always ready to help out and talk shop. Enjoy the place.

Im back from a bit of a hiatus, hope to be active again here soon......

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2010, 10:15:03 PM »

Welcome aboard Juan.

Chad Gauerke · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2010, 09:48:31 AM »

Hey Juan,

Glad you found the site. Welcome. Hope all is well.

Chad

Juan Ramirez · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2010, 08:30:49 PM »

Thanks guys. The blog is hard work. I try to keep up with it, but there is a lot of good ones out there and I try to be as as good as they are. If you have any suggestions, please let me know or want to see something let me know. I really enjoy this site. There is lots to see here.

Thanks again.

Juan

Jeremy Hogan · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2010, 11:16:17 AM »

Welcome aboard Juan, I'm a Colorado guy myself and I've actually seen you post on some of the other forums that I'm a member of...CO Fisherman and the CO Mtn Fishing site. Your blog is great there is a lot good information, and it turned me on to Montana Fly Co.(inexpensive tying materials).

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2010, 07:32:09 PM »

Juan,

Just wanted to say thanx for your hopper juan tutorial. Not sure what it was, but I'm tying those foam bodied flies with lightning fast ease now.

Wondering if you use that foam body style on any other patterns beside the club and such. Any mayflies? Caddis? etc

John Killinger · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2010, 07:52:03 PM »

Welcome!

I'm in the military and I get more than my share of going places, anyways if I'm ever in town, mind if I call you to get together to do some fishing? I was there in I think November and was able to go to a fly shop. I didn't know how much fishing was there.

Once again welcome to a great forum that has tons of knowledge.

Juan Ramirez · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2010, 09:00:47 AM »

Quote from: Dejon Hamann on March 07, 2010, 07:32:09 PM

Juan,

Just wanted to say thanx for your hopper juan tutorial. Not sure what it was, but I'm tying those foam bodied flies with lightning fast ease now.

Wondering if you use that foam body style on any other patterns beside the club and such. Any mayflies? Caddis? etc

Dejon,

Your welcome! i don't use that particular body shape on any other flies right now. I am sure there are more, but I just haven't found them.

Quote from: John Killinger on March 07, 2010, 07:52:03 PM

Welcome!

I'm in the military and I get more than my share of going places, anyways if I'm ever in town, mind if I call you to get together to do some fishing? I was there in I think November and was able to go to a fly shop. I didn't know how much fishing was there.

Once again welcome to a great forum that has tons of knowledge.

John,

Please do. I'd love to meet some new people and maybe get out and show you some new water.

Juan