I've only had one oppurtunity to fish the Big T., a year ago in May. It was beautiful there below the lake. Prior to fishing it, the only real trout river fishing I had done, was a month before, on the Ark during the caddis hatch,(mother's day hatch). I spent four or five hours on the Big T. that day, trying to figure out how to catch the trout there. I suffered many refusals to my dries and nymphs alike, until hour three had come and gone, and I hooked up with the one and only fish that day. Finally, that fish ate a #18 Micro Mayfly,(Mercer's). It took out toward the current, and I would never see it again. Looked to be a decent fish, 12-14" maybe. Now that I have learned much more about fishing Colorado's rivers, i.e., Arkansas and Conejos anyway, I feel I need to go back in the spring or summer to the Big Thompson and redeem myself! Glad to hear that you did well!