The one consistent factor is hoppers and terrestrials. Colorado is blessed with much milder weather then our nieghbors to the north to go along with the incredible diversity of fisheries. Find deep water and fish it slowly and thoroughly. Water conditions are ideal as we enter the middle of July. Princes and Iron Sallies are a couple of examples. by Tom Caprio, 5280 Angler ® Professional Guide. Hare’s Ears, Copper Johns, and worm patterns are all helpful. Minturn Anglers is an equal opportunity employer operating under the Colorado River Outfitter License number 472, State of Colorado Outfitter 2597, and numerous special use permits with the BLM, White River National Forest, and the Colorado DOW. Author Orvis Staff Posted on July 21, 2015 April 29, 2020 Categories Fly Fishing Tags colorado fly fishing, fly-fishing tips, tuesday tips Written by: Ryan McSparran, Peak Outfitter Marketing Hiking into the backcountry to catch wild trout is one of the joys of summer in Colorado. View on Google Maps, Weekdays: 9:00AM - 6:00PMSaturday: 8:00AM - 5:00PMSunday: 10:00AM - 4:00PM. Fishing these high country waters isn’t very technical. Water temperatures have begun to warm up, and fish are active and hungry. Mayfly patterns like Pheasant Tails and other variations are essential. Written by: Ryan McSparran, Peak Outfitter Marketing. Mountain Home Reservoir. South Platte. South Platte River. For the best alpine fishing, head to high mountain lakes and streams that are filled with brown, brook, rainbow and cutthroat. One of the best things about fishing small headwaters streams and alpine lakes is fishing to willing and unpressured fish. In addition to trying new bugs, don’t forget to adjust depth. They are all full of beautiful brook trout from 5-15 inches and rainbow trout from 12-22 inches with beautiful fish being the norm. And while caddisfly hatches begin in May on many lower elevation waters, our hatch usually begins around the middle of July. Fishing these wilderness waters is often very simple. Our BWO hatches in the Flat Tops become heavy in June and well into July. The cutthroat spawn is wrapping up and fish are cruising opportunistically along the shorelines, taking advantage of worms, scuds and early mayfly hatches. Lastly, we have one of the best fishng, fly-fishing, hiking, camping, Colorado online t-shirt store on the internet. The Best Fly Fishing Trips In Colorado with Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides . Nearby are other highly regarded rivers like the Frying Pan, Roaring Fork, Colorado and the South Platte. 106 Main Street, Minturn, CO 81645 North Delaney Butte Lake. Stimulators, Wulffs, Humpies, and Amy’s Ants are all good choices. The lower Colorado River flowing west from Glenwood Springs to the Town of Rifle stays ice-free during winter months, and is one of my favorite winter fly fishing destination. Bring up the subject to serious anglers, however, and they will think of ice-out brookies or summer dry fly fishing at one of Colorado’s high country lakes. The worm is just a worm, and it works. Colorado has a vast number of high alpine lakes loaded with trout. You can’t go wrong with these 3 patterns below. There’s often an abundance of stonefly nymphs as well. Here are three tips to remember on your next wilderness trip: 1. Colorado has received a record amount of rainfall through the spring and early summer. “The South Platte is impounded six or … Click a phone number to be connected directly to one of our locations and an assistant will be happy to help! Mini Leech: One of the favorite flies to use is the Mini Leech it is a very versatile fly that can be used in both high and low water fly fishing. But having the right fly selection can definitely make a difference. Regarded as a tough time for fly fishing by some, it is possible to have some incredible days on the river in January. Best Dry Trout Flies. Spread throughout the Rocky Mountains and the front range is a wealth of land that plays host to some of the best fly fishing waters around, and often looks unexpectedly calm for the large fish that lurk beneath the surface. Posted on August 17, 2018 by Mike Sherer. The lower Colorado River flowing west from Glenwood Springs to the Town of Rifle stays ice-free during winter months, and is one of my favorite winter fly fishing destination. Minturn Anglers, LLC. Fly gear is light and easy enough to stuff in your pack (especially if you have a collapsible rod or minimalist tenkara gear) and Colorado’s high alpine lakes, streams and beaver ponds are chock full of trout of many species. We’re here to help you book your trip. The best way to have a successful fall fly fishing trip is to choose the right flies for the time of the year you are heading out. Required fields are marked *. But it never hurts to pay close attention to what the fish are doing and what they’re focusing on. All or part of this operation is conducted on public lands under BLM Special Use Permit and under Special Use Permit with the White River National Forest. When it comes to fly fishing, Colorado is in a league of its own, offering some pristine opportunities to wet a line in a river or reservoir. Colorado is one of the world’s most legendary fly fishing destinations, with hundreds of miles of pristine waterways, spectacular scenery, species that are native only to Colorado, and secluded waters that are reachable only by boat. Grand Lake is a deep blue … This river is a long stretch with a wide variety of fish to catch! Both caddisfly larvae and pupae are useful. Your email address will not be published. Caddisfly patterns will also start becoming effective in the next few weeks. Sunday: 10:00AM - 4:00PM, 8353 D Willow St View on Google Maps, Monday to Thursday: 9:00AM - 5:00PMFriday and Saturday: 9:00AM - 6:00PM A Tungsten Thin Mint trailed by a Hares Ear can often be a deadly combo. With full lakes plenty of clear, cold water, we are looking forward to a great summer. Be sure to cover your bases on mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies. https://blog.vailvalleyanglers.com/best-colorado-lake-flies-for-trout Lake of Glass and Sky Pond. Chaffee County’s high alpine lakes feature spin or fly fishing along with incredible mountain views. Your email address will not be published. Mountain Home Reservoir is a 715-acre coldwater lake that sits within the boundaries of Mountain Home State Wildlife Area, which is located about 30 miles east of Alamosa. The South Platte is full of possibilities. Best flies for high country lakes, Colorado Most of the high country lakes here in Colorado are clear of ice and the fishing has been outstanding, as usual! You will want to be ready with a few good attractor nymphs too. https://www.planetware.com/colorado/best-lakes-in-colorado-us-co-96.htm Pay attention to where the fish are feeding in the water column. Predominate winter hatches on this stretch of water include midges and blue-winged olives. Along with the amazing scenery there are several lakes (7 acres, 3.5 acres, and several smaller lakes). There are literally many hundreds of different flies available, and, after some friendly guidance from staff at my local Minturn Anglers fly shop in Denver or Minturn-Vail Valley, I have learned to categorize flies into three categories: As I usually do before any Colorado fly fishing trip, Denver or Vail Valley, I drop in to Minturn Anglers fly shops to get the lowdown on current water conditions ̶ and also to check over new gear and flies to see what I can add to my collection. | Sitemap HTML, XML | Privacy Policy | Reservation Policy. is an equal opportunity employer. High country cutthroat and brook trout will take hopper patterns anytime, but the terrestrial fishing typically improves as the summer goes on. Required fields are marked *. Colorado Mountain College is located near some of the nation's best fly fishing. The notion of winter fly fishing in Colorado might conjure up visions of freezing temperatures, iced-over water, ominous weather, and general misery. I believe much of my success depends on the flies I use. High Mountain Lakes Fly Fishing. Find out where the action is, what the water conditions are and everything you need for a successful day on the water! Best Lakes for Fly Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park. Backpacking and fly fishing—they go together like peanut butter and chocolate. Check out our top 3 fall flies to use in Colorado this year. (Sizes 4-8) If crayfish are present, you can bet that some of the bigger … PRIVATE HIGH MOUNTAIN COLORADO LAKES PRIVATE HIGH LAKE FLY FISHING IN PARK COUNTY COLORADO. Copyright 2021, The Orvis Company Inc. Late fall into early winter provides those who know some of the best Fly fishing of the year. We also recommend bringing a handful of attractor patterns. On most days, you could fish a Yellow Humpy all day and catch plenty of fish. The best known lake in the region is Trappers at the end of FR 205. Loved the article and the photos, thank you! This essentially does two things. Sometimes, that can be the difference between a good day and an exceptional day. Small stonefly nymphs are also effective. When it comes to terrestrials, Morrish Hoppers, PMX patterns, and Hippie Stompers are some of our favorites. My favorite high mountain lake sits nestled below towering peaks that shade it from the sun. This one is on sale at Patriot Fly Fishing for $2.00. Most patterns will … That moisture is making for excellent wilderness fishing. Your email address will not be published. For me, this is all part of the enjoyment of fly fishing. If you’ve put your flies in front of a few fish with no results, it’s time to change the bugs before you try out new fish. Pine Isle and Ruby Lakes are nearby but difficult to find. Callibaetis and midges are also present. Anglers lookin… The best fishing is in the upper 3-mile special-regulations area between Strontia Springs Dam and 300 yards above Marston Diversion. The flies-and-lures-only area allows a limit of two fish, 16 inches or larger, but the fly-fishing community and Trout Unlimited encourage catch-and-release. Because it’s a large area … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Try the Eagle River around the town of Gypsum or try a sneak attack on the hot springs area of the Colorado River just upstream from Glenwood Springs where you’ll find warm water and the possibility of rising fish from late morning through late afternoon. I’ve come to expect large fish in these waters, with rainbow and wild browns often measuring over twenty inches. Knowing the topography around the lake will yield insight into fish behavior and lake patterns. Lone Tree, CO 80124 If you’re looking for a challenge, continue past the Loch for a difficult … Be Prepared With Attractors and Specific PatternsWhile the fishing in these wilderness waters isn’t very technical, these fish can be surprisingly picky at times. Beyond the lake and river water there are surrounding trails for a hike or casual walk before and after tossing the line. But being prepared to more closely match the hatch can mean the difference between a good day and a great day. In the cold tailwaters we find in many areas of Colorado, small midges are the main food source for the trout, so flies such as the Mercury Midge and Black Beauty are fished small, as in sizes 18 to 22. Don’t Hesitate to Change Your SetupIf your setup or fly selection isn’t producing fish, don’t hesitate to change things up. Mention “alpine lake” and the average Coloradan will generally remember a beautiful photograph in a calendar or a picture hanging in the doctor’s office. Choosing the right fly to use can be a challenge. Ark Anglers Fly Shop & Guided Fishing 517 South Highway 24 Buena Vista, Colorado 81211 719-395-1796 www.arkanglers.com Hatches Come Later at High ElevationsIf you haven’t fished in a high-country wilderness area before, it’s important to know that our primary hatches happen later than they do on rivers at lower elevations. I’ve come to expect large fish in these waters, with rainbow and wild browns often measuring over twenty inches. 1. On alpine lakes, be ready with Woolly Buggers, Thin Mints, and other small streamers. The 2015 fishing season is off to a great start here in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. Known as: The largest and deepest natural lake in Colorado. Usually, the latter should be done more often. Buckskins and Graphic Caddis are two of our favorites. The fly fishing guide program includes outdoor classes on headwaters of the Arkansas River, a popular destination for fly fishing enthusiasts around the country. Nymph selection is usually simple. There’s no use pounding the same flies over and over with no results. Keep changing your rig until you find one that’s effective. Other lakes for a day hike from the road are Skinny Fish, McGinnis, Little Trappers, Big Fish, Mirror, and Anderson Lakes. Summer is a fantastic time to fish rivers and creeks but it also is the perfect time to strap on a backpack and explore some high mountain lakes. Standard Elk Hair Caddis or foam patterns are good choices. Your email address will not be published. The lakes and stream have brook and cutthroat trout. Ryan McSparran operates Peak Outfitter Marketing in Colorado. Grand Lake. It prolongs ice off and it takes longer for the lake … One of Colorado’s gold medal stillwater fisheries, North Delaney is known … Top Fly Patterns for the Boulder Creek. Al Ritt’s Fighting Crayfish. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado! Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park with the top producing flies and recommended equipment to get you into fish. For example, blue-winged olive hatches are common through March and April on many of Colorado’s well known rivers. Our high elevation waters are absolutely brimming with aquatic bug life...this makes up for the rather short fish growing season. Although most spring fishing happens under the surface with nymphs, don’t be … 2. All too often, anglers have a tendency to keep covering more water, rather than changing flies. Right now, anglers should plan on bringing small blue-winged olive patterns, such as Sparkle Duns, Parachute BWOs, and Parachute Adams. Since 1856. Copyright © 2017, Minturn Anglers, LLC All rights reserved. Overall it’s a great fishery that is often overlooked and that’s why it made our list in this post of Colorado’s best kept fly fishing secrets. With a 30 day 100% satisfaction guarantee, if you do not like the quailty or anything about the tshirt they will replace or refund your purchase. It’s common to see stonefly hatches on our wilderness waters in August. The South Platte River- Badger Basin / Tomahawk SWA, Scott Fly Rod Introduces The New Centric Fly Rod, Education, Instructions, Training, Fly Fishing Schools, Nymphs or wet flies are designed to look like immature insects that live underwater for a short time; an “emerger” is a special kind of nymph that looks like a maturing bug that’s moving to the surface; using a nymph fly is the best way to fly fish because most feeding happens underwater; I prefer using Disco Midge flies in sizes 20 and 22, to imitate midge hatches that occur all winter; other favorites are the English Pheasant Tail Nymph and the Flashback Scud, Dry flies float on the water surface and are designed to look like mature insects such as midges, caddis flies and mayflies; fish must be rising for these flies to be successful so they may not be effective later in the afternoon when the water becomes warmer; my favorite dries include Griffith’s Gnat and Cannon’s Bunny Dun, Streamers are larger lures that do their business below the water surface, and are designed to look like leeches or small bait fish such as minnows; learning how to cast and a retrieve a streamer can be difficult and sometimes I use them just for the challenge; my favorite streamer is the Woolly Bugger. 3. 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