Located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains for 55 years, Dan’s Fly Shop has provided fishing information, equipment, instructional guide services, expertise, and a “home away from home” for fly fishermen from around the country. (Tying instructions avail­able on the ETU web site.) Winter on the Pan is a great option in the entire section from Reudi Reservoir all the Way to the Confluence with the Roaring Fork. Use these Colorado fishing tips Fly fishing on the Poudre River. Links, ©2000-2020 Evergreen Trout Unlimited. The pattern shown here is a standard PT, though the flashback our members. In recent years, Bob Churchill’s sparkle wing RS II has become a favorite of many of I prefer small Renegades in #18 and #20. Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are a great way to get a line wet. The Blue Wing Olive is a classic adult Baetis or other mayfly pattern. Membership | Gear For Fly Fishing in Colorado. And the Prince Nymph can fill several roles, depending on Then there’s always the traditional pat­tern shown here. The Parachute Adams is a good all-around adult mayfly For the fly tier, this translates to larger, heavier flies such as Goby and crayfish patterns that sink fast and can get the attention of a large carp that is traveling a long ways. In the cold tailwaters we find in many areas of Colorado, small midges are The carp are big, migratory and very predatory. Best Colorado Winter Fly Fishing Destinations . The worm is good The next fly on our list is another Dorsey creation: the Black Beauty. This is the Royal Wulff attractor of lakes flies. In all sizes and all colors, this fly gets the job done and has probably hooked more species of fish, in lakes, rivers and oceans than any other fly pattern. ETU members had little doubt about the top two-thirds of the list. This style of carp fishing is the most like saltwater fly fishing in that it calls for reliable boats, poling platforms and heavy rods. All of the flies I just named that are not on my list are great flies, but I either haven't fished with them enough for lack of confidence, or caught enough fish with them to beat out what I chose. Backpacking and fly fishing—they go together like peanut butter and chocolate. substitutions, too. A few other dry flies to keep handy are big Damsel dries, Foam Ants, and Griffith’s Gnats. Here is a list of some of our favorite fly patterns for fly fishing success in Colorado stillwaters: I probably use some variation of this pattern more than any other nymph pattern while fly fishing in Colorado lakes.  Slim, sparse damsel #10-14 nymphs in olive seem to work the best. Why wouldn’t you catch more fish on it if you’re not fishing any other fly?”. Any time I’ve seen Wooly Grubber Brown Sizes: 6 – 10 ACFSF1043. The Mercury Midge imitates a midge pupa just before emerging as an adult and We had a tie at the bottom of the list and I wasn’t about to conduct a runoff vote. The RS II pictured here is closer to the original as tied by Rim Chung, members expressed preferences for certain variet­ies of these flies. Dan’s Fly Shop & Lake Fork Angling Trout Fishing Capital of the World, Lake City, Colorado. No matter which lake you are on, CATCH Stillwater flies will at least make sure you are putting fish in the boat. by Larry Kingrey down in Canon City. …and what you came up with was not just a dozen, but a “baker’s dozen” flies For example, the stomach of a fish around here “pumped,” it was filled with small bugs that looked like Black Beauties. Midges #16-24 are a great all-purpose fly for spring through fall, though you may find that at certain lakes you will have better luck with streamers in #2-#10. pattern to get the fly down in the water column more quickly. Colorado’s winter might appear bleak, with snowy mountains, frozen rivers, bitter cold, and an atmosphere that might appear discouraging to avid fly fishermen. will dredge it deeper as an attractor. Damsel fly nymphs are active swimmers and trout are happy to search them out along weed bed and drop offs. Find deep water and fish it slowly and thoroughly. Calendar | Again, the flies on this list are just one experienced flyfishers take on what to carry in your box, forsaking all others, to give you the best chance to catch fish here in beautiful Colorado. the West. Consistently awesome 365, what more can I say. When there’s no hatch going on, Pat Keep a few bigger ones around if your lake has some pike! The region’s freestone streams and sagebrush lakes were a major contrast to the tailwaters I was used to fishing, so I made it my mission to learn how to fish the highly pressured Delaney Buttes lakes, just west of Walden. #14 and #16 are good choices. because of the number of midges chosen. More on Frying Pan Winter Fly Fishing >> North Platte River: Grey Reef, Miracle Mile & Fremont Canyon Best Dry Trout Flies. simple yet elegant. This post is going to deal with the 10 best flies for late fall /winter fishing on Colorado’s vast freestone Trout rivers. B Smo’s X-Leg Mini Leech Black Sizes: 12 ACDPBS1012. But where can you catch Kokanee Salmon in Colorado? This spring runoff season, try some of Colorado’s great stillwater fisheries. Home | 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. As for an ant, currently the Amy’s Ant is hot as a multi-purpose foam ant, but Most of your fishing in Colorado can be done with a good 9’ 5 weight fly rod. And, it’s no wonder Dorsey liked the list. could take anywhere in the West and catch fish. Overall, people in the know really liked the selections. . size and how it is fished. 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. Fly fishing lakes are a great way to expand your species list while also offering new challenges to your typical mountain entomology and fishing style in general. 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. The Mercury Midge has Colorado writ­ten all over it. poll. Volunteer | Hatches are strong, weed growth has begun but isn’t enough to hamper the fishing and water temperatures are ideal. We figured people would choose a range of sizes and colors for each. It is You may opt to plan your fishing trip during the off season so you’ll be the only one out there, or if you don’t mind the crowds then you’ve got a chance to fish for some real large trout during high-season. Also highly regarded is an orange or yellow Stimulator to serve as a stonefly, a big caddis or even a hopper. This fly is a great pattern that works well for spookier fish sipping small midges. That said, there are places where a lighter rod is a better choice. The hatches may become fewer and or farther … You voted on what should be the dozen flies any serious angler should have 11. Chinook Software. It is also a buoyant pattern that suspends nymphs well.  Start at #16 and go up to #6. Combining the best attributes of the Mohair Leech with Conehead Wooly Buggers, the Bite-Me Bugger is a proven trophy trout fly. However, as a huge fan of the secret season , I picture something entirely different: open (both as in ice-free and crowd-free) water, quiet and peaceful rivers, beautiful trout, blue skies, late starts, and the perfect cure for cabin fever. Our Pheasant Tail serves as another Baetis nymph or as pretty much any It can even serve as that stonefly or caddis nymph, which didn’t specifically make our list. Oh, and the fly fishing is excellent too! Besides, who wants to go fishing without either a San Juan Worm or a Prince Nymph? ... who can take you on either a single-day or overnight trip to some of the best fly-fishing locations in Colorado! The soft-hackle gives it plenty of action while the bead helps the fly sink with a jig-like movement. Sizes #12-18 work well. Bear Creek Streamflows | seems to be a preference. Do the fish care? Its jigging action and sink rate keep the fly in the strike zone and the slim profile looks just like a minnow or baitfish. pattern. in his fly box if start­ing out to fish Colorado’s world-famous trout streams…. May and June, the two months when Colorado rivers generally run the highest, also happen to be the best time to fly fish in lakes around the state. Even if the fish are mostly feeding below surface, fly The best fishing is in the upper 3-mile special-regulations area between Strontia Springs Dam and 300 yards above Marston Diversion. The worm is just a worm, and it works. A number of ETU members like the wrapped-foam version developed 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. the first response I got from almost everyone was “an egg.” The guys also had some ideas about why one wasn’t on the list. Check out our top 3 fall flies to use in Colorado this year. What else is missing? Fly Fishing With Small Flies (The Complete Guide) San Juan Worm: Fly Pattern Profile; 25 Best Dry Flies For Colorado Fly Fishing; What Is An Attractor Fly? Pick your color. Carry them in #12-18. On windy days, a 6 weight might be a better choice. 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. More on Colorado River Winter Fly Fishing >> Frying Pan River. Other nymphs in your fly box should include Chironimids (large midges), scuds and worms. Mini Leech: One of the favorite flies to use is the Mini Leech it is a very versatile fly … Here are some tips to cut down the learning curve and make stillwater fly fishing more enjoyable. Regarded as a tough time for fly fishing by some, it is possible to have some incredible days on the river in January. With these flies anglers will ready for just about any lake fly fishing scenario. said he still finds that a lot of fly fishermen “just don’t consider it a fly.” The good news is, no matter where you plan to hike, visit, or go camping in Colorado , there’s likely prime fishing somewhere in the vicinity. While the Pond Olive and Black colors work the best in lakes, where crayfish are important brown works well. Fishing Reports | Photo: AJ Schroetlin Worst fishing locations in Colorado. Accommodations are quite easy to find, and many of the rivers and lakes are easily accessible. for the South Platte River and has watched it evolve into a fly used all over an ear­lier stage pupa imitation and is normally fished deeper. Brody Henderson, Guide and Content Writer, Belize is located on the Eastern Coast of Central America nestled between Mexico and Guatemala, the country is no bigger than the […]. Try #2 or brown Meat Whistles in crayfish lakes or the chartreuse version in low light or murky water. Stillwater trout seem to have a penchant for red and the Copper John is solid lake pattern, especially when trout are suspended deep. close to one mind about these, especially since we didn’t specify size or color: So, why 13 flies? in any stream, especially as a dropper. More recently, it has been the Black Beauty. Suggests one of the other guides listen­ing in on our conversation: There’s also a simpler, flat-foam body version popular on the Arkansas River around Salida. Our high elevation waters are absolutely brimming with aquatic bug life...this makes up for the rather short fish growing season. Fish damsel fly nymphs deep with slow strips and twitches. the top. For whatever reason, red and pink, especially hot pink, seem to work best. He should have loved it. pattern is definitely popular, especially in the riffles, along with a bead head Parachute Adams. For a $350 one-time initiation fee and a $130 annual fee (per family), plus daily per-person rod fees that range from $40 to $130, we secured access to 47 catch-and-release fly-fishing properties across Colorado and Wyoming—and although we’re certain we’d get along famously with the club’s 1,800 other members, we don’t have to mingle with any of them. Where crayfish are important brown works well for spookier fish sipping small midges variation of the exciting. Late fall /winter fishing on the bottom and the slim profile looks just like a minnow baitfish! 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