Springtime in Colorado is a great time to fly fish. Water temperature rises, bug activity increases and fish start to come out of their winter slumber. There is a short window when things are literally on fire and just as soon as it turns on it’s over. The warmer weather starts to melt the high mountain snow which triggers runoff. Once this starts the rivers that were floatable and fishable become muddy and high, this continues until most of the snow has melted and the weather patterns stabilize. During this time fly fishing slows down and unless you are fishing ponds or tailwaters your fly rods are hung up for a while. But, with the increase in water flows reservoirs release water (or retain it) for water supply and rivers that are not usually floatable become high enough to float and the fishing in these spots can be incredible. One spot in particular has amazing streamer fishing and dry fly action throughout the spring and summer. Some of this water is accessible by wading at lower water levels but high canyon walls make it difficult to access some of the better water. For these reasons trout do not see much pressure and are aggressive to strike. This past trip was no exception. Last weekend RA Beattie and I headed north for over an hour up a dirt road that cuts through sheep pastures and along the Colorado River. Finally at our destination we got organized and hit the river. The first half of the float is fast and since no big hatches were upon us we decided to strip streamers. This decision was the right one. Every pocket and back eddy had a hungry Brown Trout slashing and flashing at our double streamer combo. Hooting and hollering we made our way deeper and deeper into the canyon turning fish, missing fish and catching a few as we sped through the white water. We eddied out after about an hour and decided to nymph a tail out of a small run. Since I was on the oars RA gave me the honor of going through the run first. My indicator floated at a good speed through the run and instantly went down. I set the hook and found a nice wild Rainbow Trout attached to my 20 incher pattern. It was an incredible start to a day that would continue to produce fish in all types of water. Hot flies for the day were; twenty inchers, golden stones, tequillies and brown cone head sculpins. Now with runoff at its peak it will only be a matter of a week or two when the rivers will begin to drop and clear. Dry flies will start popping consistently and the fishing will once again be on fire. Until then there is at least once spot (maybe two) that is angler friendly.
Joey and RA,
Man that sounds killer .. I can’t believe that I still have never wet a line in the state of Colorado. I honestly can’t wait until I do. It seems that there are so many rivers with so many different characteristics and the canyons and greenery is different than alot of the stuff in Montana, Wyoming, Utah that I have experienced. Joey, since you have moved out there .. you have really consistently posted some incredible fish .. not just in size .. but really healthy looking fish. The Rainbow Trout from Colorado seem especially healthy and colorful. Anyway, I can’t wait to come out there and fish with you guys sometime and try my luck at catch my first Colorado trout. I love the name of the fly “the 20 incher” ..
PS. Hey everyone — Joey and RA are teaming up this weekend and competing in the TEVA Games 1 fly contest in Colorado! .. Wish them luck! Go get ’em boys. Seems as though “the 20 incher” might be the 1 fly you want to use:) ..
Wow, what a great outing! I checked the photo album at Lateral Line and there were some really nice, chunky fish! I’m thinking that you are happy with the move to Colorado.
AD
It’s been a long time since I fished in Colorado but I think I’ll make it this year as I will be out there any way. Great fish! I want one.
Thanks for the post Joey, I must say that it sounds a lot like fishing here except that the runoff is replaced by a really hot weather and heat, soon after the best hatches…
Tom
Sounds like a blast Joey and brings back many memories of my life back in Utah. I always remember the anticipation and watching the flow gauges waiting for everything to drop into shape after runoff. Shortly thereafter the river blew wide open and it was as on fire as it could be. Good stuff!
very nice fish. must be nice to get out and hit it right after playing the waiting game.
Joey … Thanks for the early season report! And man, what a beautiful, healthy fish. Great weekend trip, for sure.
We’re headed “back home” to our favorite place, near Creede, CO, in early July for the family trip. We actually live in Denison, TX, but have been going to the same set of cabins 2-3 times per year for 15 yrs … so it’s like a second home (only better).
We’ll do some serious fly fishing, but not full-time, as our wives will be on the trip. But in August it’s the guys’ trip, a whole ‘nother story. Fish, eat, play cards and sleep … in that order. Same place, same cabins. Might do a fall trip this year, not sure.
We truly love Colorado, and your story really makes me want to be there right now. Tear ’em up, buddy!
Jbone you know that you are always welcome. You have been so close many times but never made it to CO. Things are just coming into shape and as soon as this weather warms up a bit the bugs should really start popping. 2009 might be the year you make it out. cheers.
Goat. look me up next time you get up this way. I used to take trips out here each year and it finally got me and I moved out. I am glad that you are getting to enjoy the state as much as you can. Good luck on your boys trip. What rivers do you fish?