You finally arrive in Colorado. You step out of your vehicle and smell the fresh, crisp mountain air, feel the cool air on your skin, and hear the sound of water down from the river you’ve been daydreaming about fly fishing. As the saying goes, if you know, you know. If you don’t, you’re missing out and need to come to Colorado to check it out.
Fly fishing in the West for trout and various other species is something that millions of anglers from all over the world enjoy and Colorado has some of the most renowned fly fishing the lower 48 has to offer. Colorado proudly boasts of over 9,000± miles of fish-able streams and rivers, add in over 2,000± lakes and reservoirs and you have more water than you could fish in an entire lifetime.
Diverse Fly Fishing Opportunities in Colorado
Not only does Colorado have an exorbitant amount of water to fish, but it also offers a variety of different fly fishing experiences. From the very popular rivers that we have all heard of;
- Gunnison
- South Platte
- Colorado
- Frying Pan
- Roaring Fork
- Rio Grande
- Animas
- Arkansas
- Blue
To the smaller creeks and tributaries that your grandpa has been fishing since he was a little kid, there is a lot to experience and explore.
When planning your fly fishing trip to Colorado there are several things you want to ask yourself first;
- What is it you’re looking to take away from your time fly fishing?
- What is the most important thing to you in coming to fly fish Colorado?
- What are your expectations?
These can all be answered by discussing the types of water Colorado has to offer to the fly fisher. There are 4 main water types:
- Big Rivers
- Small Streams and Mountain creeks,
- Lakes and Reservoirs
- High Alpine Lakes
Types of Fly Fishing Waters
Gold Metal water
Of that 9,000 miles of fishable water, 325 miles of this has been designated Gold Medal water. Gold Metal water is a designation applied by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to only waters that are accessible for fishing to the public.
There are criteria that these waters must meet to receive this:
- The fishery must consistently produce a trout standing stock of at least 60 pounds per acre and produce an average of at least 12 “quality trout” (14 inches and larger) per acre.
- The river segments must be at least 2 miles in length and the designated lakes must make up at least 50± acres.
There are currently 11 different rivers and 3 lakes that account for the 325 miles of Gold Medal waters in Colorado.
Big Rivers:
These are the rivers you hear stories and rumors about; they are well known for their excellent fishing. The benefit of planning on fishing these big rivers is that there is a ton of information available on them, normally a lot of easy public access, and you’re almost guaranteed to catch fish.
These big rivers also hold some of the biggest trout in the state and it’s not uncommon for you to have a chance at catching that trophy trout of a lifetime. However there are a few negatives:
- There is a ton of information available on them, yes, I know it was also a benefit, but with the abundance of information comes an abundance of people. These rivers will be crowded, and for a good reason. So, if you go into your trip expecting there to be an abundance of people present, you will set your expectations appropriately and not be disappointed when show up to the crowds of people fishing for the same 20-inch trout you’re after.
- These big rivers can also be intimidating as there is a lot of water available to fish. The best way to approach a trip to one of the notorious rivers is to talk to a local fly shop and grab your Colorado fishing license there (this is always the best approach no matter what type of water you are fishing).
Local fly shops are where you will find the experts. The ladies and gentlemen working in these shops know the waters around them like the back of their hand. They are on them daily, guiding and fishing. They know when the best times to fish are, they know where exactly to go, what fly fishing techniques to use, and they know exactly what the fish are munching on.
So, no matter where you are headed to fish, always stop in the local fly shops to buy some flies and gear, or even book a trip with them. Big rivers can be crowded, but don’t let that keep you away from the opportunity of landing that trout of a lifetime.
Small Streams and Mountain Creeks:
This is where Colorado shines, in my opinion. There are more small streams and mountain creeks in Colorado than you could explore in a lifetime. Every major river has feeder creeks and streams, and these can provide excellent fly-fishing opportunities. Some benefits of fishing these creeks and streams include:
- You are going to, for the most part, get away from the crowds and deeper into the mountains and wilderness giving you the solitude, peace, and quiet you are probably looking for. There is nothing quite like driving into the beautiful Colorado backcountry, stepping out into a stream and not seeing a soul, putting on a single dry fly, casting, and catching so many trout you stop counting.
- Another benefit of fishing these small streams and creeks is that they are normally FULL of trout and catching over 40-50 trout on the day isn’t that uncommon. The trout in these smaller streams don’t normally get as much pressure as the trout in the bigger rivers, so they are more willing to eat what you are offering.
Now some of the negatives:
- There isn’t a ton of information available on these streams as there are the bigger rivers. This is where contacting that local fly shop really comes in handy.
- Another negative is, often, the fish aren’t as big as the ones in the bigger rivers. That being said, it doesn’t mean they are not there. I have caught trophy trout in these streams, but on average the trout are smaller.
If you are looking to get away from people and into the beautiful mountains of Colorado, this type of water is what you should target.
Lakes and Reservoirs:
Dependent at what source you read, there are about 2,000± lakes and reservoirs in Colorado. That being said, no matter where you are headed in Colorado, there is fishable water close by. These lakes and reservoirs can be fished from kayaks, boats, canoes, float tubes, paddle boards, or just from shore.
A lot of lakes and reservoirs are stocked by the state, so there are loads of trout swimming around waiting to be caught. As fly fishing has become more and more popular over the years, many people have turned to fly fishing these bigger bodies of water as it is easier to get space between you and the other people fishing.
These lakes and reservoirs can also hold some monstrous trout! Don’t overlook spending a day or two of your fishing trip at these lakes and reservoirs.
High Alpine Lakes:
There are somewhere in the range of 2,000± high alpine lakes in Colorado. These are the ones you see pictures of that have unbelievable scenery around them, they contain some of the prettiest trout species the state has to offer, and some big ones at that.
Most of these high alpine lakes lie on public land between 9,000± and 12,000± feet and require you to hike up to them, some of these hikes are easy, and others are downright difficult. There is one thing that you are guaranteed though, amazing views and scenery.
The majority of these Colorado high alpine lakes are secluded and while they may get busy during the summer, most of the time you aren’t going to find another person in sight.
While there is some information on high alpine lakes there isn’t an abundance, and learning this information will require you to put in the hike and find out for yourself.
- These lakes will mostly contain cutthroat and brook trout and while they will be in the 8-14” range, there can be some real trophies swimming in the depths of the bigger lakes, 20+ inches.
- These lakes are going to fish best in mid-June/early July through early September.
- The lakes freeze over in the winter, so the trout have a narrow window to put on some weight and when the conditions are right, you can have some unforgettable days fishing alpine lakes.
Discover your Fly Fishing Paradise in Colorado
This overview highlights a small glimpse into the diverse fly fishing opportunities in Colorado. If you haven’t experienced fly fishing in Colorado yet, you’re missing out!
Plus, if you’re interested in owning private access to some of these waters, let M4 Ranch Group help you find your own piece of paradise in Colorado.
Written by William Long, AGACNP-BC, and Expert Fly Fisherman
