It is no secret Colorado has very diverse fishing opportunities across its elevation changes and geography. When you look at the state as a whole, you can consider three different fishing zones, the Front Range, High Country and the Western Slope. We sat down with Russ Miller of Umpqua Feather Merchants to discuss these zones, our favorite flies, laugh a bunch and talk about the feeling you get when you hike in five miles only to find the lake you hoped to fish frozen over.
On the Front Range you can find some amazing warm water fishing in the South Platte and its tributaries as it meanders through Denver and heads east. Do not forget however, the countless city ponds, lakes and reservoirs stretching towards Kansas and Nebraska that are often inhabited by species not often targeted with a fly rod.
As you move west from these fishy spots and gain elevation you find a near endless amount of blue lines and dots speckling maps of the Colorado High Country. Generally these fisheries are above 9,000 feet and extend up to 13,000 feet. While the season is short, and the effort to get to some of these bodies of water extreme, so is the payoff. Beautiful scenery, and even more beautiful fish.
Further west, and on the other side of the Continental Divide the rivers and tributaries that make up the West Slope only add to the feeling of endless water to fish. A good mix of freestone and tailwaters rivers make up some of the most famous trout rivers in the west: The Colorado, Eagle, Gunnison and Roaring Fork to name a few.
In this video, Blake Katchur, Delaney Chapman and Daryl Eakins discuss their favorite flies for each zone and share a few stories along the way.
Are you interested in adding those favorite flies to your fly box? Check out the list below.
Front Range:
Hipster Dufus - https://www.anglersall.com/Hipster-Dufus-Nervous-Water-Fly
Detroit Mop City - https://www.anglersall.com/Detroit-Mop-City-Nervous-Water-Fly
H.V.R.T Carp Fly - https://www.anglersall.com/H.V.R.T.-Nervous-Water-Fly
High Country:
Balanced Leather Leech - https://www.anglersall.com/Balanced-Leather-Leech-Umpqua-Fly
Hippie Stomper - https://www.anglersall.com/Umpqua-Hippie-Stomper
GT Triple Double - https://www.anglersall.com/GT-Triple-Double-Umpqua-Fly
Western Slope:
Dave’s Hopper - https://www.anglersall.com/Whitlocks-Daves-Hopper-Umpqua-Fly
X2 Caddis - https://www.anglersall.com/Mathews-X2-Caddis-Umpqua-Fly
Thin Mint - https://www.anglersall.com/Thin-Mint-Umpqua-Fly
We hope you enjoyed the banter! If you have any questions about these choice flies, or the tactics or products we discussed in the video, do not hesitate to reach out! We are open 7 days a week at our Littleton Fly Shop & Boathouse as well as our new location in Denver. 303-794-1104 or info@anglersall.com