It may be March, but if you’ve been in Colorado long, you know what lies ahead. You might call it second winter or fool’s spring, but there’s a high probability of schizophrenic weather for the next couple of months.
The good news is, the mix of warm days along with overcast days and snow flurries, creates some pretty darn good fly fishing. Trout begin to spread out and feed more actively this time of year. This pre-runoff period is a great time to be on the water.
When it comes to late winter and early spring fishing, here are some of our favorite flies that we’d recommend keeping in your fly box this time of year…
CHEESMAN EMERGER
This pattern is characterized by a thin, curved body, a short white wing case, and a pronounced head. Some would classify this as a midge emerger (with the tail/back of the fly seen as a trailing shuck), but the majority of anglers would describe it as an emerging baetis or blue winged olive.
The Cheesman Emerger was developed specifically for highly pressured and picky tailwater trout. This is a great year-round pattern that can be fished as part of a tandem nymph rig or as a dropper. Especially on these later winter days, this makes our list of must-have flies.
BUCKSKIN
The Buckskin is about as simple as it gets. This bug is just a thin chamois strip and some brown hen hackle on a Tiemco 100, tied together with black 8/0 Uni-Thread. But the simplicity of this pattern is one of its greatest strengths. Originally created by Ed Marsh in the early 70's and refined by legendary fly tiers like Bob Saile and Pat Dorsey, the Buckskin is yet another pattern that proved its worth on heavily pressured fisheries like the South Platte.
Smaller versions of the Buckskin can be used to imitate midge larvae, while the larger versions can be used to emulate caddis larvae. With this kind of versatility, Buckskins can be used effectively on tailwaters and freestone rivers alike, making it an ideal early spring fly.
SQUIRREL LEECH
The Squirrel Leech is a simple pattern that gives anglers the versatility of a Woolly Bugger or a Halfback. Strip it like a streamer, swing it like a soft hackle, or dead drift it under an indicator. It may look inconspicuous at first glance, but it has the ability to put fish in the net.
The origins of the Squirrel Leech can be traced back to the Grey Reef on the North Platte River found in Wyoming. While the pattern built a reputation for itself up on the Reef, it will fool trout in any fishery that contains leeches. Think Cheesman Canyon!
UV SCUD
If you're fishing any tailwater in Colorado during the winter, this pattern is always worth at least a dozen clean drifts. Honestly, it's worth a dozen clean drifts every single day of the year. Scuds are a significant food source for trout in rivers like the South Platte, the Blue, and the Frying Pan. Although the fish in these heavily pressured tailwaters are generally spooky and feed selectively, a well placed scud pattern like Pat Dorsey’s UV Scud can do some serious damage.
BARR’S EMERGER
Barr’s Emerger features a realistic profile, it’s simple to tie and easy to fish. It just plain works. We especially love the Flashback BWO Barr’s Emerger this time of year. This variation is a major confidence fly for the Anglers All team.
John Barr originally developed this fly to represent an emerging mayfly. But according to Barr, it also plays the role of a stuck-in-the-shuck cripple. This makes it extremely effective during our late winter and early spring blue winged olive hatches. Try fishing Barr’s Emerger under a nymph rig or in the surface film.
DARTH BAETIS
Developed by our friend and Umpqua Signature Tyer, Greg Garcia, the Darth Baetis is easily one of our favorite BWO nymphs and it’s a staple in our team’s fly boxes. Greg designed this fly with a very realistic, slim profile. This makes it a perfect pattern for late winter fishing or whenever water conditions are low and clear. Don’t hesitate to try this pattern in purple!
JUJUBEE MIDGE
The notoriously technical South Platte tailwaters have produced a catalog of effective fly patterns over the years and Craven’s Jujubee Midge is another excellent example. This fly is as simple as it is deadly. The Jujubee Midge can imitate a midge shedding its nymphal shuck. When late winter and early spring trout are focused in on midges, this is a must-have fly pattern.
RAINBOW WARRIOR
Lance Egan says his Rainbow Warrior doesn’t imitate anything in particular. And that’s what we love about it. Whether you see it as a midge pupae, baetis nymph or scud, the point is, it works. This is a great searching/attractor pattern and one of our team’s go-to confidence flies. It’s an excellent pattern to fish during these late winter and early spring months. But you’ll find them in our fly boxes all year round.
Excited to get out on the water, but need a refresh of late winter early spring gear, check out our collection HERE.
CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS
Have questions or need help getting ready for your next day on the water. Please don’t hesitate to ask. Our team is available at the fly shop in Littleton, Monday through Friday from 9am until 6pm, Saturdays from 9-5 and Sundays from 11-5. If you can’t visit us in person, give us a call at 303-794-1104.
