When summer takes hold in the Colorado high country, thousands of miles of small creeks open up to anglers all over the state. These small waters present the perfect opportunity to find a new fly fishing adventure and to get away from the crowds on major rivers.
Unpressured fish and small water can be a great situation for new anglers to practice their skills. Even experienced anglers can have a blast, picking apart small pocket water and shooting casts into tight places. But perhaps one of the best benefits of exploring high alpine creeks is that they clear up from runoff much earlier than rivers lower in the basin.
What’s more, when water temperatures become too warm to tangle with trout at lower elevations, it can be a great time to fish those high elevation creeks. Typically when water temperatures hit 65 degrees, anglers should be cautious – land fish quickly, keep them wet and then release them as quickly as possible (skip the photos). When water temperatures reach 68 degrees, it’s time to hang it up and enjoy a cold beverage in the shade. At these temperatures trout can become extremely stressed, causing mortality rates to spike.
If you’ve never taken a hike along one of Colorado’s many small creeks, what will you need to get started? Check out the first part in our video series on fly fishing creeks…
SMALL CREEK FLY FISHING: Part #1
If you have questions or need help getting started, please don’t hesitate to ask! We’d love to get you moving in the right direction. Come visit us at the fly shop in Littleton or call us at 303-794-1104. Pick a little blue line on the map and go do some exploring this summer!