Green drakes and pale morning duns in particular are fun to hit just right. The fishing along the New Hampshire-Vermont border is excellent to Hanover, home of Dartmouth College. Have any you want to add? It is right next to some of the best shopping in the area making for the perfect compromise. Home Fly Fishing Tips “Simplifly” Your Boxes: Top 20 Colorado Trout Patterns By Jay December 5, 2018 Fly Fishing Tips Guide Tom Caprio shares his top 20 must have flies for fishing Colorado’s rivers and streams. On most of the larger gold medal streams, the wind blows often enough that a stout 5 weight or 6 weight rod is best. I had the good fortune to land a summer job right in the middle of some of the best trout fishing in the country. Don’t forget some type of bite guard such as a steel leader or very heavy fluorocarbon in the 80 pound test range. 9 & 10. As the season wears down, the river becomes more congested in the late summer and early fall. We’ve put together our Colorado ice fishing guide so get ready, grab your gear and some warm clothes, and go let’s go ice fishing. Many of these larger rivers feature rather technical fishing at times. This stream has brown, rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout that can often be caught on dry flies. Dogs are allowed on leash in the Arapaho National Forest, but check with the ranger station for any local restrictions. Another great thing is that you can go fishing at any time of the year if you are not afraid to stay outside in the cold. South Platte River . Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages anglers to keep smaller-sized lake trout. This upper section of the Gunnison features great caddis and green drake hatches. This is a great place to go for the ice fishing and a great place to stay for the camping. Best Lake Trout Lures. Thus, long leaders that end in 6x tippet are often required. When nothing else is happening, fish in the upper sections of the tailwater will eat midges any day of the year. The fish are plentiful throughout. Mark Farmer, 36, of Lakewood, caught this trophy lake trout while fishing at Lake Granby on May 14, 2011. One of the best lake trout lures to stand the test of time the original Worden's flatfish lure has landed many a trophy trout when trolled from a boat. The salmonfly hatch in late spring or early summer is worth trying to fish. Fish: Walleye, Wipers, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Perch, Largemouth Bass; Distance From Denver: 19 Miles; Found within the Cherry Creek state park, the size of this lake and it’s location in the middle of the park make for some of the best fishing spots available. This river features hefty rainbow and brown trout along with a few cutthroat and brook trout. If it’s more Trout you’re searching for, then a trip to the famous Cache La Poudre River is your best bet. Because of the large population of brown trout, this river is also particularly good for streamer fishing with sculpin or other streamer patterns. Best fishing trails in Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is also a tremendous resource for a variety of information, from stocking and fishing reports to upcoming tournaments. One of the best fishing lakes in Colorado, Lake Granby is stocked with trout and kokanee salmon. This lake typically stays frozen until March or even April, so you have plenty of time to get your ice fishing in at Chambers Lake. If you are more interested in numbers, then try Elevenmile Canyon. Eleven Mile Reservoir. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is in charge of making and enforcing fishing regulations in Colorado. You can fish from shore or take a boat out. Annual fishing licenses are required. This may be an eastern river, but it has a western feel to it. Created in 1950, when the Granby Dam was built, it is the third largest body of water in Colorado, with 40 miles of shoreline. It was almost 10am when the four wheels of our truck rolled into the dirt parking lot at Deep Lake, nearly 10,500 feet high in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The summer is also a great time to target trout, but you’ll have to fish earlier in the day. Solitude at Conejos … As of 8/25/2020, staff at Navajo State Park report that "fishing at Navajo Lake has been good, but has slowed down a bit as the water temperature rises. Trout, salmon, pike, lake trout and crappie can all be found under the hard ice of the surrounding reservoirs and lakes! Ouzel Lake is considered to be one of the best fly fishing destinations for greenback cutthroat trout in the entire park. Right after ice out is normally excellent. If you want to find those big trout, try streamers that imitate sculpins. The entire river is worth exploring from top to bottom by the wading angler. Some of the best fishing is right in the city of Durango. I’m super passionate about everything fly fishing fishing; writing, teaching and even video. Dillon Reservoir harbors mysis shrimp, which grows trout in the tailwater to massive proportions. When should I fish in Colorado? Best Fishing Windows. Add a name or favorite quote. According to AllAbou Fishing.com, Twin Lakes, Williams Fork Reservoir, Stagecoach Reservoir, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Navajo Reservoir, Lake Granby, Carter Lake, Eleven Mile Reservoir, Adobe Creek Reservoir and Blue Mesa Reservoir are among the largest lakes in Colorado, and they all have a trout population. Now Bighorn is a stable environment for trout to flourish, making it an excellent place to fish. Described by online reviewers as “pleasantly surprising,” Quail Lake is a popular suburban fishing spot located in southern Colorado Springs near 1-25. Lake Trout The largest of the char family, lake trout, also referred to as Mackinaw, can reach enormous proportions, in the range of 50 inches and 100 pounds. Rainbow trout have been increasing in number the last several years as well in this amazing river. The two main brands available today are the Yakima Bait Flatfish and the Lure Jensen Kwikfish. Gaffs and tail snares are prohibited. Most people don’t realize the size of fish that can be caught in this river. Hey, this could be you fishing at Chatfield Reservoir. Trolling spoons, fly fishing with big synthetic flies, pitching plastics, casting swimbaits—there are as many methods for lake trout as there are tactics for bass, pike, or anything else. The best fishing is in the gold medal reach at Northgate Canyon where the river descends into Wyoming. If you are looking for fishing or a nice view to picnic the lake area and trail head are a great. Be sure to check out some of our river guides to Cheesman Canyon, Big Thompson, Cache La Poudre, and more. Eleven Mile Reservoir is known for its large rainbow trout that can range from 14-20 inches long. Mysis shrimp in the lake get flushed into the river below and the trout gorge on the bounty. You can visit the official state fishing page here at: Colorado Parks and Wildlife – link https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Fishing.aspx, The official regulation book and fishing guide is found here: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/fishing.pdf, Recent trout stocking information can be found here at: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/StockingReport.aspx, Trout Unlimited is very active in Colorado. Reports to upcoming tournaments favorite trout spoons are the Yakima Bait Flatfish and the beauty. Sections of the Gunnison features great caddis hatches along with damselflies and callibaetis patterns for moose this. 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