Colorado

[ozarkgunner]

Gentlemen and Ladies,

I'm taking a little road trip to Colorado in about five days. I lived out there for several years so I know most of the places to go, but I am interested in the current conditions. It seems everything should be calmed down by now.

I fly fish mostly, but I will also be taking along the spinning gear.

Any input would be appreciated.

[ozark trout fisher]

Gentlemen and Ladies,

I'm taking a little road trip to Colorado in about five days. I lived out there for several years so I know most of the places to go, but I am interested in the current conditions. It seems everything should be calmed down by now.

I fly fish mostly, but I will also be taking along the spinning gear.

Any input would be appreciated.

Don't know anything about the current conditions, but the snowmelt should be through on just about all the rivers by now, based on my experiences. This should be a good time to fish, especially if your headed to the high country.

Colorado is great, I sure wish I still lived out there.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Where you heading out there gunner?

[Al Agnew]

Just got back from Montana, and the snow melt there lasted longer than usual. The Yellowstone didn't get even marginally fishable until about three weeks ago, and the Snake River was still high and muddy less than three weeks ago. But by now about everything is fishable, although still a little higher than normal.

Colorado drives me nuts. Their stupid stream access laws really limit the amount of water the visiting angler can fish, compared to Montana. There are many beautiful stretches of rivers like the Frying Pan that are totally private. The public stretches mostly get pounded to death, like the South Platte. There are little fished public waters in Colorado, like the mountain creeks in Rocky Mountain National Park, but you really have to work to get to them.

[ozark trout fisher]

Just got back from Montana, and the snow melt there lasted longer than usual. The Yellowstone didn't get even marginally fishable until about three weeks ago, and the Snake River was still high and muddy less than three weeks ago. But by now about everything is fishable, although still a little higher than normal.

Colorado drives me nuts. Their stupid stream access laws really limit the amount of water the visiting angler can fish, compared to Montana. There are many beautiful stretches of rivers like the Frying Pan that are totally private. The public stretches mostly get pounded to death, like the South Platte. There are little fished public waters in Colorado, like the mountain creeks in Rocky Mountain National Park, but you really have to work to get to them.

The stream laws are tough. But trust me, if you know the area, and know the right places to hike into, you can get into some incredible fishing for brookies and cutts, all on public water.

Not sure where in Colorado your headed, but you'll want to check out Trapper's lake, as well as the Yampa around Hayden if your in that neck of the woods. Excellent trout fishing in both of those places, rainbows and pike in the Yampa, Cutthroats, and some brookies in Trappers.

[JONBOY]

I have trip planned for CO in the middle of Sept. and I am staying in the Estes park area. I have been looking up different place to go fishing that is not too far away from there. Are any of these palces listed above around Estes Park? Thanks.

[ozarkgunner]

The stream laws are tough. But trust me, if you know the area, and know the right places to hike into, you can get into some incredible fishing for brookies and cutts, all on public water.

Not sure where in Colorado your headed, but you'll want to check out Trapper's lake, as well as the Yampa around Hayden if your in that neck of the woods. Excellent trout fishing in both of those places, rainbows and pike in the Yampa, Cutthroats, and some brookies in Trappers.

I'm heading up the Arkansas river valley. There is about 100 miles of public water to fish from Canyon City to Buena Vista. From there I'm going to head up and over Cottonwood pass and fish Cottonwood creek for Brookies. Then I'll shoot up the Taylor River and fish Spring Creek. From there I don't know. I might fish the Upper Frying Pan. (Above the res. is the BEST water in the whole state). I've fished the South Platte and the other technical streams a bunch when I lived out there, but I would rather catch smaller trout in greater numbers than throw a #24 nat all day long on the dream stream. Nothing is greater than landing wild browns on a #12 Prince nymph with a # 16 p-tail dropper............it worked so well my friends even called me "Prince." I'm also bringing my spining gear......... a soft plastic swimming minnow or pearl slider MURDERS the trout in the lake where it is legal. Nobody does it out there so the trout love it.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm heading up the Arkansas river valley. There is about 100 miles of public water to fish from Canyon City to Buena Vista. From there I'm going to head up and over Cottonwood pass and fish Cottonwood creek for Brookies. Then I'll shoot up the Taylor River and fish Spring Creek. From there I don't know. I might fish the Upper Frying Pan. (Above the res. is the BEST water in the whole state). I've fished the South Platte and the other technical streams a bunch when I lived out there, but I would rather catch smaller trout in greater numbers than throw a #24 nat all day long on the dream stream. Nothing is greater than landing wild browns on a #12 Prince nymph with a # 16 p-tail dropper............it worked so well my friends even called me "Prince." I'm also bringing my spining gear......... a soft plastic swimming minnow or pearl slider MURDERS the trout in the lake where it is legal. Nobody does it out there so the trout love it.

That sounds like a good plan. Like you say, the Pan above the lake is awesome, and not nearly as heavily fished as below,

[ozark trout fisher]

I have trip planned for CO in the middle of Sept. and I am staying in the Estes park area. I have been looking up different place to go fishing that is not too far away from there. Are any of these palces listed above around Estes Park? Thanks.

If your around Estes, fish the Big Thompson. You won't be dissapointed.

[JONBOY]

If your around Estes, fish the Big Thompson. You won't be dissapointed.

Yea h i plan on hitting up the Big Thompson... i have only heard godd things about it. I have been looking for other small water places near that area that doesn't get fished as hard.