Colorado

[ozark trout fisher]

I'll admit I fished the St. Vrain in part because after reading about it in John Gierach's books forever I had to see what it was like. So I went up to the Middle branch and set up in a little Forest Service campground along the creek. It is just like every western creek you've ever fished, only more so. Pocket water, boulders everywhere. No back casting room. Big, snowcapped mountains west, or upstream, whichever you prefer, and smaller, forested peaks all around. It was drop-dead beautiful.

The fishing itself was perfectly non-descript. It had plenty of small brook trout, from "how did that take a #12 beadhead" to "just big enough to be breakfast". They weren't hard to catch, but it was never non-stop. The browns were bigger, 8-12 inches on average, and tougher to fool. Beadheads ruled the day, but they would take an attractor dry on occasion. The fishing got better the further you walk. No surprise.

That's all I have to say about the fishing. It was fine, totally satisfactory, but it wasn't the highlight.

That would be the mountains, the Indian Peaks wilderness. Audobon and Buchanan Pass specifically. 10-20+ mile day hikes, heart stopping views, sleet and low-level hypothermia and ice on scree slopes in high summer. The good life,in other words.

 

Some cellphone pics now, which are mostly not that great, better ones from an actual camera to follow probably tomorrow.

[Terrierman]

You make me wish for time to pass faster.  Colorado for me is next summer, three weeks in July, my first big trip after I retire.  Until then, vicariously will just have to do....

[budman]

We are leaving for the area around Monarch this Sunday. Plan on stay for a week and camp and fish several of the small lakes and stream in the area. Will carry both my fly rod and ultra light spinning rod. Tied my first bunch of dry flies to try and my usual streamers and midges and several different rooster tail for my spinning rod. Do you have any advice for us.

[ozark trout fisher]

My advice from one week of fishing...in the creeks, #14-18 pheasant tails and hares ears are consistent producers. Attractor dries (Royal Wulffs,Para Adams,etc) can work any time. Best fishing was in midday sun, when the water warmed up. It was that chilly. Evening was good too, early mornings not so much.  In the high country I wouldnt worry  too much about specific hatches. 

Some of the folks I was with spin fished and did very well with size 0 Mepps and small Panther Martins/rooster tails, especially in the pocket water. The mountain lakes were inconsistent and for the most part you need to search out rising/cruising fish, I wouldn't cast blind much unless you have to. Belly boats are a good idea. I didn't have one and it cost me. I didn't fish Monarch Lake though.

 

Edit...I assumed you were referring to the Monarch Lake area in the Front Range. If you mean the Monarch  west of Salida, I know that area is stunningly beautiful but there's not a thing I can tell you about the angling.

[ozark trout fisher]

[ness]

Sounds like a great trip. I love the little streams and pocket water fishing.

I haven't done much fishing on the lakes there, but I will say probably the most memorable fishing I ever had was on Lily Lake in RMNP. Massive hatch of little white mayflies started and I was in my canoe. Flies were everywhere, including my mouth. The fish were going after them with abandon, and you could pick out their trajectory and drop a fly in front. I had a few white dries, but none as small as the natural. At one point I laid my fly in the path of a cruising fish and a natural landed right next to it. He picked mine  

I believe there are good lakes and bad or even barren lakes, so it's best to do your homework first.