Fly Fishing Colorado Newsletter
Volume 6 • Issue 1 • February 2013
Welcome to the Flyfisher Guide Service Newsletter. As the top fly fishing guide service in Colorado, we seek to be your information hub with all items related to fly fishing. Whether you are looking for river conditions, informative articles from the industries top associates or a fun piece of literature, this monthly mailing will have it.
Colorado's Best Winter Fisheries: The Blue River
Most anglers have a love hate relationship with Colorado’s Blue River and rightly so, this beautiful mountain stream can be very technical and challenging to fish. Originating just outside of Breckenridge, The Blue can be extremely fun to fish through town and its gin clear almost “blue” water makes for some fun dry fly fishing. Summers on the upper Blue mean lots of terrestrials and some phenomenal hopper fishing. The Blue then flows through Dillon Reservoir, outside of the reservoir the stream is a technical tail water, requiring anglers to fish small 5x-7x tippets and micro sized tail water midges and mayflies. The Colorado Division of Wildlife introduced Mysis shrimp to Dillon Reservoir as a food source for Kokanee Salmon and inadvertently the shrimp washed down and have become a preferred food source of Blue River trout. The Mysis are rich in protein content and trout grow big and large chowing down on the shrimp.
Fly fishing behind the factory or outlet mall in Silverthorne may not be the most picturesque setting but some of the largest trout in Colorado can be found swimming in this most technical and rewarding section of water. If you can brave the elements you might just find yourself holding the largest trout of your life.
Check out the latest Colorado Fly Fishing Reports
on the Blue River and other productive winter tail waters!
Tight Lines,
Tyler Bowman
The Flyfisher Group
www.coloradotroutfisher.com
Local Anglers Perspective…
We want to hear from you! Send us anything you want to say (within reason) regarding fly fishing.
- Did you have an EPIC fishing experience you want to share?
- Feel you are a lyricist - send us your latest poem or cartoon!
- Have an amazing catch – show off and send us your picture!
Send your stories and pictures to to see them posted in the March newsletter.
From the other side of the riverbank…
It has been a while since I have written down my thoughts and perspective on fly fishing and am excited about all the new and exciting things I have learned over these past few cold months. The most important being winter fly fishing is nothing like spring and summer fly fishing… in a good way.
A couple of weeks ago Brady and I decided to get out of the city beyond hitting the slopes and instead see for ourselves the hype of fishing the Frying Pan. We packed up the truck, now outfitted with the Titan rod rack, and set off on the four hour journey west. Thankfully, it was a sunny and relatively warm weekend so our enthusiasm was not clouded as we ventured further up in elevation.
Upon arrival into Basalt, we stopped to make sure we had the right flies in our box (midges around size 20) and then headed into the canyon. First, it was absolutely beautiful and so quiet. I am sure at the height of fishing season, the ambiance is a bit different, but for this weekend, it was perfect.
Now here is where I think the difference between winter and summer fly fishing is most prevalent. During the summer, when you arrive at your fishing spot to find other cars in the lot and anglers already in the water, it is discouraging. You want to be the only angler out there. In the winter, however, seeing other cars and anglers in the water means a) you have found the right spot that is fishing well and is not froze over and b) you are not alone in your obsession.
Our excitement grew once we saw others fishing this beautiful and snowy river and raced to gear up and drop in. While our efforts to catch a fish came up less than fruitful, we left the river satisfied. Satisfied that while it is winter, our favorite hobby did not have go into hibernation. The ability to step into the water, see fish actively rising to eat and experience the peace of the river was good enough.
I encourage you to layer up and head out to those sections of river where the ice has broken and the fish are dwelling. It may be tough but it will remind you that all can be right in the world.
From the other side of the riverbank,
Brynne
Visit us online at The Flyfisher Guide Service to book your next guided trip, follow the fishing reports, or check out Angling University for information on upcoming classes!
