Fly Fishing Colorado Newsletter
Volume 5 • Issue 1 • Spring/Winter 2012
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.
Is it Spring yet?
Usually it is about this time of year that I really begin to miss fly fishing! It has now been a solid three months since the summer and thoughts of trout rising to dry flies have become a distant memory. The winter is always a good time to tie flies and ready your fishing gear but there is just no substitute for actually getting out on the water and going fishing. Fortunately, along Colorado's Front Range we have been blessed with an incredibly mild winter and our local tail waters have been fishing quite well during the colder months.
Warm sunny days can provide the angler with great fishing during the winter and so far I have gotten into my fair share of tail water angling. Cheesman Canyon, The Blue River, South Boulder Creek and the St. Vrain River have all made for some memorable days on the water. Winter fishing is a little different game and can test the patience of even the most seasoned of anglers. During the winter season fish pool up in the rivers slowest and deepest holes and their metabolism greatly slows down as they tend to feed only during the warmest parts of the day.
The key to catching fish is persistence and getting lots of good drag free drifts with light tippet and small midge patterns. I find that it is best to carry a variety of midge patterns for different hatch conditions as well as variable lighting conditions. I like to have on hand a good assortment of black, olive, red, and tan thread midges as well as brighter colored midge patterns utilizing blue thread and ultra violet materials. In slow and clear water fish are very sensitive to drag, so strive to use light tippets in the 5X-6X range. Also, make sure you are on the water at the right time, no need to wake up super early as most of the fish will be the most active during the middle of the day.
Some of my best days this winter have been on South Boulder Creek and the St. Vrain. A recent guide trip to our very own Williams Ranch provided for a fantastic day of winter angling. We couldn't have asked for better conditions as the sun was shining and the wind was nonexistent. The fish were cooperating too! We caught fish after fish, nymphing with tiny midge imitations and we were even fortunate enough to catch a few rising trout.
With the unseasonably warm weather we are having the fishing season is truly around the corner. As the days get longer and the streams warm up it is quite likely that we could experience an early fishing season. I'm certainly looking forward to a few early spring midge and blue winged olive hatches...
Tight Lines,
Tyler Bowman
To read more articles from Tyler click here for our blog.
Local Anglers Perspective…
We want to hear from you! Send us anything you want to say (within reason) regarding fly fishing.
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Send your stories and pictures to to see them posted in the March newsletter.
From the other side of the riverbank...
I am going to be blunt for a moment and say something… I am an angler! I know it has only been a few months and believe me the journey is not over, but the past few weeks have brought me closer to my goal of being one hard core fly angler. You may ask what has brought me to this new revelation. Well, it is simple. For one, I am now the proud owner of my own customized rod (a beautiful 9 ft., 4 wt. with dyed cork, feather inlay and my dogs' silhouettes) and secondly, I now know how to tie a fly - or two!
January brought a whole new set of adventures my way with the gift of a fly rod and participating at the Angling University booth at the International Sportsmen's Expo (ISE). The rod Brady gave me for Christmas (shout out to my brother-in-law, Will, for building it for me), made me feel different, more confident as a female angler. That confidence and empowerment is what I needed because the thought of standing at a booth with experienced anglers at an expo filled with life-long anglers was a bit intimidating. I mean, come on, would I really be able to teach the visitors anything? I was nervous, like the new kid in school.
When the day came, I walked confidently towards the Angling University booth at ISE and took my place among the experienced guides. I quickly learned the basics to tying a fly and set forth teaching kids (and adults) how to tie a San Juan Worm and a Woolly Bugger. It felt amazing to not only "talk-up" the amazing sport of fly fishing but to be able to show how much fun it can be – it was so invigorating. For four days I stood at the booth promoting Angling University and the sport of fly fishing as a whole. People would spend time with me (well, I guess I should say "us") learning to tie flies, identify bugs and hone in on their casting skills. While I am still not very knowledgeable in entomology or casting, I did hold my own teaching the simple techniques of fly tying. During those days working at ISE I was able to inspire others to learn more about fly fishing, build my confidence through completing a difficult project and foster relationships that I hope can carry through to our other classes and summer programs.
It is amazing how quickly a pastime can become a passion. With each new gear addition and the advancement of my angling skills, my love for fly fishing grows. I cannot wait to get on the water with my amazing rod and the flies that I tied myself. Yup, I am proud to say that I am an angler.
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!
