Hi everyone!
I am new to this site and am making a trip to Colorado next week and i was curious about places to fish and fly patterns.
We will be in Colorado Springs, Denver, and RMNP. Some places I was thinking to go are Clear Creek, Big Thompson, Fall River, and Roaring River. Do any of you have any other suggestions on where to go? Are the streams I am considering good? I would also appriciate any fly suggestions you may have. I have the basics: Elk Hair Caddis, Adams, Royal Wulf, Chernoble Ant and Stimulators for dries and Phesent tails, GRHE, Prince, And copper Johns for nymphs. I also have various Streamers. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!! I will post a report when I get back.
Thanks.

you're definitely on the right track for places to fish and also fly patterns to use. you might also add the cache la poudre to your list of places to check out. also some of the lakes in RMNP have some good cutthroat populations and might be worth a shot.

In Colorado Springs I would hit Eleven Mile Canyon (Lake George) - size 18-22 flies, most of the basics for Colorado. Very picky fish.
If you have time you could head over to the Arkansas (Salida) and fish with slightly larger flies, most caddis imitations. Medium picky fish.
In Denver, I would hit Clear Creek - it runs through Clear Creek canyon outside of Golden. Fish are smaller, and less picky.
In RMNP there are tons of places to fish - if on the Estes side I would hit Big T size 16-20 flies, medium picky fish, or hit the Roaring River - lots of dumb fish, hit on dries and a dropper - size 14-20. On the Grand Lake side you can fish the Colorado in Byers Canyon (Hot Sulphur Springs), or hit any of the three lakes and smaller ponds. Size 18-20 flies, medium picky fish.

No matter where you go - call a fly shop in the area first, check conditions and ask what flies to use and sizes. So much information, and although the areas seem similar, they fish very very differently.

CoSprings or Salida - call ArkAnglers
RMNP Estes or Grand Lake side call Kirk's Fly Shop
Charlie Craven's Fly shop can help too on just about any stream/river - Charlie's Fly Box
Another helpful fly shop is Blue Quill Angler

I hope this helps. Check out my blog for other areas if you can travel a little further.

Cool guys, Thanks for some help. Does anyone know of any other good places to go.Or do any of you guys know of an easier hike to a mountain lake??/
Thanks,
Jack

Anyone Else??
Thanks,

For my favorite small stream, where I usually have the whole beautiful valley to myself, you drive to X, head north and turn left at the sign marked Y. At the top, you'll find a parking lot with two dirt trails heading downhill. Take the one on the right and stop at the place where the road gets sandy and widens to your right. It is too rough for anything but a serious 4-wheeler after that. Load up and walk about a quarter mile to where the "road" crosses the stream. Work your way upstream to the beaver ponds, and hit those too. The brookies will be mostly in the deeper corners of the stream and the edges of the ponds.

Iowa, I'm just pulling your leg here, though the above is correct, albeit disguised. Nobody is going to give up their "secret" spots on the Net. But CO has some great spots that are so far away from secret. Colorado and Williams Fork rivers around Parshall. South Platte at Deckers and Cheesman. Etc., etc. Just come on out, enjoy the change of scenery and be wary of the change in altitude and the sudden thunderstorms that we get in the afternoons this time of year.

I am not asking for anyone's "secret" spots I am just asking for good streams where i can catch a few fish and I am sorry if you thought I wil steal your "secret spot", oldfrat. I have never been to the area and just need a liitle advice. :)

Jack

Iowa,

It doesn't matter what stream you fish, just remember, there is a fish behind every rock. Fish where the fish are, and feed them what they are eating, and you will be good to go. This is the great ridddle of fishing, and the main reason we don't call it catching.

mark

Iowa,

Make sure you pack some midge larva and midge pupa's, hook size 20-24.

i second oldfrat's suggestion for the upper colorado near parshall. i fished this area for the first time monday, and i was not disappointed. my wife and i were in fish all day. a few 15" or so fish, but most were in the 12" range. perfect dry/dropper water.

Small stream Colorado in the summer? Caddis. Caddis. Terrestrial, Caddis.