Techniques
Colorado Fly Fishing Report
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Colorado Fly Fishing Report
For some of you, Colorado River fishing may mean actually fishing in the Colorado River? In this article, I’m going to discuss the act of fishing in Colorado Rivers and the use of a Colorado fly fishing report. The Colorado fishing report offers some excellent fishing opportunities in and of itself, however this article focused on the act of ‘river fishing’ in Colorado. Many people dream of river fishing in the beautiful state of Colorado. Standing in a flowing river attempting to entice a trout to bite is something many anglers love to do. Many anglers have been conditioned to believe that this type of fishing is mostly done with the aid of feathers tied to a hook followed by them flailing said feathers back and forth until which time as they land those feathers on the water, imitating some sort of bug. Fortunately this doesn’t have to be the case.
Colorado Fly Fishing Report and Conditions
You don’t have to be a flea flicker to participate in Colorado River fishing. It’s only the fly anglers that make it seem this way. Obtaining Colorado fishing reports for the Colorado River fishing can be done very effectively with traditional fly fishing gear. The bottom line is that Colorado River fishing can be enjoyed by anglers of all kinds. A very effective technique to catch fish in rivers throughout Colorado, as well as the rest of the country, is to employ ultra light fishing gear. Ultra light fishing gear coupled with a set of flies from dry flies to nymphs. Various species of trout, find a nymphs, stoneflies, midges tied on small hooks are very hard to resist. Much of the river fishing in Colorado is done while wading. These in an amazing way to relax, enjoy nature, and catch fish. Who can argue with those three points? With Colorado River fishing and Colorado fly fishing report you get them all. If you’re not an experienced wader, read some articles on wading techniques before heading out fishing.
Determine Flow using the Colorado Fly Fishing Report
A Colorado fishing report can also help determine how flows are for certain sections of Colorado Rivers, streams and or creeks. The last thing you want to do is take a wet and wild ride down the river on your butt! Wading safety is the most important thing, and always makes sure that you wear your wading belt. If you’re looking for mountainous beauty and a lot of fish, Colorado River fishing has something for you. No matter what technique is your favorite, and the help of a Colorado fly fishing report, you can find rivers to do it on in the beautiful state of Colorado.
9826 West Hinsdale Place Littleton Littleton, CO, 80128 USA
kenrobak@comcast.net • 303-501-5247
Fly Fishing Nymphs
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Fly Fishing Nymphs
Nymphing Let’s face it. Fly fishing nymphs isn’t the most glamorous form of fly fishing patterns. I often refer to it as bait fishing with a fly rod, especially when you find yourself with a San Juan Worm, an indicator (yeah it’s a bobber) and lead hanging off the end of your rod. However when done right it is downright effective and fun. Equipment I like to fish longer rods when nymphing especially on large western rivers. Rods in the 8’6” to 90” or 10’0” length rods in 5 – 7wt are ideal for casting nymph rigs aka “junk”, controlling your drift and mending your line. Longer belly fly lines are ideal for mending and controlling line. All of the major manufacturers make specific nymph lines specially suited for indicator fishing. My indicator and leader choices are always dependent upon my nymphing trout fishing flies and fly fishing location.
Fly Fishing Nymphs with Indicators
Your indicator is really personal preference, be it yarn, cork, foam or plastic. I, like many others, like to use the Thingamabobbers. They float well, are relatively easy to cast, are easy to see on the water, and are very sensitive, detecting very subtle takes. When it comes to leaders, there are a few choices, depending on where and how you are fishing. I always run monofilament leaders to fluorocarbon tippet. This is a personal choice of mine. Achieving Your Drag Drift Presentation is everything. In the case of fly fishing nymphing, a flawless drag free drift will result in fish to the net. Speaking in general terms, the nymph fly fisher is trying to keep their flies on the bottom and in the strike zone for as long as possible. By using the proper rod angle, controlling the right amount of slack on the water and precise mending the angler can present their flies drag free and efficiently cover their water. The fluorocarbon tippet provides stealth and helps with getting the flies down quickly. When wade fishing with this rig I always adjust my indicator placement on the leader according to type of run I’m in and the water depth. On even riffles and smooth wide runs it is not as crucial to move your indicator as it is when you are fishing seams and drop offs. There have been countless times when a client has stepped out of the boat to fish a spot with no success and as soon as I adjust the indicator the same drifts produce results.
Fly Fishing Nymphs and Weights 
The same rules apply with your split shot and fly selection–small adjustments can lead to great success. A conscious angler is always adjusting their rig and technique. Right Angle Nymphing Right angle nymphing is not as common as the traditional nymphing rig, but still involves the same terminal tackle, just rigged differently. I find that this technique works the best on Freestone Rivers and rivers with fast current, slots, seams and pockets. By using shorter, straight line leaders tied 90 degrees off your indicator; your flies get down to the fish quicker in the type of water previously mentioned. I don’t fish this at deep depths because of the use of the straight non tapered leader the rig is more difficult to turn over. Dry – Dropper With a dry dropper rig you are ultimately using your dry fly to suspend your nymph at a specific depth in the water column. The dry fly doubles as a strike indicator. On most freestone rivers a dry dropper rig is used to search for fish along the bank and provide the fish with two offerings to feed opportunistically on. On tail waters the same technique is used especially during hopper time, but the dry-dropper technique is also used during technical sight fishing in skinny, shallow water. Always try fly fishing nymphs on various waters during your trips.
Get Ready for Spring and Summer Run-Offs
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012An article I read the Blue River Watershed Group shows that the 2011 snowpack in the Colorado River Basin reached about 165 percent of average at the end of last month, surpassing 1984′s snowpack which hit about 160 percent of average in May. Natural Resources Conservation Service data has the Colorado River Basin at 151 percent of average. Water content at Copper Mountain, which flows into Ten Mile Creek, is at its highest this year, and the snow survey site on the Snake River above Keystone is at 231 percent of average…
“The last two weeks in April were when we really got pounded with some of the biggest storms of the season — pretty relentless — at some of these locations,” said snow survey supervisor Mike Gillespie of the Natural Resources Conservation Service…
I would suggest that you shop around and monitor river levels before trying to fly fish any Colorado rivers, streams and creeks…
Handling and Releasing Trout
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012A few tips on how to not injure your trout when fly fishing….
- Reduce the time out of the water to 25-35 seconds at most
- Minimize all landing nets – designed catch and release landing nets are made for those situations
- Do not pick up trout from the mouth, gills or jaws
- Touch trout with wet hands – do not touch trout with dry hands
- Avoid squeezing the trout
- Do not rip the fly or hook out of the trout’s mouth
- Try to hold the trout horizontally – support bigger trout with a second hand under the belly
- As you release the trout, place the trout in the water gently while supporting the mid section or belly
- Support the trout upright in the water until it starts to swim away
Flies for Fly Fishing in Winter in Colorado
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012I’ve put together a few of my favorite patterns that I use during the winter. I’ve used on the Dream Stream, Arkansas River and just recently on Elevenmile Canyon. Hope this will take some of the guess work out of what flies you should use.
RS2′s Gray, Black or Olive - #20-22
Zebra Midge Wine, Brown, Red, Black, Gray or Olive – #16-24
Disco Midge UV, Pearl, Red, Black – #18-22
Jujubee Midge, Gray or Black – #20-22
Brassie Two Tone – #16-22
Barr’s Emerger Flashback – #20-24
Biot Body Midge Emerger – #20-22
Ray Charles, Gray or Brown – #20
Fly Fishing for Trout
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
Fly Fishing for Trout
Fly fishing for Trout is one of the most enjoyable tasks for an angler. There are important factors you must know if you want to enjoy Trout fly fishing.
Fly Fishing for Trout: Instructions You Must Know
The very first thing you need to do is purchasing equipment. You can buy all needed equipment at fly fishing shops or at outdoor stores. The equipments you will need for trout fishing can be divided into two parts.
Fly Fishing for Trout basic equipment
Basic equipments:
• Fly rod of mid-weight. The rod should match with fly line. The length of the rod will depend on the place where you are fishing and which style is yours.
• Fly fishing reels.
• Leader
• Fly fishing flies for Trout: Artificial flies which hand tied and colorful form of insects.
• Extra tippet.
• Safety glasses or sunglasses. If you choose polarized sunglasses, that will help you to see underwater fishes.
Extra equipments:
• Flies storing box.
• Nippers to cut line.
• Strike indicators.
• Landing net.
• To keep the flies dry, spray or powder should be used.
Patience is needed for Fly Fishing
Lots of practice is needed to learn fly casting. But, the basic task can be learned within few hours. The following instructions will help to learn fly casting:
• You must hold the rod in front of you. It should be make sure that there are no slack in the fishing line.
• Quickly bring the rod in back and stop when the tip of the rod is perfectly behind you.
• Wait and observe your back cast until line unfurls.
• Bring again the rod forward before straightens of the rod.
You must wear polarized sunglass during fly casting so that the hook can’t snag your eyes accidentally.
Fly Fishing for Trout flies
There are four artificial flies, typically used in fly fishing:
• Wet Flies: sinkable, don’t directly reproduce an organism.
• Dry Flies: floatable, imitate adult marine insects.
• Streamers: sinkable, small fish like minnows.
• Fly fishing Nymphs: sinkable, underwater forms of marine insects.
A few simple techniques Fly Fishing for Trout
If you are fishing a stream, you should cast upstream. This is the way how you can sneak up on trout. You must move slowly and stay very low. Trout will rush away if it can see you.
If trout is rising to take insects, you should use dry fly. Dry fly should be cast few feet upstream of the broken water by trout. If no trout are rising, you should use fly fishing nymphing. You should cast nymph upstream in the fast water. You should let the trout back toward you. It is very difficult to see when a trout byte the nymph. You should put a strike indicator. When the strike indicates, you should lift the rod to hook up the trout.
If you follow the above instructions of fly fishing for trout then you can easily catch trout and enjoy trout fly fishing in Colorado.
Colorado Trout | Appetites for Colorado Trout
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
Colorado Trout
Back in the late 1880′s, when many of our grandparents were making their way to America, other immigrants was also finding regions and parts of this country to call home and fish for Colorado trout. Coming from Europe and western Asia, the brown trout has now established itself throughout America’s lakes and rivers. Brown trout fishing is one of the most popular forms of fresh water and Colorado trout fishing for a number of reasons. Typical characteristics of this species are found in a wide range of habitats, partly because of its ability to tolerate warmer waters than other trout varieties, and also due to its adaptability to various locations. Browns spawn during the September and October months, seeking out gravel covered shallow streams. Just prior to spawning, these fish become very aggressive with their feeding habits, and the catch rates pick up after the slow summer months. When planning fishing sites consider Colorado River fishing and remember that brown trout congregate around structures, in deep pools near banks and edges. You will recognize this species by the buttery color on its body with darker black and red spots down the backside. These fish are commonly caught in the 2-5 pound range, but much bigger browns are setting records quite frequently. After all, this species of trout lives a relatively long life with a 20 year average, and possible lifespan of more than 35 years. Brown Colorado trout fishing are well-known for their picky appetites, and seemingly intelligent behavior.
Colorado Trout are Fighters
These Colorado trout fish bring an excitement to fishing that adds to their popularity. They are fierce fighters and yet create a lot of frustration with anglers because they are more difficult to catch. Simple tactics that may be 
successful with other species just won’t work with Colorado trout. When Colorado Springs fly fishing for a brown trout has been hooked, it reacts differently than other trout. While rainbows are known for their acrobatic presentations, these fish will instead head directly for any obstacle in the area, dodging, darting and jumping, trying to tangle and break your line, which oftentimes is exactly what happens. These escape tactics are part of what makes brown trout fishing so inviting, and all the more rewarding when successfully mastered. Proven techniques selection of lures, or flies is similar to other Colorado trout fishing methods. As with these, be sure to consider things like weather, sunlight, season and location, so that you have a good idea of what natural flies are already on the trout’s menu. Increase your odds of success by understanding what the fish are looking for. For example, in winter months, during Colorado River fishing we discovered the fish are moving slightly slower, nymphs work well as they cover lots of water surface quietly. On the other hand, in warmer months, dry flies cast away toward reeds or grasses will work best.
Casting for Colorado Trout
Casting upstream and diagonally will allow your fly to float downstream toward your target. Consider what a natural prey to the fish is. If you are imitating grasshoppers that may land in the water, cast your line so the fly lands with a thud, as a real grasshopper would, and then retrieve it with erratic jerks that will get the attention of your intended Colorado trout catch. Look around for different kinds of insects and bugs that might attract the eye of a trout, and go with that. Wet flies are very popular with brown trout fishermen, because a large part of the brown’s diet comes from insects that fall into the water, drowning and sinking down. Using a soft hackle pattern that simulates one of these drowning insects will be too tempting for the brown to resist. To best achieve this scenario, cast diagonally downstream and allow the fly to coast across the flow of the current, until it is below your position.
Proven Flies for Colorado Trout
Proven flies and lures include those that imitate most aquatic insects and worms. When fishing for brown trout in lakes, you have to understand that they will be hiding out in areas with weeds, shallow water, rocky areas and obstacle-strewn locations. They prefer water that is in the 45 – 55 degree F. range. Dropping your line to the bottom of a deep lake will not fill your creel with any browns. Use your knowledge of what they are looking for, the influence of the current conditions and your selection of lures and flies to find what works. When you do, stick with it, and enjoy the thrill of catching Colorado trout!
Fly Fishing and Casting
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
Fly Fishing and Casting – What’s going on behind your Head or Back
As a guide and while fly fishing and casting, I always get asked by the novice or experienced fly fishing angler, I want you to teach me how to cast or improve my casting. I also get asked can you give me a few pointers on my casting technique. I get angles that have never been fly fishing to the ones that have been fly fishing for 20 years and some that are even self taught.
Fly Fishing and Casting and Fly Fishing Instruction
The anglers that I teach usually have a basic understanding on what to do, but maybe not how to do. So I suggest fly fishing instruction or fly fishing lessons on casting. There are no predetermined ideas about casting. Most of the anglers are good casters but there are times I see an underpowered back cast with a wide loop and an overpowered forward cast with inconsistent loops. I sometimes see wide loops, and often times I see tailing loops, or the top of the fly line of the loop dips below the bottom leg of the fly line. Many anglers can cast to about 20-30 feet before the casting stroke falls apart. They catch fish because one often does not need to cast a great distance or range, but fatigue beginning in the day, find breeze or wind an unattainable task, and experience inadequate reliability. It’s an easy addiction to drop into, and breaking it takes a conscious effort. It’s worth restoring to obtain fly line loop control which is the first step in line control. Stop envisioning a fly rod and think of a bow and arrow. (I’m sorry to the archers, I’m about to expose the limit of my knowledge on this subject!) If you place an arrow on the string, but don’t pull back on the bow, nothing happens, right? If you pull back a little, you get a little distance, pull back more and get more distance, and so on. Now think of your fly rod and your fly fishing line. If one under powers the back cast, the forward cast suffers. The back cast sets up the forward cast. The cast should be symmetric back to front. These are a few of the fly fishing techniques or fly fishing tips you should be able to remember on the water of just practicing in your front yard or driveway.
Fly Fishing and Casting for the Forward and Back Cast
Getting back to the angler and casting, I can visualize an underpowered back cast, often with no stop, a wide back loop followed by a mach speed forward cast with inconsistent loops and delivery as the caster tries to basically throw the line forward. One can actually hear and notice the difference between the back and forward casts.
So how can I fix this? Well here are my suggestions:
- You can’t fix what you can’t see. Look at your back loops. Either turn around and look, or cast in a horizontal plane.
- Make a crisp stop at the end of both the forward and back cast. You should begin to see tighter and more consistent loops.
- Try to put the same amount of power and speed into both the back cast and forward cast. Apply power smoothly and effortlessly.
- Slow down!!! Make crisp stops at the end of the back and forward cast, but try casting so slow you think the cast will fall apart. Gradually, the cast won’t work, but along the way you will see how little effort it takes to form a good loop and cast 30-40 feet. If you don’t see improved loops with this technique, please let me know. Do this and your casting will improve with less exhaustion and fatigue. You will have opened the door to casting quality and accuracy, distance and defeating the wind. Remember, if you don’t like your forward cast, check on what’s going on behind your back. Once you are on the water and you’ve practiced your fly fishing and casting, you can start working on your other fundamentals of the cast.
Runoffs and Stoneflies in the Colorado Rivers
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011Colorado Rivers Stoneflies
As most of the runoffs and stoneflies in the Colorado rivers begin to swell during May and June, stoneflies begin to migrate and become the trout’s main source of food. As the water comes up due to runoff, the trout often move in tight to the banks. During their exodus from the river prior to hatching, stoneflies migrate laterally towards shore across the Colorado rivers bottom, exposing themselves to trout looking for an easy meal. Wherever stoneflies are found in good numbers, big trout are also found. As the water levels rise due to runoff, this will dislodge many of the hiding nymphs, washing them downstream where trout quickly take advantage of the sudden presence.
Stonefly Imitations For Colorado Rivers
Be diligent and watchful when planning your trip. Allow yourself the flexibility to intercept the hatch when it offers the best chance of catching it at its peak on Colorado rivers. If you can arrange it, fish the hatch according to the annual time table for the hatch. As well, arrive with a good supply of stonefly imitations in your fly box. Even when there is no major stonefly activity on the Colorado rivers you’re fishing, stoneflies are always excellent patterns to use during times when no other obvious feeding activity is going on.
Important Stoneflies For Colorado Rivers 
The two largest and most important stoneflies that I found on western waters and in my fly box are Giant Black Stonefly, the Golden Stonefly, Yellow Stones, and of course I always carry Streamers and Wooly Buggers. I also carry a few backups during this time of year, Caddis, Callabaetis and a few Terrestrials.
Armed with knowledge of the right techniques, fly fishing flies, and a stonefly rich river, any angler can find productive satisfaction in fly fishing during runoff. Stoneflies are one of the best techniques for Colorado rivers.
High Colorado Lakes
Saturday, December 24th, 2011
High Colorado Lakes
There are two types of high mountain Colorado lakes: those above the tree line and those below it. Some lakes are at such an elevation that they are above the level where trees can grow. These lakes usually sit at the bottom of a talus slope and offer very little cover for fish. Since these lakes are nutrient-poor compared to their lower neighbors, food is scarce and they tend to have fewer trout fishing Colorado lakes. Fishing in Colorado lakes doesn’t necessarily mean the fishing isn’t good, though. As long as you don’t spook the fish (which can be quite easy), you can take advantage of the scarce food situation. Hungry fish are eager fish. Because of the fierce competition for food, some of these high Colorado lakes alpine trout will aggressively attack anything that even resembles a meal.
Food Sources for High Colorado Lakes
Because lakes below the tree line offer more food, they typically house more fish. There is usually more cover for these fish to hide. The two drawbacks to these lakes are the abundant food (fish won’t bite if they’re not hungry) and the fact that they can be in heavily forested areas, which makes casting difficult. This can also shelter a lake from the sun. I remember a hike I went on a few summers ago in Colorado using my Colorado lakes map. I tried to time my trip just as I thought the lake was thawing out in mid-June, since this time offers some of the best fishing of the year. During this time the fish are usually hungry and eager to bite anything that looks like food. I also think fish seem to forget some of their nervous habits over the long winter months and appear to be a bit less spooky just after the thaw. On this particular trip (as with many others), I had to use snowshoes to reach the lake only to discover that it was still iced over. I was probably two weeks early. Not wanting to give up, I took out my map to see if there were any other lakes in the area. Luckily, I spotted a small, unnamed lake on the map that rested just above the tree line. Although it was a little higher in elevation, it sat on a south-facing slope. I decided to give it a try since it received a bit more sun.
Plan you trip for High Colorado Lakes
I reached the lake an hour later and I was in luck: the lake was just about ice free. I was sure I was the first fisherman to cast a line in that lake all year, but before I did, I hiked up a small hill overlooking the lake to scout the situation. I couldn’t believe what I saw. It seemed every trout in the lake was cruising the shallows for food and probably enjoying the warmer water as well. They weren’t schooled up (brook trout rarely are); instead it was as if each fish was out only for its own survival. To make the story short I got strikes on about every cast. This just shows that timing is as important as the many other ingredients of successful fly fishing. Keep in mind the pros and cons of each type of high Colorado lakes and don’t be afraid to hike a while to get to that elusive water hole that every fisherman claims to have found, though few probably actually have.
