Promise not to tell?
The fly fishing on the Colorado River, CO has me feeling like a teenager holding on to a secret so juicy that it's impossible not to pass on. It's time to let the monkey off my back and the rumors begin. There will be no "1-10 Scale" rating in this Colorado River, CO fly fishing report. A respectful explanation is necessary.
Floating the Colorado River is one of the most powerful, mesmerizing, and memorable experiences you will have in your life! With Bald Eagles soaring, rapid water rushing through canyons, natural hot springs, and sightings of stoic Big Horn Sheep; it's easy to forget that the Colorado is one of the best brown trout fisheries I have ever encountered!
The Rundown:
The Colorado is just as, if not more popular for rafting as it is for fly fishing. This must be kept in the front of your mind as a fisherman. Every river must be approached according to it's surrounding activity , and daily patterns as seen by the trout. With hundreds of rafts/drift boats every day riding down the middle of the river smacking oars on rocks, it shouldn't be too hard to imagine where the trout are holding! Think about the banks! With all the boat traffic, the safest and calmest place for the trout is within 3 feet of the bank/shoreline. This scenerio is ideal for boat fishing. There aren't as many bugs within 3 feet of the shore as there would be on a mid current seam or bubble line, but realize that this is to a fisherman's advantage. Fish holding in water with less food have to be more opportunistic because they can't afford to pass up a meal. This also means there is almost no need to have on the perfect fly. It's all about hitting the right spots. Hit the pockets behind skinny riffles where the bank bends, the slack pockets behind rocks on the bank; just be within 3 feet!
Quick Tip:
When fishing the bank with dries, pay close attention to the weather. If it is supposed to rain, looks like rain, or is raining, always have an ant pattern as a second dry! Ants know when it is going to rain and come out of the mounds to prepare for rebuilding. Inevitably while gathering material to rebuild the ant mounds a few unlucky worker ants end up in the water (RIGHT BY THE BANK). The trout see an ant as an easy meal and will take an ant pattern (dry or submerged) with reckless abandon!
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