Fly Fishing Colorado. Jackson Streit

gained over many years and allow for seasonal problems, water conditions, etc. Use these ratings as a rough guide and comparison to your experience and those of your fly fishing friends.

       Private Land

      You must obtain permission to fish on private property in Colorado. If you don’t, you can lose your license. Historically, in Colorado the property owner owns the river bottom. Fly fishers cannot cross onto private property just because they were in the water or because they stayed below the high water mark.

      In Colorado, you can float through private property if you enter the river on public land and leave the river on public land. Or, you can enter and exit the water on private land if you receive permission from the landowner. You cannot stop, leave the boat, and touch bottom, anchor or beach if you are on private land. Check at a local fly shop or read the Division of Wildlife regulations.

       Hatches

      We’ve listed the major hatches known for each water. This may change with conditions and fly fishers, so information here is general. From a local fly shop it’s gospel. In most cases try to offer something that matches the hatch.

       Common Colorado Game Fish

      Illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri.

       Rainbow Trout

       Brown Trout

       Colorado Cutthroat Trout

       Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

       Brook Trout

       Lake Trout

       Arctic Grayling

       Mountain Whitefish

       Northern Pike

       Walleye Pike

       Largemouth Bass

       Smallmouth Bass

       Black Crappie

       White Crappie

       Kokanee Salmon (spawning male)

       Striped Bass

       Flies to Use in Colorado

       Adams Parachute

       Royal Wulff

       Comparadun

       Elk Hair Caddis

       Red Quill

       Melon Quill

       Colorado Green Drake

       Hacklewing Green Drake

       Humpy

       Lime Trude

       Yellow Stimulator

       Convertible

       Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper

       Trailing Shuck Midge

       Triple-Wing Trico Spinner

       Midge Biot