Ty DeGuelle nymphing eddies on South Boulder Creek
Fishing below Gross Reservoir on South Boulder Creek is probably the single best Front Range tail-water to learn how to sight fish for trout. There are three reasons why I consider SBC to be a great place to learn and sharpen sight fishing techniques:
1.) SBC below Gross Reservoir is in close proximity to large portion of the Front Range cities. There are also multiple access points to the river with an excellent trail system.
2.) The crowds here are small when compared to other locations such as the "Dream Stream" or Cheesman Canyon especially during the weekdays.
3.) There is an abundance of fish. Most run in the 6 - 10 inch range, with the possibility of much larger fish in the deeper pools. The abundance of smaller fish allows for a countless number of opportunities to test your sight fishing skills. It also takes more patients and skill to spot smaller sized fish.
As many seasoned anglers know, the larger fish are easier to locate and see during the low water winter months. The low flows of winter present an added challenge to an angler, but the rewards are often great and much more satisfying. Most fish below Gross Reservoir are considered small, but I have seen and heard of fish close to the 18 inch mark. This brown pictured here was slightly over 14 inches with room to grow. Most of the larger fish that I have taken on this stretch were in riffles just upstream of large deep pools. I've found that during the warmest part of the day, these larger fish tend to move out of their holding water and feed in the riffles near by.
Best Winter Patterns:
Midges - #18 - #22 in Browns, Black, and Olive (Black Beauty, Juju Bee Midge, etc.)
Rainbow Warrior - #18 - #20
Beatis - #16 - #20 in Olive and Brown
Please contact me with any questions or comments at cody@lincolnhillsflyfishing.com
Cody DeGuelle
