Colorado Fly Fishing Blog - The Flyfisher

Colorado's Best Fly Fishing at Lincoln Hills & Boulder River Ranch!

Right now is the time to head just outside of Denver and wet a line on Colorado’s best private fly fishing only water Lincoln Hills & Boulder River Ranch.  The fishing is absolutely out of control this
spring!  The ice has been out for about two weeks and the fish are on the feed. 

Fly selection just doesn’t seem to matter at the moment as stoneflies and mayflies are very active and our Pro-Staff guides have been witnessing epic midge hatches every afternoon.  Big fish are the name of the game in early spring, with both brown and rainbow trout landed in excess of ten pounds nearly every day. 

Don’t wait for the fish to get wise, give us a call today and reserve your spot on South Boulder Creek!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

Office: (800) 882-4314

www.theflyfisher.com

Colorado’s Best Walk & Wade Fly Fishing Guide Trips!

We are pleased to offer the most convenient, professional and affordable walk wade trips on Colorado’s South Platte and its many Front Range tributaries. 

For more information please visit Colorado Trout Fisher.  Our guide trips are priced with every angler in mind and start at $225 for 2 people or $295 for 3 people.

All trips include a professional guide, waders, boots, fly rods and reels, flies, tackle and lunch. 

Our professional Colorado fly fishing guides would also be happy to pick you and your guests directly from the hotel. 

Call us today to learn more about our unforgettable angling experiences.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

Office: (800) 882-4314

ICE OUT at Lincoln Hills & Boulder River Ranch!

There is nothing like that first fish of the year!  No matter how many times you do it, connecting with a huge western Colorado rainbow just never gets old!  Yesterday was our official opening day at
Lincoln Hills and needless to say the fishing was a little ridiculous.  Flyfisher Pro-Staff guide Stacy Ferguson had an 80 fish day on the upper stretches of the canyon at Lincoln Hills.

And you know the fishing was good when Lincoln Hills member Rick Ellison remarks, “Fishing was good, I think we netted 80 fish plus, pretty standard day at the club.”  Yep, April and May is the time to play on South Boulder Creek!

Make no mistake about it, ICE OUT (Right Now) is the best fishing of the year for big rainbows and browns on our home waters of South Boulder Creek.

Call today to book your fly fishing trip.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Opening Day at Lincoln Hills!

We are very excited to be up and running on our home waters of South Boulder Creek.  Lincoln Hills and Boulder River Ranch was fished today for the first time this season and the first casts of the year came up with some beautiful fish!

Flows on South Boulder Creek have been outstanding and are fluctuating from 40 to 60 CFS and the snowpack at the creek’s headwaters on Rodger’s Pass will keep our stream alive and healthy throughout the summer and into the fall.

Right now nymph fishing is the name of the game and our guides are having lots of success with micro black stones, blue winged olives and midges.  Favorite guide patterns right now include Pat’s Rubber Legs (size 12-14), Barr’s Emergers (18-24), Pheasant Tails (18-24) and a variety of thread midges (20-24) in red, black, tan, white and olive.  Good dry fly fishing is around the corner as the flows stabilize and insects become more active.  Spring is also one of our favorite times to fish streamer patterns for trophy browns and rainbows.

To make a reservation on our fly fishing preserves please give us a call today.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Lincoln Hills is OPEN and READY TO FISH!

Spring is here and quite honestly as we write on this beautiful morning of April 29, 2013 the weather outside feels a lot like a summer day and memories of past fishing seasons cannot help but come to
mind. 

Our home waters on South Boulder Creek are all open and fishing well.  Right now is one of our favorite times to fish Lincoln Hills and Boulder River Ranch because after ice out the fish are hungry and easy to persuade to eat a fly. 

Stoneflies are active in the stream right now as well as a variety of small mayflies and midges. 

Popular nymphs for Lincoln Hills right now include 20 Incher Stones (14-16), Pheasant Tails (18-20), Barr’s Emergers (18-22) and a variety of thread midges (20-24).  April – May is the best time of year to target big rainbows as they are more easily sight fished too in the lower water conditions typically associated with spring.

Spring reservations have been filling up fast so please give us a call to reserve your spot on South Boulder Creek today.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314                                                

Plan your next corporate outing with The Flyfisher!

Has sitting in the office on this beautiful spring day got you and your co-workers itching to get outside?  Why not plan your next corporate outing on the water...

Like the winding turns of a river business is ever changing and so is the way we promote good business relationships.  More and more business is taking place on our rivers and streams as many of today’s best entrepreneurial minds and visionaries have turned to fly fishing as a means to establish relationships and lasting memories.  

In today’s rapidly evolving and fast paced business world, taking a client or coworker out fly fishing may be the best way to spend time together.   By taking to the great outdoors with your business
counterparts you get to know and trust them better and them you.  Fly fishing experiences take people out of their element and daily comfort zones, empowering them to confront nature head
on. 

At The Flyfisher Guide Service and Lincoln Hills, we understand that modern business is about foresight and the ability to instigate and maintain positive and mutually beneficial relationships.  Lincoln Hills member Mary Sullivan routinely uses fly fishing trips as way to facilitate business relationships. 

Mary says, “The experience at Lincoln Hills is tremendous, when we go on corporate outings some of our people are experienced anglers and the rest are newcomers to the sport.  The guides are extraordinary and do their best to get experienced anglers into trophy fish and guide beginners to their first fish on a fly rod.  Everyone leaves with a big smile on their face and the beginners understand the passion their coworkers have for the sport.” 

A guided fly fishing trip takes people out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life, away from crowded freeways, office cubicles and cell phones.  The beauty of fly fishing, especially for trout, is that anyone can be successful with a little coaching and a lot of persistence.  Wading in a
river is new to most people and so is catching fish and listening to the instruction and coaching of a professional fishing guide. 

On a fishing trip people must work together to fish the river, take instruction and remain optimistic in order to catch fish.  The memories made are everlasting as people always remember the biggest fish or the smallest fish or maybe when “Tim fell in the river.” 

In the end, fly fishing brings people together and at The Flyfisher Guide Service it is our mission to quiet the mind and create unforgettable angling experiences.  Our portfolio of private waters provide anglers with an all-inclusive fly fishing experience and we would be most privileged to take part in your next business endeavor.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

 

Fly Fishing Colorado’s High Country

At The Flyfisher Guide Service we have been fortunate to fly fish around the world.  We have been on some amazing trips for tarpon and bonefish, redfish, steelhead and a host of other species.  But despite all of these adventures it is extremely difficult to top fly fishing Colorado’s high country streams for native trout.

Colorado has a life time of alpine streams and lakes to explore and whether it is the headwaters of Boulder Creek or the picturesque streams of Rocky Mountain National Park, throwing big dry flies to colorful brook and cut throat trout is a game we seldom grow tired of.

When crawling on your hands and knees with a bamboo three weight in hand, that 8 inch brook trout rising in the pocket feels more like a ten pound trophy! 

The best part about high country fish is that they eat flies!  As long as it floats and doesn’t spook them you can almost expect a take on every drift and the Rocky Mountain scenery is not too bad either... 

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Colorado Spring on South Boulder Creek & Lincoln Hills

How quickly the Colorado weather can change.  It looks like spring might finally be here to stay and our home waters on South Boulder Creek are beginning to completely open up and the late spring snow storms have made for an excellent snow pack along Colorado’s Front Range.

Spring at Lincoln Hills is our favorite time to be on the water. 

After a long winter the trout are hungry and spring hatches of yellow sallies, blue winged olives and caddis make for some of the best dry fly fishing of the year.  As the flows increase streamer fishing junkies can certainly get their fix stripping sculpin patterns for browns and rainbows in excess of ten pounds.

We are very excited to kick off the spring fishing season and hope to see you all on the water soon!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office (800) 882-4314

Featured Colorado Fly Fishing Gear: Nomad Nets

From the fly fishing guides perspective a net might be one of the most valuable tools on the stream.

 
A good guide net can make or break the day and there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a net.  Handle length, basket width and basket depth are all of the utmost importance.  Next is durability!  Wooden nets look classic and feel nice in the hand, but over the years our guides have broken a lot of wooden nets due to extensive use.

New on the fly fishing scene are carbon fiber nets from Nomad Fly Fishing.  These nets really are something and its proof positive of their durability and value that most professional Colorado fly
fishing guides and outfitters have switched over to using the Nomad. 

Nomad has a series of nets to require a variety of all angling situations including hand held personal nets, guide nets and extra-large boat nets.  Give Nomad a look, we promise you will not be disappointed.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Spring Time in Colorado: Warm Water Fly Fishing

As fly fisherman, spring in Colorado is one of our most anticipated seasons.  There is just nothing like watching our local streams and still water come to life.  Most often we watch our local rivers; creeks
and streams unfreeze only to be followed by fast and furious runoff.  Runoff is a great time to learn new skills and direct your attention to warm water fly fishing.  Carp, Bass, Pike and Wiper are all common in Colorado reservoirs, lakes and ponds and offer a great challenge to those
willing to pursue them with a fly rod.

Warm water fishing is definitely a new learning curve from trout fishing as anglers need to master new techniques, equipment and flies in order to be successful and therein lies the fun and excitement of pursuing new species.   

Our warm water fly fishing class is a great way to master the art and science of fly fishing for a variety of warm water fish species. 

Based on our popular "Learn to Catch a Trout in One Day" this all inclusive class features an interactive workshop for beginner and advanced fly anglers alike and includes actual water time, as the lab portion of the class takes place at a nearby warm water
fishery. 

In this course, you will learn about fish identification, characteristics fly selection, equipment, and fishing techniques for Bass, Carp, Wiper, Pike, and other warm water fish.  Give us a call today to reserve your spot on the water.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Take a Kid Fly Fishing!

Fly fishing is a great sport for the whole family and especially the kids.  In our opinion, no one is too young or too old to enjoy a great day on the water.  Spring in Colorado is a great time to get the whole family on the river, the early season stream flows are easy to navigate for the novice fly fisherman and the trout after ice out are hungry and ready to bite your fly! 

Our home waters on South Boulder Creek are a great place for newcomers to toss a fly. 

The creek is accompanied by a series of spring fed trout ponds, offering easy access for kids and newcomers alike and our fly fishing guides never get tired of watching someone land their first trout on the fly rod.

We are anxiously looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces on the river this spring! 

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Fly Fishing for Colorado Carp

 

Carp are plentiful in the Denver Metro areas local ponds and reservoirs and the South Platte River through downtown Denver provides for miles of great carp water.  Finding a place to pursue carp is the easy part, the hard part is actually getting these fish to eat the fly.  

The common carp is a spooky fish and usually travels in schools.  Lining fish is a sure way to see all the fish on the flat disappear, stealth is the name of the game and the key to wading a good carp flat is to walk slow and steady, observing any movement whatsoever in the water.

Long leaders in the 9’ to 10’ 2x-4x range are delicate enough to turn over a variety of carp flies. 
Most anglers prefer a fast action six weight fly rod, but there are times when a light weight four or five is needed to softly land a fly.

Flies are similar to fishing for bonefish, with most modern day patterns mimicking classic bonefish flies like the Gotcha or Crazy Charlie tied in drab colors like crayfish brown or black.  Like fly fishing for bonefish the most important part of any good carp fly selection is to have a variety of different weighted flies with different sink rates.  The savvy carp angler would be wise to carry a full assortment of bead chain, lead and even tungsten belly flies to appropriately fish different water depths. 

For more information on fly fishing for carp or to book a guided carp fishing trip or carp fishing class be sure and contact us.  Some of our guides just cannot get enough carp fishing and they would be happy to share with you the latest flies, tactics and techniques.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Fly Fishing Colorado’s Big Water!

Runoff!  At just the very mention of the word most anglers break down their fly rods and stuff them
in the closet. 

Unfortunately, a lot of Colorado fly anglers miss out on some prime fishing during runoff.  Higher flows and off color water makes for some challenging fishing, but far from impossible.  Runoff is a great time to practice learning how to read water. 

Despite big flows, trout will still congregate and stack themselves in the river’s slowest seams and pools.  Nymph fishing with heavy (1-3x) tippet and big heavily weighted stoneflies, San Juan worms and scuds is a great way to produce exciting takes from big fish.  Watching a big brown trout chase a huge white bunny fly through off color water is a sight that never seems to get old.

Fortunately, we have had a good snow pack in Colorado this year and our home water, Lincoln Hills
will have a nice flow come early fishing season.  We are looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces on the water this summer!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Ladies at Lincoln Hills...

Fly fishing is a lot of fun for the whole family, but from the guides perspective we are always excited to see some women on the river.  99.9% of the time women will out fish the men in the group 10 to 1!  Why?

Well it’s a harsh fact of life that women just listen better than men and after soaking in a little instruction women can just be plain dangerous with a fly rod…

Looking forward to seeing all of you on the water this spring!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Williams Ranch: A Dry Fly Paradise

One of our favorite spring time destinations is to our very own Williams Ranch on the St. Vrain River.  Our guides and clients love this section of the St. Vrain due to its wide offering of riffles, runs and pockets teaming with brown and rainbow trout.  Right now flows are on the increase, today the creek is flowing at a prime 35 cfs.

Spring insect hatches on the St. Vrain primarily consist of midges, mayflies and smaller western stones.  Dry fly fishing is the preferred method for prospecting this classic western creek.  On our private water streamer fishing can also be great for some of the bigger brown trout.  Spring on Williams Ranch is an experience you don’t want to miss. 

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4313

Spring action at Lincoln Hills!

It looks like it is going to be 37 degrees again this coming Monday!  Yikes! 

Colorado has finally been blessed with a little moisture and the outlook for the summer fly fishing season is really looking good.  Our advice is to plan appropriately, use these snowy days as a chance to stock your fly box. 

Right now is a good time to fill your box with spring stonefly patterns like
the Twenty Incher in hook sizes 10-16 or a Rubber Legged Stonefly (Girdle Bug in hook sizes 8-16).  Stoneflies are the name of the game during springtime at Lincoln Hills as they make their way to the banks to molt.  The life cycles of insects truly are fascinating and an angler simply cannot know enough about insects and trout streams.  To learn more be sure and visit our Colorado Hatch Chart for detailed information and art pertaining to Colorado’s trout streams and their insects.  We are
looking forward to seeing you all on the water this spring!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

 

Spring Fly Fishing at Lincoln Hills

It might be a little snowy right now, but good fishing is around the corner at Lincoln Hills.  Just a week of warm weather should be enough to thaw out our home waters on South Boulder Creek.  Spring is one of the best times of the year to fish our private waters on South Boulder.  Higher flows make for some epic streamer fishing and when the water comes down we experience some of the best stonefly and mayfly hatches of the year! 

We have been fortunate to receive a good snowpack this winter and the late spring weather should make for an exceptional 2013 fly fishing season!  Give us a call or visit us online to reserve your trip today.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

Fish of the Week: Grayling!

This one comes from Alaska! 

Grayling are one cool looking fish, with their sailing fins they look like something more likely to come from outer space than from a river!  These gullible fish are a ton of fun to fish with dry flies and light weight fly rods. 

In Colorado, we are fortunate to have some self-sustaining populations of grayling in our creeks and reservoirs.  The High Country lakes surrounding Steamboat are a great place to target these beautiful fish and spring is the time to go!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

 

Featured Colorado Stream: Bear Creek

Bear Creek is truly one of the hidden gems of Colorado’s Front Range. 

Pound for pound we can’t think of a more interesting and dynamic fish than that of the brown trout and Bear Creek is teaming with a self-sustaining population of wild browns.  

The fishing is a good mixture of pocket water dry fly presentations and the creek is also a good place to perfect your skills as a nymph fisherman.  The fish are by no means gigantic; however persistent anglers can definitely find healthy brown trout in the fourteen to sixteen inch range.  Small creeks are a great place to learn the ins and outs of fly fishing and a great place to introduce newcomers to the sport.

For the most up to date and real time Bear Creek fly fishing reports visit our Colorado
Fly Fishing Reports website.  Our public water guide service Colorado Trout Fisher is now booking spring fly fishing trips, call today or visit our website to reserve your reservation.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

tyler@theflyfisher.com

Summer is just around the corner at Lincoln Hills!

At Lincoln Hills we are always looking to have fun, spend time with the family and support our community.  It doesn’t matter if you are out to fly fish for trout on our home waters of South Boulder Creek, take a trail ride through historic Lincoln Hills & Winks Lodge, join us for wing shooting, participate in snow sports, fly fish around the world, or sit back and enjoy a summer concert. Lincoln Hills has an offering for the whole family.

We are looking forward to another fantastic summer in the foothills of Colorado!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

Office: (800) 882-4314

 

Destination Dreaming

At The Flyfisher Group we are always looking for the next great adventure. 

This winter we have travelled in search of Alaska steelhead, Bahamas bonefish, Belize: bonefish, tarpon and permit, Louisiana Redfish, Turks & Caicos bonefish and Washington steelhead.  Our travels have blessed us with some most memorable days on the water and a few big fish pictures.  

Perhaps one of the most fulfilling aspects of fly fishing is the places and people the sport connects you with.  We are already planning for next winter.  If you have the urge to adventure, please contact us to join our group on a variety of fully hosted and guided
destination fishing packages around the globe.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

(800) 882-4314

tyler@theflyfisher.com

www.theflyfishergroup.com

Featured Colorado Fly Fishing Preserve: Singing River Ranch

Singing River Ranch is located on Colorado’s Bear Creek and is a beautiful high mountain meadow stream.  This fly fishing only preserve on upper Bear Creek is truly one of the hidden gems of the Front Range, consistently producing wild trout.  Browns, rainbows, brook and the occasional cut throat trout can be found in great numbers on this section of the creek.  The Flyfisher Guide Service is the exclusive outfitter for Singing River Ranch.

Insect hatches are prolific on this small stream.  Guide favorites include spring and fall midges, micro stoneflies, summer caddis and a wide array of mayfly species.  The summer red quill hatch and
spinner fall offers some of Colorado’s best dry fly fishing.

Singing River Ranch is a classic small stream, best suited for dry fly anglers and slow action rods.  Bear Creek is a great location to fish with light one-three weight rods and is an even better spot to break out that bamboo fly rod.  Singing River is easy to wade and is an excellent spot to take children or newcomers.  The creek features some wide open riffles for easy casting but also is full of tight willow thickets and tricky spots requiring all but the most delicate of fly casts.  Coupled with trophy trout ponds, Singing River Ranch has an offering for anglers of all experience levels. 

Spots are filling up fast for the 2013 spring and summer.  Give us a call or send us an
email today to make a reservation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Office: (800) 882-4313

tyler@theflyfisher.com

 

 

Springtime at Lincoln Hills

Lincoln Hills is almost open.  Most of the river is ice free and we are already spotting some big fish!  With a little luck the warm weather going into this weekend will help completely ice out the river.  This spring should be a fantastic time to visit Lincoln Hills as we have a good snow pack going into the 2013 season. 

Now is a good time to stock up on stonefly patterns for the spring. 
Each year we are seeing better and better bug life.  One of our favorite early season hatches has become the yellow sally hatch, especially in the pocket water sections of the canyon.  For the most recent information on fishing with The Flyfisher Guide Service stay tuned to our real time fly fishing reports.  Or give us a call at (800) 882-4314.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Looking forward to next Hunting Season!

So this will probably be our last wing shooting piece for a while.   As of the end of March our hunting season is closed.  We will start up again in September, offering cast & blast packages as well as full day wing shooting trips. 

We are now reserving dates for the 2013/2014 hunting season. 

Please give us a call or shoot us an email to reserve your spot. 

Hope you enjoy this video, shot by Joey Macomber of Lateral Line Media.

Tight lines and good shooting,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

(720) 253-2494

tyler@theflyfisher.com

 

 

It's the little things in life...

The success of any fishing trip can be measured in many different ways. 

For some guys it’s all about landing big fish, while for others, a good day on the stream might just be learning something new…

Whatever you take from the water, one thing is for certain and that is to never take a day on the water for granted.  Because some days all you have to remember is good friends, little fish and yes of course, the red delicious.  And that’s what it’s all about.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

Colorado's Best Tail Waters: Blue River Fly Fishing!

For fly fisherman close to Denver, the Blue river offers the angler a quick escape from city life and a chance at trophy sized brown & rainbow trout.   Most anglers have a love hate relationship with the Blue, due to the technical skill needed to sight fish gin clear water.  But the rewards can be great!

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfisher.com

 

Down & Dirty for Denver Carp!

So after traveling to the Bahamas, all that we can think about is sight casting to tailing fish!

Back in Colorado, bonefish are not too prolific, but what we do have are an abundance of warm water ponds, lakes and rivers filled with carp or the rocky mountain bonefish. 

Hopefully you will enjoy this video shot by Joey Macomber of Lateral Line Media featuring one of our latest excursions on Denver’s dirty South Platte.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

www.theflyfishergroup.com

 

Big Fish of the Week!

Well our buddies in the OP (The Olympic Peninsula) have had a pretty decent winter steelhead season.  It really does sound nice to be standing in a big western river swinging a fly…

Flyfisher Pro-Staff Guide, Spencer Williams caught this pig of a fish in 2011.  The trip starts from Seattle where each angler hops on a short commuter flight to Port Angeles WA.  Once in Port Angeles we are
picked up by the guides at Brazda’s Fly Fishing.  After an hour long ride through lush green Olympic National Forests you arrive at the lodge, located on the banks of the Bogachiel River, just outside of Forks, WA.  For information on joining our group on the Olympic Peninsula in 2014
please call or email at your convenience. 

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

Send us an email: tyler@theflyfisher.com

Bahamas Bonefish – “Ya Mon!”

The Flyfisher Group recently went on an expedition to the Bahamas, in search of sand flats and big bonefish.  As far as we’re concerned the Bahamas are the place to be…everyone calls you “Mon”, the Daiquiris flow like wine, and beaches and breathtaking are a nice perk as well…

I wish I could say that we hooked up with every big Bone we saw, but that just wouldn’t be true.  The
Bahamas are home to some of the largest bonefish in the world, with Bones routinely caught in excess of twelve pounds. 

Bone fishing is really what it’s all about.  Too many fly fishermen are just gear heads.  The flats of the salt water will most certainly teach you that nothing really matters except your ability to present
a fly in front of the fish, quietly and carefully I might add, it might also be a little windy…

The rod your throwing doesn’t matter and most of the time the Bones could care less about your fly. 
It’s all up to you.  And hence is my love for salt water fly fishing, it’s just you verse the fish.  And of course a good “Bonefish Mon” Bahamian guide with eyes like an eagle might help give you the edge…

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

 

 

Colorado Fly Fishing - Now is the Time!

It is 55 degrees outside, the sun is shining and the fish are biting! 

Don’t wait until spring, now is the time to grab your fly rod and hit the water.  Many of the streams across the state have good stream flows and fishing reports have been good to excellent!

If you are feeling the need for a bend in your rod be sure and give us a call today. 

Our private and pristine Williams Ranch has been on fire with fish and the property is located just a short drive from Denver.  Now is a great time to take a trip with a professional guide and hone your skills for the upcoming season.  

On stream right now guides have been reporting many great experiences like a client’s first fish on the fly, an epic dry fly hatch and even the occasional five pound rainbow!  You won’t know unless you go, so be sure and give us a call today to book the fly fishing experience of a lifetime.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

Office: (800) 882-4314

www.theflyfisher.com

 

Colorado Winter Cast and Blast!

Spring is not too far away but we still have a little ways to go as we anticipate warmer temperatures and flowing streams. 

Fortunately for the Colorado sportsman The Flyfisher Guide Service has some great winter options for both fly fishing and wing shooting. 

Now is a great time of year to pull off a cast and blast and the warmer weather we have been experiencing is making for some very pleasant days on the water and in the field.  Fly fishing on Williams Ranch has been very productive the last few months and into the New Year.  Hatches of midges and micro blue winged olives keep the dry fly fishing alive and nymph and streamer fishing has been producing some trophy rainbows and browns.  

If wing shooting is more your style during the winter months let us create an Upland bird Hunting Package to suit your needs and experience level.  Hunting has been great this year and many of our favorite hunters have had some great days afield.  Recent snowfalls have made for some great hunting conditions so be sure and call to book the trip of a lifetime today.

 

 

Tight Lines and Good Shooting,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

tyler@theflyfisher.com

720.253.2494

Colorado's Best Winter Fly Fishing: The Roaring Fork and Frying Pan

Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley offers some of the best fly fishing waters in the state. 

The Roaring Fork starts as a small stream above Aspen and is a lot of fun hopping pockets for colorful rainbows and browns.  The lower sections of the Roaring Fork may be the best freestone stream in Colorado with dynamic water, prolific insect hatches and an abundance of wild trout.  Float or wade fishing on the Fork is always worth the trip and ample public access allows this river to be enjoyed by all anglers.  The Fork fishes well year round and is world famous for hatches of Green Drakes, Blue Winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns and Midges.  

Experienced anglers know that something is almost always hatching on the Frying Pan.  Few rivers
have as much diverse insect life as the Pan.  Below Ruedi Reservoir the trout grow large but expect extremely heavy angling pressure.  The lower sections of the Pan have lots of public access and are full of wild trout.  Most of the fish tend to be a little smaller but trophy fish can be found on all sections of this gold metal tail water.

Winter is a great time to visit the Roaring Fork Valley as the region usually stays warm and good fishing can be found on both the Pan and the Fork.

For the most up to date Colorado Fly Fishing Reports and conditions, stream flows and hatch charts check out the latest Frying Pan Fly Fishing Report.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

Colorado's Best Winter Fisheries: The Blue River

Most anglers have a love hate relationship with Colorado’s Blue River and rightly so, this beautiful mountain stream can be very technical and challenging to fish.  Originating just outside of Breckenridge, The Blue can be extremely fun to fish through town and its gin clear almost “blue” water makes for some fun dry fly fishing.  Summers on the upper Blue mean lots of terrestrials and some phenomenal hopper fishing.  The Blue then flows through Dillon Reservoir, outside of the reservoir the stream is a technical tail water, requiring anglers to fish small 5x-7x tippets and micro sized tail water midges and mayflies.  The Colorado Division of Wildlife introduced Mysis shrimp to Dillon Reservoir as a food source for Kokanee Salmon and inadvertently the shrimp washed down and have become a preferred food source of Blue River trout.  The Mysis are rich in protein content and trout grow big and large chowing down on the shrimp.  

Fly fishing behind the factory or outlet mall in Silverthorne may not be the most picturesque setting but some of the largest trout in Colorado can be found swimming in this most technical and rewarding section of water.  If you can brave the elements you might just find yourself holding the largest trout of your life.

Check out the latest Colorado Fly Fishing Reports on the Blue River and other productive winter tail waters!

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

Louisiana Redfish Dreaming

It has been about a week since I chased redfish on the flats of New Orleans, Louisiana and I can’t stop thinking about the day!  Fly fishing for redfish is just pure fun and for a guy that likes to hunt and fish there is just no better combination than scanning salt water flats for your prey with a fly rod in hand.  

The season for big redfish in and NOW is the time to go!  Trust me if a trip for you is at all possible right now you want to get yourself down to the Bayou!  You won’t regret it! 

I cannot say enough about my guide, Rocky Thickstun he put me on lots of fish and has a ton of personality to boot. 

Don’t miss out this winter, why be bored when you can catch salt water fish in excess of 20 pounds?

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

tyler@theflyfisher.com

Sight Fishing for Redfish in New Orleans

Louisiana is home to perhaps the best sight fishing for Redfish in the world. 

Recently, I was fortunate enough to take to the flats of New Orleans with Captain Rocky Thickstun.  The adventure began before dark when Rocky picked me up at our hotel on Bourbon Street.  After saying our hellos, I told Rocky that I was a trout guide back in Colorado…

“Are you a good angler?” 

Rocky inquired just hoping that he had a halfway decent stick in the skiff today.  It was a less than perfect day for fishing; intermittent cloud cover and high winds were set to plague the flats.

“I can see fish, I’m certainly no great fisherman, but I’m persistent.”  I replied hoping that I wouldn’t make too much of a fool of myself today.

“Don’t trout set these Redfish!” he said.  “I fish a lot of trout guides and most of them blow their day by doing a trout set and pulling the fly away from the Redfish.”

“I’ve salt water fly fished before.”  I quickly replied trying to convince Rocky that I wasn’t a complete hack at this game. 

“I’ve seen that trout set shit go on all day!”  Rocky snapped back at me.  “If you trout set you won’t just miss some of the fish, you will miss ALL of the fish!”

So off we went on a cruise through the flats, flying through the marshes of Southern Louisiana. 

The dolphins and waterfowl add to the mystique and beauty of this utterly unique environment.  I knew it was going to be a day to remember when we saw a Red Tail Hawk grab a duck from the water for a little morning snack.

“It’s a hunter’s day.”  Rocky whispered before he shut the motor off.

I climbed to the bow with a nine weight and fly in hand as Rocky polled the flats and we scanned the water for our prey.

There is a reason they call this fish the Redfish, a big fish looks like a giant red log swimming across the flat.  My first cast was in the money…

“Strip, strip, strip, strip!”  Rocky yelled from his platform as I trout set the fish, pulling the fly from his mouth and watching the fish vanish forever.  Rocky then proceeded to curse me for not listening and reminding me that if I did not strip set these fish I would go home empty handed…

The next opportunity came and my cast was terrible, well behind the fish.  I made another cast and missed.  And then another, third times a charm and the Redfish inhaled the fly and the fight was on!

There might not be a better made fish for fly fishing than the Redfish. 

These salt water creatures were simply crafted for the sport, cruising in shallow water and eating flies with reckless abandonment.

And so we polled on, through the clouds and the winds making for one tough, challenging but rewarding day of flats fishing.  A hunter’s day indeed…

For more information on sight fishing for Redfish with Louisiana’s best, Captain Rocky Thickstun please call or email me.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

tyler@theflyfisher.com

720.253.2494

 

 

 

The Taylor River: Colorado's Trophy Fly Fishing Stream

No visit to Colorado would be complete without a trip to the Taylor. 

Below Taylor Reservoir might be some of the biggest trout in the state.  The Colorado Division of Wildlife introduced Mysis shrimp to Taylor Reservoir as a food source for Kokanee Salmon and inadvertently the shrimp washed down and have become a preferred food source of the Taylor river trout.  The Mysis are rich in protein content and trout grow big and large chowing down on the shrimp.  This section of water known as the “Catch and Release” area or “Hog Trough” is extremely slow and technical.  Sight fishing is the name of the game and anglers can expect to see some of the biggest trout of their lives.  Hooking them is another matter.  These fish require small 5x to 7x tippet and are famous for sipping tiny (#20-28) midge and mayfly patterns.  Below the famous “Hog Trough” the Taylor is a fast a furious river filled with pocket water and a good mix of brown and rainbow trout.  The lower Taylor is world famous for prolific summer hatches of Green Drakes. The Taylor is classic Western trout fishing at its very best.

Our Colorado Fly Fishing Reports are updated in real time by Colorado Trout Fisher, Denver and Boulders Premiere Fly Fishing Outfitter.  For the latest fly fishing conditions on the Taylor check out our lates Taylor River Fly Fishing Report.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

Colorado's Best Winter Tail Waters: The St. Vrain

OK, so the St. Vrain may not be as famous as Colorado’s South Platte but there must be good reason that noted fly fishing author chose to situate his home on the banks of the St. Vrain River near Lyons,
Colorado.  On one of our favorite Front Range tail waters, the St. Vrain below Button Rock Reservoir allows anglers to catch a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout and the occasional brook trout and
cut throat, allowing the fly angler to catch a grand slam close to home.  The fish may not grow to epic proportions like some of Colorado’s tail waters but there are still plenty of trout and the
Vrain is a great place to learn how to fly fish.  All that one needs to be successful in the creek is a three weight fly rod, a box of dry flies and a variety of bead head nymphs.

The St. Vrain may be some of the best places to learn the art and science of fly fishing.  This
local creek is close to home (just a short drive from Denver or Boulder) and full of brown and rainbow trout that are opportunistic and willing to eat a wide variety of flies.  Dry dropper fishing with attractor dry flies like Stimulators and Elk Hair Caddis and bead head droppers like a bead head pheasant tail is effective almost year round.  In the spring and fall, the creek sees good hatches of blue winged olives and midges making for some fun and challenging dry fly fishing. 

Smaller weight fly rods are the most fun for these smaller sized creeks.  You can learn most anything about trout fishing from our Front Range streams and we are most fortunate to have such an incredible resource close to home.

Good public access can be found around Lyons.  The dirt pull offs on National Forest land are unmistakable and there is even some good fly fishing through town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a recent Colorado Fly Fishing Report on our Williams Ranch, located on the St. Vrain just outside of Lyons, Colorado, please click here:  Williams Ranch - St.Vrain Fly Fishing Report.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

Colorado's Best Winter Tailwaters: The Yampa Tail Water

Below Stagecoach Reservoir, the Yampa may be the finest tail water in Colorado.  Fish populations are amazing and the average sized rainbow trout is between 14” and 20” as well as many larger fish.  The fish feed predominately on a variety of small midges and mayflies and conventional tail water nymph fishing tactics will hook the majority of fish.  Sight fishing is the key to success, crowds can be dense on the Stagecoach Tail water but there are more than enough fish to go around.

This little stretch is reminiscent of fly fishing in Alaska with ample populations of colorful and healthy rainbow trout and the occasional big brown trout.  The trout in this tail water tend to feed more readily than other pressured tail waters in Colorado.  The Yampa can be fished year round but the Colorado Division of Wildlife closes the road after the first of year, so the only access is by cross country skis, snowshoes or snowmobile.  But the trek is most definitely worth it…nothing beats a sunny day in February when you have one of Colorado’s most amazing fisheries all to yourself!

For the latest news on the Yampa and fly fishing in Colorado this winter stay tuned in to our updated dailey and real time Colorado Fly Fishing Reports.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

 

Colorado's Best Winter Tail Waters: The "Dream Stream"

As the name suggests, Colorado’s Dream Stream or Spinney Mountain Ranch just outside of Fairplay, Colorado gives Denver anglers the opportunity to hook and land true trophy trout.  Some of the biggest and most beautiful browns, rainbows and cuts show up in this famed stretch…my college GPA would have probably been a lot better during the spring and fall had this not been the case.  In the spring and fall, huge migrations of lake run rainbows, browns, and cut bows enter the stream to spawn and lay their eggs.  Sight fishing and quality polarized lenses are the name of the game for hooking these monstrous trout.  However, the legendary lake runs are no secret and crowds can be heavy if not shoulder to shoulder during the fish migration.  Nymph and streamer fishing is
a guide favorite for hooking the lake run fish.  However, the dream stream is certainly not for the faint of heart as cold temperatures and high winds are the standard on this section of gold metal
water.

In addition to large lake run fish, anglers can expect to find Kokanee Salmon entering the river during the fall months.  These fish range anywhere from one to five pounds and are a ton of fun on fly tackle!  The Dream Stream supports a healthy population of resident browns, rainbows and cut throats.  Long slick runs and riffles make for some challenging fly fishing. 

The Dream Stream sees prolific hatches of midges, tricos, pale morning duns, blue winged olives and a wide variety of caddis and smaller stoneflies.  Be ready to battle the wind and cold on this historically desolate area but the rewards are worth it!  

Winter has always been one of the best times to fish Spinney Mountain Ranch, the crowds decrease significantly and on warm and sunny days, fishing in the valley can be quite pleasant.  Lots of winter insect life in the form of small midges and mayflies, makes for one of our most productive and sought after winter tail water fisheries.

For current stream flows, fly fishing conditions, fly fishing tips and useful fly patterns on the Dream Stream check out our updated daily Colorado Fly Fishing Reports.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

 

Colorado's Best Winter Tail Waters: This week Cheesman Canyon

It is winter time in Colorado, but that is no excuse to put the fly rod and waders away! 

We are fortunate to have a wide array of tail water fisheries that remain open and productive throughout the winter months.  Over the course of this winter we at The Flyfisher plan to keep you up to date and informed on our favorite winter tail waters.  For daily updated fly fishing reports, water conditions, helpful tips and recommended fly patterns be sure and book mark Colorado Fly Fishing Reports.  Our reports come from our Flyfisher Pro Staff Guides (Colorado fishing bums) and are updated on a daily basis.  When planning your next trip be sure and stop by for the most up to date fly fishing conditions in Colorado.

This week we will start off featuring one of our favorite tail waters, Colorado’s famed Cheesman Canyon. Perhaps one of the most famous and iconic rivers of the west, Colorado’s South Platte will educate, challenge and humble both new and experienced anglers alike.  As the saying goes, “If you can catch trout in Colorado’s Cheesman Canyon, you can catch them anywhere in the world.”  Heavy fishing pressure, gin clear water and diverse bug life makes the South Platte one of the most technical fisheries in the world. 

Cheesman Canyon is the most sought after and routinely visited section of Colorado’s South Platte.

This is one of the most technical tail water fisheries in the state, demanding that anglers sight fish with small tail water flies and fine tippet.  The Canyon is accessed from the Gil Trail, requiring a short hike to get on the water. 

Fish are seldom seen rising in Cheesman but good dry fly fishing can
still be had, especially during hopper season where the canyon’s rainbows and browns just can’t resist a foam hopper bounced off a canyon wall. 

Plus hatches of small stoneflies and caddis make for some great summer surface action but as a general rule of thumb a good nymph fisherman will catch most of the fish.  Ideal flows for Cheesman are when the water is up, around 200-400 CFS.  When the flows are high the fish in Cheesman go crazy for worms and scuds and nymph fishing with a variety of San Juan Worms and scud patterns makes for some outstanding fly fishing.  Winter is one of our favorite times to hike into the canyon as the crowds are light and winter time hatches of midges and blue winged olives make for some exciting days on the water.  Catching a fish in Cheesman is always a reward no matter what your level of skill!

For the most recent information on fly fishing Cheesman Canyon, http://www.coloradoflyfishingreports.com/reports/?reportid=2356

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

Fly Fishing Colorado's Winter

Winter is here and many of our Colorado streams and still water lakes have frozen over for the season. 
Fortunately, we still have many winter fly fishing opportunities on our winter fly fishing preserves.  On warm and sunny days our fly fishing guides are reporting good insect hatches, primarily midges and
blue winged olives making for some great late season dry fly fishing.  

Even if you are new to the sport, winter is a great time to give fly fishing a try.  Let one of our
professional fly fishing guides help you learn the basics of casting and presentation.  Or, if the weather is too cold for you, winter is a great time to learn new skills like fly tying or rod building through Angling University or take one of our online classes about fly casting or insect
identification. 

One of the many beauties of fly fishing is the ability to stay connected with the sport year round. 
However you decide to spend your angling time this winter season, let us help facilitate your entire fly fishing needs.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

 

World Class Fly Fishing Close to Home in Denver

We are nearing the end of our 2012 Colorado Fly Fishing Season on our home waters of South Boulder Creek.  Winter is just around the corner, but right now we are being blessed with warm weather and sunshine in Denver and Boulder and the end of the year fly fishing is better than ever!  Lots of the local public waters have received a season of heavy pressure and the fly fishing is very difficult.  Right now our private fly fishing preserves offer the angler the opportunity to pursue both trophy browns and rainbows close to Denver without the crowds.  Treat yourself to an end of the season adventure with one of our professional fly fishing guides; the experience is one you won’t soon forget…

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Guide Service

www.theflyfisher.com

 

Colorado Fly Fishing Tips for Denver's South Platte River Carp!

It is still fall in Denver, Colorado and the weather has been great for carp fishing on the fly with sunny skies and warm temperatures.  Most of the local reservoirs, lakes and ponds have cooled off and the carp are rarely seen in the shallows but Denver’s South Platte is still a great option for fly fisherman looking to feel the tug of a big fish!  Carp fishing is relatively simple in practice, but hooking these fish on the fly can be extremely challenging as carp require precise and accurate fly casting and are also eagerly spooked.  Follow these tips for more success fly fishing for carp:

 

Use the buddy system – a good buddy will always help you catch and land more carp. Sometimes it is helpful to get a spotter from a bridge to help the angler cast over fish that have been spotted.  Also, netting a big carp alone can be difficult; it is much easier to have a net man around. 

Invest in a quality pair of polarized sunglasses – a good pair of glass is invaluable when looking for carp in low light and dirty water.

Bring the right rod and a quality reel – a good 5-7 weight will land carp but you must have a reel with a good drag system to stop the fish when they run.  Carp are very strong and make fast runs like bonefish!

Use trout tactics – on Denver’s South Platte carp will behave very similar to trout, stacking up in riffles and deeper runs while they sip bugs from the current.  Nymph fishing with indicators is a very productive way to get hook ups once fish are spotted.  Classic trout flies like San Juan Worms and Rubber Legged Hare’s Ears will do the job.

Hopefully these tips will help you land your next Rocky Mountain Bonefish! 

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

Fly Fishing Downtown Denver Carp!

Today was a beautiful day in downtown Denver!  Fellow Flyfisher Guide Service guides, Ethan Emery and Randy Pruitt and I joined up with Lateral Line Media in an attempt to find some tailing carp.  The water was a little higher and more off color than we expected but sure enough right out of the gates we saw some nice fish moving across the sand flats of Denver’s South Platte.  

I have done quite a bit of carp fishing in lakes and ponds, looking for tailing and mudding fish but I am new to carp fishing rivers.  In the past I have always done well with smaller leech imitations and flies that mimic classic Bonefish patterns tied in drab colors.  However, the carp we encountered on the Platte were behaving more like trout, grouping up into large pods of fish and feeding in the middle of the bigger runs and longer riffles.  So at the suggestion of Ethan and Randy we rigged up some nymph rigs consisting of leeches, mayflies and of course San Juan Worms and after targeting where the fish were sitting we started getting some nice hook ups!  Joey of Lateral Line Media was on hand to document the day, so be sure and stay tuned for some awesome Colorado carp fly fishing footage!

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

 

Colorado Pheasant Hunting Forecast 2012

For those of you that like to “blast” as well as “cast”, Colorado’s Pheasant hunting opener is just around the corner with the season beginning November 10th.  Last year was a record pheasant hunting season in Colorado, with some of the highest populations recorded in the history of the state.  However, the drought of 2012 makes it highly probable that this year’s pheasant season
will be tough going.  The drought has most likely impacted pheasant populations; lack of water means reduced chick survival across Colorado’s pheasant range.  Overall, this means that pheasant populations will be down across the state but a few isolated hotspots may have not suffered great impacts from the drought.  

Yuma, Kit Carson, Phillips, Sedgwick, southeastern Logan, northeast and extreme southeast Washington Counties are productive areas that pheasant hunters should concentrate on.  Extreme southeast Colorado, especially eastern Baca County, can also be productive for pheasants and hunters may find scaled quail in this area, but quail numbers might be extremely concentrated this year due to the drought.

Case in point, this year is going to be tough going for outsmarting wily roosters.  However, the birds are still there and any hunter with a decent dog and a lot of persistence should be able to knock down some roosters.  Get out there and hunt!

Tight Lines and Good Shooting,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

Winter Fly Fishing in Colorado: Try fishing a Bamboo Fly Rod!

It is that time of year and as I write it seems that winter is just getting closer. 

As a Colorado Fly Fishing Guide winter is a time of year that I look forward to and is a most necessary time to prepare for the summer angling season.  At this point in the year my fly boxes are bare and a lot of my gear is in dire need of repair.  On the list for winter projects this year is to finish building a bamboo 4 weight, a rod that I started years ago, but have yet to find time to finish.  My friends, bamboo rod aficionados and Denver anglers, Shawn Bratt and Mark Shamburg helped me flame and split the cane, build a custom grip and fit the ferrules, but life got in the way and I have yet to finish wrapping the rod!  However, this winter it is going to be a different story…I’ll be posting pictures of my bamboo masterpiece come spring…

Fishing bamboo really is a lot of fun and learning to cast these more precise fly rods will help any fly caster better their skills.  Bamboo rod builders are in a league of craftsmanship all their own and their rods are true works of art.  Lately, I have heard a lot of anglers claim that bamboo fly rods are just too slow action to make the accurate casts that are needed for modern day fly fishing. 

However, this is simply not true!  Modern day builders like Mark Shamburg of The Confluence Rod Company are using more modern and progressive rod tapers to create bamboo sticks that generate higher line speeds and tighter loops.  These rods cast with the efficiency and tight loops of modern graphite and boron rods, but still maintain the classic touch and feel of bamboo.

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

The Flyfisher Group

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

 

 

Colorado Fly Tying Video – Nasty “Sculpzilla” from Colorado Fly Fishing Guide, Cody DeGuelle

Fly fishing film aficionado Joey Macomber recently shot this awesome Colorado Fly Tying Video of
Colorado Fly Fishing Guide, Cody DeGuelle.

In addition to being an all-star guide for Colorado's Flyfisher Guide Service Cody also ties some nice looking flies and ties them well!  With the end of fall fast approaching now is the time to sit down, drink a few beers and tie some streamers! 

 

In addition to the video be sure and check out Lateral Line Media for acomplete step by step fly tying description.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

 

New Winston Boron III-SX Fly Rod Review

Winston is proud to introduce a new fly rod series that was engineered to tackle the most technical and demanding fly fishing in the world and we were excited to try it out and review it. Hopefully our review of the Winston Boron III-SX will help you in your next fly rod purchasing decision.   The new Boron III-SX Rods can best be categorized as "super" fast-action, but the new rod blank still feels and casts as smooth as a classic Winston.  As with all Winston fly rods, the Boron III SX rod requires somewhat of a more advanced caster to properly load and is probably not the best choice for beginners.  But, if you have some decent casting experience the new rod can generate some really impressive line speed and tight loops.  The most interesting thing about this fly rod is that each line weight and length is specifically designed to best meet the needs of the species and situations that are most commonly pursued with that rod.  From small stream trout to world record tarpon, the SX has you covered!  I have always been partial to Winston seven weights and am thinking that the new SX might have to become my new go to bonefish and redfish rod, while maybe doubling as a big water trout stick…

The new Boron III-SX rods feature a superlight matte black reel seat with R.L Winston Rod Co. engraved on the barrel.  The trout rods are available with the same wood reel seats as previous Boron IIIx rods. The 9'6" 5 and 6-weight models have fighting butts for versatility and battling larger fish.  All come with a bomb proof graphite rod tube.

Check them out today: http://www.winstonrods.com/category/rods/boronIII-SX.php

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

The Top Ten Colorado Fly Fishing Rivers!

I thought it would be fun to share my personal top 10 favorite rivers and creeks in Colorado. 
Of course this is my own opinion so I do not mean to offend you if I don’t mention your favorite fishing spot…

I have compiled what I believe to be the most dynamic and interesting streams, and of course there is a lot of stuff I have yet to fish and places I have yet to be, so if you think you might know of a better stream feel free to chime in…

The Yampa - The Yampa is undoubtedly and unquestionably my favorite river in the beautiful state of Colorado!  I know this because one afternoon I was fishing the Yampa through the town of Steamboat and the fishing was going quite slow…then out of nowhere it started to rain and a
blanket hatch of Green Drakes fluttered over the river and from the riffle infront of me multiple brown and rainbow trout over 20 inches began slurping the bugs from the water!  Enough Said.

The Boulder Creek Watershed – OK so this one may come to a shock to many but the entire
Boulder Creek watershed is one of my very favorite places to fish in Colorado and I’ll be happy to tell you why.  Middle Boulder Canyon is just plain fun to fish with aggressive little brown trout seemingly hiding behind every rock!  The North Fork of the Creek running through Dream Canyon makes me feel like I am in the Black Canyon, with colorful Brook trout rising to my hopper creations!  And South Boulder Creek fishes awesome for the occasional 16” plus brown in the meandering meadow sections around Boulder. Then the bug life on the creek both below and above Gross makes for some awesome dry fly fishing!

The Roaring Fork – I love float fishing the Roaring Fork.  This river is a streamer junkie’s best
friend.  I can’t think of a better way to spend the day than floating the Fork with good friends and a cooler full of ice cold drinks…

Black Canyon and Gunnison Gorge – Does it get any better than hiking down into the steepest, deepest and most narrow canyon in North America to find Salmon Flies crawling all over the river?  I don’t think so.

Taylor River – No I’m not talking about fishing the “Hog Trough” but I simply love the lower sections of the Taylor.  This river gets one hell of a Green Drake hatch in the summer and wade fishing the Taylor with its fast current and slippery rocks always makes for an
adventure.  Camping along this river and its main tributary Spring Creek is a great way to experience the wilds of Gunnison.

Tributaries of the North Platte in Walden – The various feeder streams of the North
Platte are some of my favorite excursions for Brown Trout.  Fish of all sizes live in these streams and the fishing can be challenging, technical and overall difficult but the rewards
can be amazing. 

Frying Pan – You can learn a lot about trout and fly fishing for them on this infamous stream.  Sight Fishing is almost always possible and a plethora of insect hatches will keep even the most
seasoned of anglers guessing.

Cheesman Canyon – Ok so Cheesman is definitely not my very favorite stream but anytime I land a trout in the Canyon I feel grateful…for it certainly never happens too often!  The canyon is a technical fishery and it simply takes hard work and persistence and thorough understanding
of Nymph fishing to fool these trout.

Eagle –I haven’t explored this river as much as I would like but my limited experience on the Eagle has been good.  Lots of fish, bugs and interesting water makes for a dynamic and year round fishery.

Rocky Mountain National Park – A lifetime of fishing is available within the lines of the park and most of it remains untouched.  Native Greenback Cutt Throat call these streams their home and they are easily fooled with small fly rods and dry flies.  Fishing in the park is just plain fun and after all isn’t that what it’s all about?

So there is my Top 10. 
What’s yours?

Tight Lines,

Tyler Bowman

www.coloradotroutfisher.com

Catch and Release Signs: Helping Colorado Fly Fishing

Exciting news!  Catch & Release signs have now been installed along the Boulder Creek Path as of
last week.  With help from the City of Boulder, the Colorado Parks & Recreation Department and Boulder Flycasters, new signs are being installed from Ebin Fine Park to 55^th St.

Boulder Flycasters is looking for a volunteer crew of five to seven persons to help install the remaining nine signs on existing posts this coming Saturday, October 6^th.  The crew will meet at the Boulder Justice Center parking lot at 9AM.  The installations should not take more than 2-3 hours leaving time for lunch and maybe some fishing afterwards.

 

All necessary hardware and tools for the project will be provided.  Work gloves are recommended
for installing the signs. 

This is a great opportunity to help protect and preserve one of the greatest resources on Colorado's Front Range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please contact Larry Quilling for more information or to sign up for the work crew.

Larry Quilling

The5quills@comcast.net

303-579-0656

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com