If you are battling cabin fever, here are some short video clips of our guests enjoying a day of wilderness fly fishing with Colorado Outfitters.

Spring time in the Rockies, as in many areas across the U.S., means the start of another fly fishing season. Many will wait for the warmer weather before heading to the water. However, braving the spring weather and even “post-holing” or snowshoeing through snow into lakes as they begin to thaw can mean putting the biggest fish of the season in your net! There is a period right after ice-off when the fishing can be HOT! In this article we’ll explore recipes for success when fishing the spring season.

Where to Fish
Ice-off occurs first around shallow shore lines and inlets. These areas are where you will find hungry fish cruising looking for a meal. My favorite spots to fish are near and within inlets as you will typically find fish stacked up here all spring long. Shorelines offering a shallow shelf close to deeper water also can be excellent. Look for fish cruising during the middle of the day when water temperatures warm up just a few degrees.

Tactics and Flies to Use
Spring fishing often means cold and often murky water (especially around inlets). Therefore, beaded nymphs and streamers are generally the way to go. Fish will generally be feeding near the bottom so a slow deep presentation is required. Use of some weight can be necessary or a sinking tip line will do the job too. Ideally, you want enough weight to get down and provide a natural presentation but not too much that you get hung up on bottom. Brighter colors can also be effective as can a larger streamer or nymph especially in murky waters.

When fishing inlets, a natural flow with the current is deadly. With nymph patterns a strike indicator can be helpful too. With streamers a slow “jerky” retrieve draws aggressive strikes or simply raising the rod tip and allowing the streamer to sink during a slow retrieve is effective too. When fishing shoreline shelves, use a slow, deep retrieve for nymphs and techniques described above for streamers. When action is slow and you’re trying to figure out which patterns will be effective, use a double rig with a streamer followed by a beaded nymph. Find two patterns that draw strikes and the action can be non-stop!

A final very effective tactic for fishing at ice-off is use of small boats including belly boats (float tubes). This allows you to get away from other fisherman and fish areas which don’t see as much pressure. Many boats are packable these days and can be inflated with a foot pump. Similar fishing tactics are used as when fishing or wading from shore. However, a favorite tactic of mine when in the boat to locate areas with feeding fish is “slow troll” with streamers and / or nymphs. Once you find an area where you are getting strikes, cast and fish these areas until the action slows down, then troll again to find fish and repeat!

Ice-off Strategy for Success into Summer

The good news about ice-off fishing, especially in mountainous areas like the Rockies, is it can go on for a couple months! It starts here in Colorado with lakes and ponds within the mountain valleys typically thawing around the end of April. By the end of May, lakes around 9000 in elevation start to thaw followed by lakes in the 10,000 feet range by mid-June with the highest lakes at 11,000 feet and up sometimes not thawing  until early July.

In summary, with some effort and hiking into the backcountry, one can enjoy the success that comes with ice-off fishing right into the start of early summer! The areas to fish and tactics used remain similar, it just means continuing to go up in elevation. Over the years, I’ve developed a schedule and pattern for the bodies of water and locations I fish on my own and with clients. I encourage you to do the same! With some research and effort you can develop your own “ice-off fishing schedule”. I can assure you once you do, it will be something you look forward to every spring as it will be some of the best fishing you have all season long!

For those looking to increase their success with fishing High Mountain Lakes, be sure to check out the recent edition of Orvis news which featured a Podcast with our fishing guide, Bob Terwilliger. Within, Bob discusses many of his tips for catching trout in high mountain lakes through out the different seasons.

Bob’s interview starts approximately 35 minutes into the podcast:

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/podcast-fly-fishing-high-mountain-lakes-bob-terwilliger

In general, these changes will improve the overall process including no longer having to pay for licenses until you actually draw a tag (except for the $3.00 transaction fee). That said, there are some very important items to pay close attention especially the point about hunters must ensure their payment info is correct once a tag is drawn. If there are issues with your payment, they must be cleared up by the payment deadline or hunters will lose their tag and preference points. Another key change is OTC licenses, with and without caps, now go on sale after the leftover limited licenses go on sale to the public in early August.

For more information on the new process, please reference the links above and the Colorado DOW website: http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BigGame.aspx . One last and very important point is we (Colorado Outfitters LLC) strongly recommend that hunters don’t wait on getting their new profile set up in the new system. If you have a CID number from previous years, it is quick and easy to get set up in the new system. By getting yourself set up now, it will eliminate the potential for any last minute problems with getting your limited license application(s) submitted by the April 3^rd deadline.

Getting into “Horse Shape”

A horseback, high-country elk or deer hunt is something we all dream of experiencing.  Riding through untrammeled wilderness (such as we have in the Zirkels and Flat Tops here in Colorado) astride a sturdy, confident horse, create memories that lasts a lifetime.  But make no mistake, riding horseback into elk country is a physical endeavor, and requires the use of muscles that we don’t always get the opportunity to exercise.  You don’t want to be in the last days of your elk hunt before you are feeling comfortable in the saddle.  That is why getting a few days in on horseback this summer will have you ready to jump on that first morning you head into the mountains looking for that trophy deer or bull.

 Preparing your Mind

Physical preparation is indeed critical to having a successful hunt in the Rocky Mountains.  That said, over the years we have seen the difference in hunters who are mentally prepared for the hunt, and those whose willpower gives out long before their bodies do.  Our elk and mule deer live in some intimidating country, both in terms of its ruggedness and its size.  Now don’t let that scare you away, we all get to the animals the same way – one step at a time.  And our hunters often find themselves surprised at what they are able to do in this country.  But the visual impact our scenery can have on a person’s mind when they are faced with scouring it behind glass or climbing it on foot can lead to “hunter paralysis.”

Remember when you were young and everything seemed so much bigger?  Then when you visit those places later in life it all appears smaller than you recall?  Some of that is just familiarity and exposure to bigger places.  That’s why getting on the back of a horse in the summertime and heading into the vast Colorado wilderness is a great boot camp for your brain that will help you mentally prepare for your hunt when you come back in a few short months.

 The Fishing is Fantastic!

What more can I say.  You simply cannot beat the fishing available in Colorado’s high country during the summer months.  Even better, if you put some distance between you and the crowds by hopping on a horse and getting into the backcountry, then you are really in for a treat.  The mountains where we guide, hunt and fish are home to some of the finest cold-water trout fisheries in the nation.  The diversity of water alone that you can fish in a few days during a horseback trip is worth the experience.  From small rivers and streams, to deep blue alpine basin lakes, we have it all.  Don’t believe me, just take a look at our photo gallery to see what our past clients have enjoyed here at Colorado Outfitters.

Something for the Entire Family

I saved this one for last on purpose.  If you are at all like me, there are times when the things we care most about in our lives pull us into different directions.  As hunters, our passion for the outdoors can take us away from our family and loved ones, sometimes for extended periods of time.  So we look for opportunities to bring those two things together.  Introducing our children, or spouses, to the outdoors helps us connect the things we love.  However, we have to be careful to make these introductions in small doses, and to ensure they have a positive, enjoyable experience.

A summertime horseback trip is a great way to connect family and friends with the great outdoors.  The weather is generally perfect, the wildflowers are in bloom, there is an opportunity for their first trout on a rod, and you get to spend the day with horses.  To this day, my girls remember the names of each horse they have ridden on each trip.  They recall the hot chocolate made from lake water boiled over a fire. And we can now share stories about the same mountains, the same valleys, the same lakes and the same rivers that we have experienced together, even when my stories are about hunts I had taken there without them.

There you have it.  Four great reasons to come experience a summertime horseback trip, right now.   You won’t find better animals, more seasoned guides, or more beautiful country than what we have here at Colorado Outfitters.  Contact us to set something up and come check it out for yourself!

Early spring fishing backcountry fishing begins with ice out on lakes and ponds typically in the 8,000 to 9,000 feet range. This of course can vary a lot based on weather but in general it is sometime after the middle of April and as late as mid-May. Right after ice out fishing can be hot. Big fish are hungry and accessible cruising the shallows close to shore or near inlets. Streamers (i.e. wooly buggers) and nymphs fished slow are deadly and will draw vicious strikes! In general, look for feeding fish cruising the shore lines in sunny areas during the warm periods of the day. Ice out fishing can also be a good time to catch grayling too before they move to deep, cold water, as we do have several bodies of water in Colorado that contain grayling and some good ones at that.

 
Photos: Ice out grayling and cutthroat caught by the author

As we move into late spring and early summer, small rivers are still too high to fish. However, more lakes will open up in the backcountry as well as beaver ponds up to 10,000 to 10,500 (by late June most years). Similar tactics will be effective that worked in lower elevations in early spring. On a warm sunny afternoon, it is not uncommon to even have some dry fly action. Small parachute adams (i.e. size 16-18) many times will work for these early season conditions. In areas with brook trout, this time of year offers a chance to hook into some big fish before they move into colder water as we get later into the summer.

 
Photos: Late spring big brookie and cutthroat!

As we get into early summer, hot fishing continues in backcountry lakes with dry fly activity on the rise. Caddis fly activity picks up and parachute adams are always a good choice as are black gnats. About this time frame, small river water flow is dropping and fishing these waters starts to get productive. During warmer parts of the day, dry fly hatches are occurring and during other times nymphs and small streamers are always an option. Try small wooly buggers in deeper pools, gold ribbed hares ear and pheasant tails in riffles and runs. The key to success is with getting the right amount of weight and depth for a natural drift.

Photo: Small river backcountry dry fly fishing is as fun as it gets!

This brings us into summer and early fall for which the action just continues to be good with lots of opportunity to fish various types of water. By this time, the highest mountain lakes are open and fishing well, including for big cutthroat. Small river dry fly fishing is great too! I think what really makes this time of year fun is with grasshoppers in full swing, big attractor flies draw aggressive strikes! Combine an attractor fly with a small dropper and you are talking about non-stop action some days that can be the most fun of the season! One last point, while windy days can present many challenges especially on high mountain lakes, don’t underestimate these days! I have had tight lines all afternoon on days like this by getting up wind of a shoreline getting beat by waves. The trick is to fish just on the edge of the murky water typically stripping hares ear, wooly buggers or even orange ashers. Hold on to your rod tight as you can get some vicious strikes!

 
Photos: Summer and early Fall offer prime time fishing in the Colorado Backcountry!

In summary, Colorado has a lot to offer if you enjoy fishing the backcountry and having the water to yourself! There are many places you can enjoy backcountry fishing via a day trip by hiking in or consider backpacking in for multi-day adventures. Of course, to access some of the remote backcountry fishing consider an outfitter in your area of choice. They know the water, offer backcountry camps and can get you in and out on horseback making for a great overall experience!

Bob Terwilliger and Chance Berry from our Colorado Outfitters Team will be headed to Missoula, MT later this week for the annual Orvis Rendezvous, April 27-29, 2017.  They will be attending the Orvis Guide Rendezvous and the “Down the Hatch Fishing Festival”.

These events are a big deal in the fly fishing industry with guides and outfitters coming from across the country. The events are sponsored by Orvis and open to all outfitters and guides who are part of the Orvis Guide Program or an Orvis-Endorsed Operation. These offer an opportunity for professionals in the fishing business to attend seminars, presentations and workshops designed to help improve as a fly-fishing professional and outfitting operation. Topics covered include further skills development (i.e. best practices for teaching how to cast) and related business topics. These events also offer the opportunity to network with other operations to discuss business experiences, issues, etc. in support of improvement and best practices.

Lastly, we will get a chance to meet and work with known experts in their field (i.e. certified master casting instructors, better understanding Entomology – “bugs” and fly hatches, etc.) as well as review / test the latest and greatest Orvis Products.

We look forward to sharing some of this valuable information with you both on the water and in future Blogs! For anyone who may also be attending the Rendezvous, Bob and Chance hope to see you there!