How About Your Favorite CO And NMX Fly Streams

[Hillbilly Boater]

The wife and I are doing a two week RV trip with the grandkids starting June 6th. We will be hitting such areas as Rocky Mountain National Park, thru the mountains ( not 25) to Sante Fe, Taos and the four corners area. I've done this trip before and know some areas, but was wondering what are some of the streams/ rivers that others like to fish? They don't have to be famous, just good fun places to flyfish for trout. Thanks, Jack

[spilunkr]

On the east side of Rocky Mtn. Park streams like the St. Vrain, in the Wild Basin area along with Glacier Creek, Thompson and Roaring Rivers will produce lots of trout in the 8" to 12" range. You did not give a lot of info regarding other areas of CO you might be traveling through. If you will be taking the "scenic" route south - US 285 - to New Mexico you might want to consider the upper Arkansas River or the South Platte and tributaries in the South Park area.

However, you may still be in the high runoff period on most of the larger waters. Most of Colorado had a slighly above normal snow pack. This follows the winter of '07/'08 which was also above normal, so many of the state's reservoirs are at or near capacity resulting in more runoff water being dumped. The Poudre River outside of Fort Collins is running at 1,600 cfs - 400 more cfs than this time last year making much of the river unwadeable. Also the state has been getting a lot of rain over the last 10 days adding to the runoff flows. So your best bets may be smaller streams and tributaries.

You may want to pick up a copy of "The Flyfishers Guide To Colorado" to see what smaller streams may be close to you travel route. Before you leave, you might also try a Google search for fly shops in towns along your route. Most of them will have websites or contact information where you will be able to get the latest flow information.

Guy

[Hillbilly Boater]

Guy, Thanks for the info. The reason I didn't give an extact route, is that we won't know that till we get there. I've been doing trips like this for 40 years and we start with a general idea and decide the particulars as we go. It makes for a fun spontaneous experience. Part of the trip will be around some good fishing. The San Juan is on the list. The wife can take the grandkids to indian ruins and I'll fish, but i've been there 5 time and looking for some news areas as well.

[sandeel]

Especially with kids don't overlook the resevoirs..... Good go-to destinations in the midst of runoff.....

We use a hard foam indicator (like a small bobber) and use a SJ worm with some small nymph dropper... vary the depth to suspend the flies just above the bottom or any weed beds.... this is deadly....The natural wave action will give movement to the flies.

Colorado DOW has a website where the post conditions all over the state at quite a few resevoirs and rivers... Maybe New Mexico has a similar site....

Statewide Conditions - Colorado Division of Wildlife (http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/Reports/StatewideConditions/)

Bill

[matttheyellowdog]

I was in Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat Park, on Gunnison R. last October, great fishing, gorgeous park. I don't know how it fishes in June. Single hook artificial, but not fly only in the park. It would be difficult to wade with smaller kids, but a gorgeous park to visit.

Matt

[golfinjoe24]

Man, used to live out in NMX. Wish I could go back
Have a fun trip

[Hillbilly Boater]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I've never been much of a lake fisherman, but this trip could change that with the high runoff. I will definitely hit some ponds on some indian res's outside of Sante Fe. I know the grandkids can catch some fish there. The Black Cannon is one of the places I would love to fish, but it may not happenon this trip. But then again?!!;-)

[Jeffrey Rasband]

Hillbilly,

I posted a report last July from the exact same region on here last summer but for some reason the server isn't letting me search. Try searching "Colorado report" or look for posts under my name. We fished the San Juan, Gunnison, South Platte, and many other small streams. Runoff was very heavy and prolonged last year but there are always placed to fish, the San Juan is a great example.

[Tubadude]

To get the latest try a post on the fly fishing forum at Colorado's Fishing Headquarters! (http://www.Coloradofisherman.com). Lots of good guys there with the latest conditions.

As you probably know, most of our rivers are tailwaters and we are having a wild spring here. I like the western slope and the waters are a flowin! The Gunnison and western slope rivers are muddy and blown out. Most reservoirs are very high, and there is still quite a snow pack, which should make lots of moving water and tough conditions when you get here. Check the flow rates and plan accordingly. Most of the good waters are well known.

There are excellent stillwater options near really good rivers - which gives you the option to fish both depending on conditions. Here's some:

Spinney Mountain Res - a real quality fishery. And best of all, it is the dam for the "Dream Stream" section of the South Platte. Which, then rolls into Eleven Mile Res where there is camping and superb pike fishing at that time. Right below Eleven Mile Res, is the Eleven Mile Canyon section of the South Platte. A little over fished, but very pretty.

You could head over Cottonwood Pass and fish the Taylor River (trout the size of Alaskan Salmon, but well educated). Right there you have Taylor Reservoir (great trout and pike), plus Texas Creek, and numerous small lakes. Great camping too.

On the way to NM, if the flows settle (I doubt it) there is the Gunnison as you mentioned. The Gorge section is more hiker friendly than the NP and the big mother salmon flies start coming off in June.

The Lake Fork of the Gunny is good, and a great drive with good camping. It may be blown out though. Camp in Lake City and fish Lake San Crystobel. Then swing over to Creede and fish the Rio Grande. Drive over Wolf Creek Passs and head down to the San Juan.

Ridgway State Park is another lesser known place with great fishing in the lake, and the Uncompahgre tailwater below. The San Miguel is a wonderful fishery. The water has been very high here though. Yet, the scenery and drive to Durango over Red Mountain Pass simply blows away the rest of Colorado.....I'm in Ouray, so I'm Biased.

Another real deal is the private waters run by South Park County. For between $35 and $60 you get your own section of some really, really good streams. They are close to Spinney Mt and Eleven Mile mentioned above. Go to Private South Park Colorado Fly Fishing (http://www.southparktrout.com) - waters are though.

So, lots of options....just adjust to the conditions and you'll have a wonderful time.

If you were coming a month later - the high country trout fishing would blow you away.

Charlie

[Hillbilly Boater]

To get the latest try a post on the fly fishing forum at Colorado's Fishing Headquarters! (http://www.Coloradofisherman.com). Lots of good guys there with the latest conditions.

As you probably know, most of our rivers are tailwaters and we are having a wild spring here. I like the western slope and the waters are a flowin! The Gunnison and western slope rivers are muddy and blown out. Most reservoirs are very high, and there is still quite a snow pack, which should make lots of moving water and tough conditions when you get here. Check the flow rates and plan accordingly. Most of the good waters are well known.

There are excellent stillwater options near really good rivers - which gives you the option to fish both depending on conditions. Here's some:

Spinney Mountain Res - a real quality fishery. And best of all, it is the dam for the "Dream Stream" section of the South Platte. Which, then rolls into Eleven Mile Res where there is camping and superb pike fishing at that time. Right below Eleven Mile Res, is the Eleven Mile Canyon section of the South Platte. A little over fished, but very pretty.

You could head over Cottonwood Pass and fish the Taylor River (trout the size of Alaskan Salmon, but well educated). Right there you have Taylor Reservoir (great trout and pike), plus Texas Creek, and numerous small lakes. Great camping too.

On the way to NM, if the flows settle (I doubt it) there is the Gunnison as you mentioned. The Gorge section is more hiker friendly than the NP and the big mother salmon flies start coming off in June.

The Lake Fork of the Gunny is good, and a great drive with good camping. It may be blown out though. Camp in Lake City and fish Lake San Crystobel. Then swing over to Creede and fish the Rio Grande. Drive over Wolf Creek Passs and head down to the San Juan.

Ridgway State Park is another lesser known place with great fishing in the lake, and the Uncompahgre tailwater below. The San Miguel is a wonderful fishery. The water has been very high here though. Yet, the scenery and drive to Durango over Red Mountain Pass simply blows away the rest of Colorado.....I'm in Ouray, so I'm Biased.

Another real deal is the private waters run by South Park County. For between $35 and $60 you get your own section of some really, really good streams. They are close to Spinney Mt and Eleven Mile mentioned above. Go to Private South Park Colorado Fly Fishing (http://www.southparktrout.com) - waters are though.

So, lots of options....just adjust to the conditions and you'll have a wonderful time.

If you were coming a month later - the high country trout fishing would blow you away.

Charlie

Thanks for the info. Some good sounding places in your list. I'll be looking at maps tonight and figuring out how to make some of them work. Thanks Jack

[Tubadude]

If you need more info shoot me a PM or email - happy to help..

[DDan]

I have no idea of what you can expect for conditions. In New Mexico - I've fished the San Juan: big water with small flies/big fish. Water is full of midges. Big trout must eat constantly. It's a tailwater, so may be better during this time of high run-off.

I didn't fish, but my wife and I took a trip to Santa Fe and Taos last year. I did look longingly at some of the streams along the "High Road" between Santa Fe and Taos. This was about the 3rd week in June and they looked very fishable. There is a village called "Truchas", which I'm told is Spanish for trout.

I didn't get a chance to go, but a fly shop in Santa Fe runs private trips to the Boca tract, one of the original Spanish land grants that was acquired by the Nat'l Park Service within the last few years. Unlike a typical park, however, access is very limited.

It's a great area to visit! Enjoy!

[Hillbilly Boater]

I didn't get a chance to go, but a fly shop in Santa Fe runs private trips to the Boca tract, one of the original Spanish land grants that was acquired by the Nat'l Park Service within the last few years. Unlike a typical park, however, access is very limited.

It's a great area to visit! Enjoy!

I know the Boca tract. It was a ranch the size of Rhode Island in the Jemez Mountains west of Sante Fe. :eek2: Beautiful country. I have a funny story that took place in the Jemez Mountains one fall. A friend and I were camped in the Jemez and fishing some of the mountain streams up there. One evening we decided to head down from the mountains to a bar in Jemez Springs. There is a bar there called Los Ojos and we decides to head in. When we walked through the door the bar was filled with a lot of tough looking guys with big knives and guns around their waists. I was already through the door when I took all of this in and I figured we were dead. At the time, I was going through a mid-life long haired hippy thing. As it turned out it was elk season and the place was filled with hunters. So, instead of being dead, we had a great time talking to all these guys and watching Monday Night Football.

So yes, that's one of the areas we will hit. Thanks. Did you visit any of the hot springs while you were there. Incredible places up there to relax in 104 degree water.

[DDan]

I have a good friend who lives in Los Alamos. We hiked by one of those hot springs on our way back to the trailhead after a leisurely overnight back-p[ack in the Natl' Forest in the Jemez. Odd experience: a mother soaking in the buff with her two little kids running around was determined to chat with two very uncomfortable guys doing our best to be sociable while averting our eyes.

I love it out there. We camped in among water sculped volcanic tuff formations. Tuff was blown out of the Valee Grande caldera on the Boca Tract many miles away. Absolutely beautiful. No elk, but I did end up in the middle of a small old-fashioned cattle drive.

[Hillbilly Boater]

I have a good friend who lives in Los Alamos. We hiked by one of those hot springs on our way back to the trailhead after a leisurely overnight back-p[ack in the Natl' Forest in the Jemez. Odd experience: a mother soaking in the buff with her two little kids running around was determined to chat with two very uncomfortable guys doing our best to be sociable while averting our eyes.

I love it out there. We camped in among water sculped volcanic tuff formations. Tuff was blown out of the Valee Grande caldera on the Boca Tract many miles away. Absolutely beautiful. No elk, but I did end up in the middle of a small old-fashioned cattle drive.


I think that I've been to that spring. It's about six miles from the road and we cross country skied into it in Jan one year. As for the Valle Grande, the biggest elk I've ever seen where just strolling around out there. I looked into elk hunting there, but the $25,000 price tag put an end to that idea. As for the San Juan, I'll be there for at least two days camped at Cottonwood campground right on the river. If you are a fly trout fisher, it's worth the trip to fish. Big rainbows on small flies.:yes:

[Tubadude]

San Juan....red thread flies size 20 in the am, SJ Worms in the afternoon, then fast stripped Mohair Leaches across the evening boil. Its heaven.

[Hillbilly Boater]

San Juan....red thread flies size 20 in the am, SJ Worms in the afternoon, then fast stripped Mohair Leaches across the evening boil. Its heaven.

Just a quick report. I only ended up fishing the San Juan because everything else was raging from snow melt and rain. Even there I lucked out because two days before we got there it was running at 5000 cfs. The first day there it was running at 1000 cfs and I only fished a little near the Cottonwood campground, if you know where that is and managed 5. However, the day that was my day, the wife did things with the grandkids, it was running 500 cfs and I slayed trout up to 19"s. It was all that you could want. In fact, I'd fish a run and catch 4 or 5 and move on because it was easy. I fished a #18 beadhead pheasanttail and a #22 creme midge. I was out fishing the locals and they would ask me what I was using and they couldn't believe that I was getting half my fish on the beadhead. I guess it pays to be ignorant sometimes.:cool: Great trip, even if I didn't do a ton of fishing.