Fly fishing Colorado

All-

New fly fisherman here. I’m a big mountain biker and climber. After coming across some fisherman on a regular basis being out riding or climbing... I thought I’d give it a whirl and I really dig it!

Being a beginner again at something is always challenging but fun. My question is what advice and what must haves do I need to fly fish regularly in your opinion? I bought a Tenkara 12’ rod kit that came with everything I need to start. Any pointers on what flys to use?

Thanks!!

Use an Ishigaki Kabari. 

You're about to open pandora's box!  Careful, it is just as addictive as climbing, and a great rest day activity.  Cold water feels great on sore feet.
You can wet wade in sandals when it is warm enough, but wading boots and a decent pair of waders will end up being 'necessary' if you get into it.
A 9' 5 weight rod will suffice on most waters in the state (to start).  You will want to start lingering around fly shops to glean some crucial beta.  Hiring a guide is not a waste of money (although I happily spent 3 weeks flogging the water before I started catching anything).  Check out the North American Fly Fishing Forum; the amount of information there is huge.  Watch youtube videos for casting technique.  What started as a rest day activity became a full blown hobby for me.  Bass and carp can provide an extra challenge after you figure out trout.
The perfect fly means nothing unless presented properly.  You will get much better information at smaller fly shops rather than big sporting goods stores.
Good luck and welcome to the affliction.  Fishing should be pretty good along the Front Range as temps rise and the water is still cold.  Spring runoff can be tough and dangerous, but you can always head to tailwaters (controlled flows below dams).  Good looking flows on Boulder Creek, South Boulder Creek and the Big Thompson... just sayin!

Colorado flows:
http://www.dwr.state.co.us/Surfacewater/default.aspx

NAFFF:
https://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/index.php

Hatch Charts:
https://www.coloradoflyfishingreports.com/reports/hatch-chart.cfm

Local reports:
http://www.rockymtanglers.com/
https://frontrangeanglers.com/

Knots:
www.animatedknots.com

Top 10 flies for the front range in my opinion:
-tan or black foam hopper
-elk hair caddis
-stimulator
-rusty spinner
-black or red zebra midge
-copper john
-pheasant tail
-prince nymph
-girdle bug
-black, olive, gold, or brown wooley bugger

Go do a couple days wade guiding with my buddy James Quigley in western Montana, he's been fly fishing since we were about 8, he's an absolute master.  

From what I've heard the Front Range fisheries have gotten totally blown out from the population growth, but a little effort/driving will do the trick.
Good luck! 

TBlom wrote: You're about to open pandora's box!  Careful, it is just as addictive as climbing, and a great rest day activity.  Cold water feels great on sore feet.
You can wet wade in sandals when it is warm enough, but wading boots and a decent pair of waders will end up being 'necessary' if you get into it.
A 9' 5 weight rod will suffice on most waters in the state (to start).  You will want to start lingering around fly shops to glean some crucial beta.  Hiring a guide is not a waste of money (although I happily spent 3 weeks flogging the water before I started catching anything).  Check out the North American Fly Fishing Forum; the amount of information there is huge.  Watch youtube videos for casting technique.  What started as a rest day activity became a full blown hobby for me.  Bass and carp can provide an extra challenge after you figure out trout.
The perfect fly means nothing unless presented properly.  You will get much better information at smaller fly shops rather than big sporting goods stores.
Good luck and welcome to the affliction.

Top 10 flies for the front range in my opinion:
-tan or black foam hopper
-elk hair caddis
-stimulator
-rusty spinner
-black or red zebra midge
-copper john
-pheasant tail
-prince nymph
-girdle bug
-black, olive, gold, or brown wooley bugger

Just the info I needed- thanks! Def like you looking for a “break” from riding and climbing. I thought surely I could find something less active. Guitar has been nice too but I just like being outdoors! Cheers man!

TBlom wrote: You're about to open pandora's box!  Careful, it is just as addictive as climbing, and a great rest day activity.  Cold water feels great on sore feet.
You can wet wade in sandals when it is warm enough, but wading boots and a decent pair of waders will end up being 'necessary' if you get into it.
A 9' 5 weight rod will suffice on most waters in the state (to start).  You will want to start lingering around fly shops to glean some crucial beta.  Hiring a guide is not a waste of money (although I happily spent 3 weeks flogging the water before I started catching anything).  Check out the North American Fly Fishing Forum; the amount of information there is huge.  Watch youtube videos for casting technique.  What started as a rest day activity became a full blown hobby for me.  Bass and carp can provide an extra challenge after you figure out trout.
The perfect fly means nothing unless presented properly.  You will get much better information at smaller fly shops rather than big sporting goods stores.
Good luck and welcome to the affliction.  Fishing should be pretty good along the Front Range as temps rise and the water is still cold.  Spring runoff can be tough and dangerous, but you can always head to tailwaters (controlled flows below dams).  Good looking flows on Boulder Creek, South Boulder Creek and the Big Thompson... just sayin!

Colorado flows:
http://www.dwr.state.co.us/Surfacewater/default.aspx

NAFFF:
https://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/index.php

Hatch Charts:
https://www.coloradoflyfishingreports.com/reports/hatch-chart.cfm

Local reports:
http://www.rockymtanglers.com/
https://frontrangeanglers.com/

Knots:
www.animatedknots.com

Top 10 flies for the front range in my opinion:
-tan or black foam hopper
-elk hair caddis
-stimulator
-rusty spinner
-black or red zebra midge
-copper john
-pheasant tail
-prince nymph
-girdle bug
-black, olive, gold, or brown wooley bugger

Great info. I have fished every corner of Colorado. The only thing I would add is a Parachute Adams. Easy to see and brings the fish.

My cool down after climbing locally is to walk down to the river and wet a fly.

TBlom wrote: You're about to open pandora's box!  Careful, it is just as addictive as climbing, and a great rest day activity.  Cold water feels great on sore feet.
You can wet wade in sandals when it is warm enough, but wading boots and a decent pair of waders will end up being 'necessary' if you get into it.
A 9' 5 weight rod will suffice on most waters in the state (to start).  You will want to start lingering around fly shops to glean some crucial beta.  Hiring a guide is not a waste of money (although I happily spent 3 weeks flogging the water before I started catching anything).  Check out the North American Fly Fishing Forum; the amount of information there is huge.  Watch youtube videos for casting technique.  What started as a rest day activity became a full blown hobby for me.  Bass and carp can provide an extra challenge after you figure out trout.
The perfect fly means nothing unless presented properly.  You will get much better information at smaller fly shops rather than big sporting goods stores.
Good luck and welcome to the affliction.  Fishing should be pretty good along the Front Range as temps rise and the water is still cold.  Spring runoff can be tough and dangerous, but you can always head to tailwaters (controlled flows below dams).  Good looking flows on Boulder Creek, South Boulder Creek and the Big Thompson... just sayin!

Colorado flows:
http://www.dwr.state.co.us/Surfacewater/default.aspx

NAFFF:
https://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/index.php

Hatch Charts:
https://www.coloradoflyfishingreports.com/reports/hatch-chart.cfm

Local reports:
http://www.rockymtanglers.com/
https://besttennisshoes.info/best-tennis-shoes-for-plantar-fasciitis/                                                                                                                                                                                  frontrangeangler.com/

Knots:
www.animatedknots.com

Top 10 flies for the front range in my opinion:
-tan or black foam hopper
-elk hair caddis
-stimulator
-rusty spinner
-black or red zebra midge
-copper john
-pheasant tail
-prince nymph
-girdle bug
-black, olive, gold, or brown wooley bugger

I have tow year experience of fishing. I go to fishing every weekend in normal weather but. I am still facing difficulty to caught Fly fishing i have visit may youtube videos and read many fishing tips these are help me but not proper but i think that in start of fishing should need a good guidance....? 

How you become expert of fishing with guidance or self learning.....?
i am not saying that you are wrong i agree with you but guide is must to learn your post was informative can you explain that which kind of place will be best for Fly fishing.....?

john jake wrote:

I have tow year experience of fishing. I go to fishing every weekend in normal weather but. I am still facing difficulty to caught Fly fishing i have visit may youtube videos and read many fishing tips these are help me but not proper but i think that in start of fishing should need a good guidance....? 

How you become expert of fishing with guidance or self learning.....?
i am not saying that you are wrong i agree with you but guide is must to learn your post was informative can you explain that which kind of place will be best for Fly fishing.....?

Fishing friend of dubious authenticity... I am recommending you are to hire a guide.  I am not expert, just love to cool off my feet in coldest of mountain streams while flogging water with fly rod in hand.

Best place to fly fish is where there are fish.

Hey Kyle,
Another good resource for maps is TroutRoutes (full disclosure, my current employer). We've spent years mapping and rating trout streams in Colorado, mapping public land parcels like easements and SWA's, mapping out trails and parking spots. We have all the stream gages integrated into the map, we also have cool things like stream elevation maps. Other mapping resources like OnX and CPW are decent, but really miss the overall mark for trout streams. Don't have hatch charts or weather, but you can guess that's on our roadmap. Best yet? It's currently free on Android and Apple. Check it out, pass along any feedback! -Zach

Apple App store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/troutroutes/id1423989574
Android Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.troutinsights.troutroutes&hl=en_US

Best Sneakers Under 100

Way back in the day (30 yrs ago) climbing buddy and I scrambled down some death defying mountain goat "trail" into Black Canyon and spent 3 glorious days camping, fishing, bouldering and scrambling around.  Was an epic experience with fantastic fishing!!  I recommend you do that.  As a climber, you will feel completely at home down climbing loose class 4 with a backpack on while your fly rod tip gets hooked on everything while you're eyeing the great looking holding water a thousand feet below your feet.  Great fun.  Pray you get a thunderstorm down there so you can hear the auditory wonder of thunder bouncing off canyon walls towards you and then away.  Amazing place.