Fly Fishing Colorado Trout Fishing Guides

One of the most commonly asked questions is, "What are the best times to go fishing in Colorado?"  We are usually pretty quick to reply, "Any time you can!" We can, however, narrow it down to about a ten-month window.  The fishing is usually very worthwhile from February through November with the best months, or our personal favorites, rated as follows.

September

Crisp days and cooling water temperatures seem to instill in the fish a sense of urgency to fatten up before the availability of food is compromised by the coming winter months.  But everything has a different feel to it as fall approaches.  Finality, harvest, and burgeoning senses of completion and closure temper these days with a sharper edge than the endless days of summer.

We still have great hatches and consistent fishing, but the overcast days will be the best fishing days of the year for those ladies and gentleman who like to streamer fish and are not afraid of a workout.  This is my favorite month!

July -- roughly

Every food source in the river is available to the fish as the ecosystem reaches its biological zenith.  This is probably the best dry fly month of the year, and often it seems as if fish will attack anything floating by it within a three-foot radius.  When the water clears and stabilizes after run-off, which typically is any time between the third week of June and the second week of July, the true fly fishing fireworks of summer commence.

March If you want to catch a lot of fish this is your month. The air temperature can vary from 30 F. to 70 F., and there are chilly days, but the fishing is usually extraordinary. An awesome midge hatch and a pretty good baetis hatch can provide some very good dry fly fishing as well.

April, August, and October can be great months. Conditions play a more significant role and can make the fishing extremely challenging.

They can also make the fishing extremely good. It depends on what you expect out of your day, e.g. big fish, lots of fish, dry fly fishing, etc. There is more risk during these months that the conditions won't be conducive to an experience that lives up to your expectations, but for those people willing to take that risk there is a better chance than in any other month, that the experience will far exceed your expectations.

June and May are marginal months around here depending on the status of our run-off. I spend most of my time guiding up in Montana from late May through mid to late June depending on the snow pack here and when I predict I'll be back in the game here at home. There are occasional windows of opportunity after a cold front when the fishing can be outrageous because of sudden decreases in volume and increases in visibility, but it's nothing to bank on. Hint: go to Montana with me.

November and February can be great months especially if things have had a chance to warm up.  The fishing is very weather dependent relative to the air temperature but if you hit it right it can be great.

December and January are even more weather dependent, but some exceptionally rewarding days can be had if not for any other reason than no one else is crazy enough to fish this time of year.  On a quiet, warm January afternoon I once watched a client in my boat land about twenty fish all between 16" - 22".  We saw elk, deer, ducks, geese, bald eagles, a golden eagle, and most important, he talked me out of marrying his daughter.  It was truly one of the best days of my life.