gained over many years and allow for seasonal problems, water conditions, etc. Use these ratings as a rough guide and comparison to your experience and those of your fly fishing friends.
Private Land
You must obtain permission to fish on private property in Colorado. If you don’t, you can lose your license. Historically, in Colorado the property owner owns the river bottom. Fly fishers cannot cross onto private property just because they were in the water or because they stayed below the high water mark.
In Colorado, you can float through private property if you enter the river on public land and leave the river on public land. Or, you can enter and exit the water on private land if you receive permission from the landowner. You cannot stop, leave the boat, and touch bottom, anchor or beach if you are on private land. Check at a local fly shop or read the Division of Wildlife regulations.
Hatches
We’ve listed the major hatches known for each water. This may change with conditions and fly fishers, so information here is general. From a local fly shop it’s gospel. In most cases try to offer something that matches the hatch.
Common Colorado Game Fish
Illustrations by Joseph R. Tomelleri.
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Colorado Cutthroat Trout
Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
Brook Trout
Lake Trout
Arctic Grayling
Mountain Whitefish
Northern Pike
Walleye Pike
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Kokanee Salmon (spawning male)
Striped Bass
Flies to Use in Colorado
Adams Parachute
Royal Wulff
Comparadun
Elk Hair Caddis
Red Quill
Melon Quill
Colorado Green Drake
Hacklewing Green Drake
Humpy
Lime Trude
Yellow Stimulator
Convertible
Schroeder’s Parachute Hopper
Trailing Shuck Midge
Triple-Wing Trico Spinner
Midge Biot