Spring Fly Fishing in Colorado
March, April, and May can offer incredible Colorado fly fishing opportunities.
Almost all fly fishermen look forward to spring fly fishing. The ice, snow, and cold of winter are starting to disappear. The days are getting longer, and there are always those beautiful warm days that make any fisherman long for the stream. Fortunately for anglers, here in Colorado, spring consistently offers incredible angling opportunities.
As the temperatures warm, mayfly larva start to become active and the spring BWO (blue winged olive) hatches start. These small mayflies are like candy to the hungry trout who have been waiting all winter to feed heavily. Along with the BWO’s, small dark stoneflies begin to hatch, along with the midges that have been hatching all winter. Many different types of aquatic larva become more active in the spring as the water warms.
Spring is also the time of year when rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and cut-bow trout spawn. In the weeks preceding the spawning activities, trout feed heavily to replenish their energy after a long winter. This insures they are at their sexual peak during the spawn. This pre-spawn feeding activity can make for some exciting early season fishing action! These fish should be handled with extra special care and fought quickly to insure their health going into the spawn.
Although it is very tempting to fish to actively spawning fish on “reds”, it can interfere with the trout reproductive cycle and can have
adverse effects on future fish populations. “Reds”, otherwise known as spawning beds, can be easily identified. They are usually in relatively shallow gravely areas and usually show up as a lighter colored circle or oval as large as 2-3 feet in diameter. Often many of these “reds” will be found together in one area of the river. Anglers should take care not to walk through these areas as it can crush and disrupt fertilized eggs. Fish actively spawning can be identified when seen flapping or flashing on their side repeatedly. These fish should not be disturbed.
For a month or two after trout spawn they again feed very heavily to regain the weight and energy they expended. This can give fly
fisherman some exciting opportunities at big fish that might not be as picky as they are at other times of the year.
Great spring fishing is available close to Denver. The South Platte is legendary for its spring fly fishing opportunities and the lunker trout that are pulled from its depths every season.
Give us a call and get out and enjoy the spring fly fishing opportunities that we have available.
Hope see you on the river this spring!!
