This guide covers more than 50 fly fishing destinations, all within a 90-minute drive of Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. Includes descriptions, illustrations, and photos of the region's most common insects and fly patterns.
Colorado's high country is rich with amazing scenery and big, beautiful fish. Unfortunately, many of these highland fisheries are impractical to access. But thanks to veteran fishing guide and writer Phil Tereyla, over 60 mountain lakes in Colorado that are under three miles to access in all corners of the state are now fully outlined and covered in this wonderful new flyfishing guidebook, the Flyfisher's Guide to Colorado's Easy Access Mountain Lakes (Wilderness Adventures Press, 2021). Difficulty to access does not equate to quality fishing; many of Colorado's easy-access alpine gems host fantastic fishing for large trout, including lots of drive-to lakes and reservoirs. Most of these lakes also have the same signature scenery and solitude that has made Colorado so popular for fishing and otherwise. Tereyla shows us where to catch all three subspecies of native cutthroat trout (greenback, Colorado River, and Rio Grande), arctic grayling, big brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, cuttbows, splake, tiger trout, tiger muskie, and more. He also covers tributary streams, inlets and outlets, the right times to pursue these awesome fish, and the flies that work. This book is perfect for families, aging and disabled anglers, and those who would rather spend their day casting to large trout than hiking. It also makes a great gift for the angler who has it all. Don't miss this opportunity to indulge in all that Colorado's alpine lakes have to offer! Pick up your copy today!
From the irrepressible author of Trout Bum and The View from Rat Lake comes an engaging, humorous, often profound examination of life's greatest mysteries: sex, death, and fly-fishing. John Gierach's quest takes us from his quiet home water (an ordinary, run-of-the-mill trout stream where fly-fishing can be a casual affair) to Utah's famous Green River, and to unknown creeks throughout the Western states and Canada. We're introduced to a lively group of fishing buddies, some local "experts" and even an ex-girlfriend, along the way Contemplative, evocative, and wry, he shares insights on mayflies and men, fishing and sport, life and love, and the meaning (or meaninglessness) of it all.
Devin Olsen explains how the techniques he has used to become a repeat medalist in fly fishing competitions around the world can be adapted to everyday fly fishing situations. He covers strategies, tactics, and flies for rivers, small streams, and still waters, allowing anyone to fish more successfully by applying the approaches taken by competitive anglers.
Learn to tie 17 popular nymphs, dry flies, and streamers Master fundamental tying techniques in a series of practical lessons "Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying" is a modern course in fly-tying fundamentals covering the essential tools, materials, and techniques needed to tie a wide range of popular flies. With 1,000 photos, Craven covers cutting-edge techniques for the more tried-and-true classics, such as the Royal Wulff, Adams, and Hare's Ear, and shares innovative approaches to current patterns such as the Brassie, RS2, and Copper John. With clear, concise text, Craven provides tips and techniques from his over thirty years of tying flies for fly shops on Colorado's Front Range. This book is built on Craven's successful fly-tying classes, which start out with simple flies and work toward more complex patterns, all the while teaching techniques and introducing materials by tying popular patterns that catch fish in Eastern and Western streams. This series of lessons show how flies build on one another, enabling readers to tie a wide range of patterns simply by breaking them down into parts. Craven illustrates the progression with his meticulous directions to fingerbusters like Copper Johns, Stimulators, and Humpies. This book, which is sure to become a standard text for basic fly tying, covers 17 flies (including recipes for popular variations), including the Brassie, Black Beauty, RS2, Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph, Copper John, Woolly Bugger, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Adams, Rusty Spinner, Parachute Blue-Winged Olive, X Comparadun, Royal Wulff, Humpy, and Goddard Caddis.
Once thought to be extinct, Colorado's famed greenback cutthroat trout is in the process of making a remarkable comeback. There are now over 50 waters along the Colorado Front Range where fishermen can experience the thrill of catching this beautiful fish. Colorado Greenback Cutthroat Trout: A Fisherman's Guide will tell you about the biology, history, and the amazing recovery of the greenback, along with information on where and how to catch this unique and colorful fish. The survival of the greenback cutthroat now hinges on the combined efforts of state and federal agencies, wildlife organizations, and the volunteer work of numerous fishermen and citizens. This book is dedicated to those individuals and organizations, and to the premise that wild native trout such as the greenback are more than worth all of our conservation efforts.