We dive into the best of Colorado to discover the state's best Fly Fishing

With 8,000 miles of rivers and more than 2,000 lakes, Colorado’s fishing scene features some of the best, and most abundant, anywhere.  But with so many choices it can be hard to find the place that’s right for you.  Here’s a list curated by the state’s tourism staffers and given the Topline Magazine seal of approval.  All that’s left is you, your rod & reel, and a few leisurely hours.


 

Northwest Region:

Trout heaven is right here on earth, and it’s called the Fryingpan River just east of Basalt below Ruedi Reservoir. Be ready to play catch-and-release with some of the best fly-fishers around in these Gold Medal waters. Find a little more elbow room on the Roaring Fork River and Colorado River or at Trappers, Pearl Lake State Park or Steamboat Lake State Park.

South Central Region:

Named for the late, great Denver Post outdoor writer’s old stomping grounds, Charlie Meyers State Wildlife Area is also known as the “dream stream.” The hot spot is located on the South Platte River between Spinney Mountain State Park and Eleven Mile State Park east of Hartsel.

Denver Metro Region:

The Denver area has a hefty helping of reservoir and lake fishing at places like Cherry Creek State ParkChatfield State Park and Standley Lake, but what’s truly wild about Denver are the streams and rivers that come down from the mountains, which are full of clear water. Try Clear Creek Canyon near Golden or South Boulder Creek near Boulder for starters.

Front Range Region:

While the trout fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park is so good that it almost hurts, there’s also amazing walleye and smallmouth fishing at Horsetooth ReservoirBoyd Lake State Park and Carter Lake, all between Denver and Fort Collins.

Southwest Region:

The high-mountain Blue Lakes north of Telluride are bluer than the Caribbean and full of native cutthroat trout. Also legendary among southwesterners are the Gunnison Gorge, the Taylor River and Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison.

Southeast Region:

Southeastern Colorado is a fisherman’s best-kept secret. Lake Meredith and John Martin Reservoir near La Junta are two of the favorite places to let the lures spin you into fishing paradise, but this is also where the Arkansas River really picks up steam with thousands of acre-feet of fisherman-friendly water.

Northeast Region:

Things can get a bit dry in northeast Colorado, but that’s a good thing because water storage has reached the level of artform here. This makes Jackson Lake State Park, Prewitt, Empire and Riverside reservoirs near Sterling sure things.


 

Click here to go to Colorado’s tourism website for more information on where else you can go and what else you need for your next Colorado fly fishing adventure.