Fly Fishing Colorado: The Colorado River

The Colorado River
The Colorado River

Day two found us out on the Colorado River bright and early. We opted to float a lower section that does not see as much traffic and we were rewarded with the river all to ourselves. I started throwing a double nymph rig and quickly picked up a trifecta of fish – brown trout, whitefish, and a big sucker (that did stop my heart for a second when I thought it was Walter the big brown). Having pulled several browns in I switched to a streamer and started pounding the banks looking for that big brown and although I gave it a valiant effort, I missed several good fish and came away with a longing to float it again for another chance at a big one.

Colorado River Brown Trout
Colorado River Brown Trout
The Beast
The Beast
Colorado River Brown Trout
Colorado River Brown Trout
Sucker
Two Suckers

We headed back to Jay’s place and after a quick bit to eat, I headed out on the small stream again. I found a few rainbows and a bunch of browns who were willing to play and was even lucky enough to catch a decent PMD hatch before dark, which for an Arizona fisherman was quite an experience to see such a strong hatch. Exhausted, I crashed into bed that night looking forward to a big float on the Eagle River the next day.

Small Stream Brown Trout
Small Stream Brown Trout
Mountains
Can’t go wrong with a view like that
Brown Trout
Brown Trout

 

Small Stream
Small Stream
Rainbow
Rainbow
Small Stream
Small Stream

 

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4 Responses to “Fly Fishing Colorado: The Colorado River”

  1. Dan Wight

    Ben, you make a trip back down to Arizona not so scary for this old North Idaho boy. I guess it just takes a bit of searching to find some good water (and a pair of good knees) The last time we were through the area in 08 on the way to Texas we never saw clear water after we crossed the Colorado on the way to the south rim of the canyon until we hit Santa Fe on the way home…. Thanks for showing me some of the areas you know so well!

    Reply
  2. John Cunningham

    Sounds and looks like a fabulous trip knowing that there was always a chance at that big brown as long as you had the water to cast to.

    Reply
    • azwanderings

      John,
      It certainly was a great stretch. Wish I could go back and float it again in search of the big one, but that’s what keeps us coming back.

      Ben

      Reply

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