Fall is High Season for Fly Fishing in Colorado

Like mammals, the fish are fattening up for the winter and
fly fishing at altitude is considered high season. This is
because the streams are less crowded and the weather has
cooled. Children are back at school and summer getaways are
a distant memory.

The koakanee salmon make their way upstream to spawn. Brown
trout also spawn in the fall, so take care not to disturb
the spawning fish that they take on brilliant color prior to
spawning, similar in color to Colorado's brilliant fall show
of leaves. After spawning, browns need to feed constantly to
regain their strength.

Be sure to pack dry flies. Match the hatch with fall BWO's,
tricos, midges, and caddis flies. Have nyumphs ready for
large trout feeding under the surface. A dead-on combo is a
small egg pattern with a variety of small nymphs trailed
behind.

Denver fly fishing expert, Tucker Ladd names the 5 top
rivers for fly-fishing in early autumn: South Platte River
at Dream Stream, Eagle River, Colorado River at Parshal,
Williams Fork below Williams Fork Reservoir and the Blue
River below Dillion Reservoir. But wherever you go in the
Rocky Mountains, you can't go wrong. For fly fishing
conditions, weather is predicted to be especially favorable
this fall.

If you want to learn to maximize your day on the river,
outfitters offer courses for all experience levels. Courses
start with Fly Fish 101 "Introduction to Fly Fishing" to Fly
Fishing 220 "Learning the Moffitt Angling System," a one-day
class that begins in the classroom and ends on the water. It
demonstrates and teaches how to maximize the "flies in the
water" time by using the Moffitt Angling System which works
using unique variables: fish-multiple flies to triple the
odds of a strike. Only one knot is required to minimize your
time spent getting ready to cast and the barbless circle hook
is a quick release, and the Moffitt contact leader is
designed to minimize the drag by sinking fast. This contact
leader also eliminates the need for weight, significantly
reducing hang-ups on the river bottom. The Moffitt Angling
system is very effective, but it must be used with caution
and is not recommended for beginners.

18.2 million people fly fish, according to the Outdoor
Industry Foundation Survey: 65% are males 35% are females 18
average outings a year 25% are age 16-24 26% are 25-34 9% are
35-44 40% are 45+ 30% have a household income of less than
$40k 38% have a household income of $40k-$80k 32% have a
household income of $80k+.