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Fly fishing Colorado/Montana--need some weekend recs

Posted on 3/11/21 at 9:20 am
Posted by PapaPogey
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2008
40465 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 9:20 am
So I'm looking to make a solo trip up to Colorado or possibly Montana and wanted to get some advice on where to go, when to go, and who to go with?

Is mid summer still too early? Or should I be looking to go a little bit later? I ask because I've got a flight voucher that expires in September of this year.

Also, since I've never done this before and don't have the needed equipment, I'd like to hire a guide for maybe a day or 2.

What yall think should be the play here?

ETA: doesn't necessarily need to be a on a weekend, but I'm looking at probably just a quick 2 or 3 day trip max.
This post was edited on 3/11/21 at 9:21 am
Posted by mylsuhat
Mandeville, LA
Member since Mar 2008
49840 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 9:32 am to
If you're willing to hike 6-7 miles in, check out Beartrack Lakes . Right outside Denver


We didn't fish but there were a crew of 6+ fly fishing the lake. It's supposedly very good fishing
This post was edited on 3/11/21 at 9:33 am
Posted by Sanchez425
Member since Feb 2021
30 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 9:45 am to
Fly into Gunnison and take the highway from Blue Mesa to lake city. It follows several River the entire way. You can pull off and do pretty well anywhere along that highway. Mid summer May not be the best because it will be peak snow melt and the flow will be moving pretty quick. Maybe late summer would be a good option, or wait till mid august when the browns spawn.
Posted by Hermit Crab
Under the Sea
Member since Nov 2008
7390 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 10:18 am to
we did awesome on the yampa river in steamboat.
Posted by sloopy
Member since Aug 2009
6902 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 10:46 am to
If you’re looking for a quick 2-3 day trip I’d skip Montana and go for Colorado. It’s going to take a day to get to Montana and a day to get home if coming from Louisiana.
Posted by mylsuhat
Mandeville, LA
Member since Mar 2008
49840 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 1:21 pm to
Unless you fly into Montana
Posted by mack the knife
EBR
Member since Oct 2012
4266 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 1:26 pm to
i've fished around Breckenridge a lot. there are bunches of good streams all within 1.5 drive: arkansas river, colorado river, some smaller streams around leadville. you can also fish "in" Breckenridge but those fish get a lot of pressure. i've done better in June but i have fished successfully in june, july and august. all the fly shops are really helpful for "match the hatch".
Posted by sloopy
Member since Aug 2009
6902 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 2:36 pm to
I went to Montana last year and it was a solid 8-10 hours of flights from New Orleans, however that was way north near GNP.

OP We used lakestream fly shop in Whitefish and had a great time. We’re hitting up vail this summer and will probably use vail valley outfitters.
This post was edited on 3/11/21 at 2:39 pm
Posted by Success
Member since Sep 2015
1951 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 2:47 pm to
Flew into Billings from New Orleans in Nov. Definitely wastes a day there and back though. 3 years ago we drove to mt straight through. Took 36 hours. Fricking nightmare.
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
44948 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 4:43 pm to
Book a spot in Stanley Idaho. Fish around the area. You won't need a guide. August is prime.
Posted by UPT
NOLA
Member since May 2009
5899 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 4:46 pm to
The Frying Pan River, 10 minutes out of downtown Aspen.

You can also fish the Roaring Fork.

Plenty of guide services.
Posted by stickly
Asheville, NC
Member since Nov 2012
2338 posts
Posted on 3/11/21 at 6:06 pm to
Spend more time in Montana and nix Colorado. It is a beautiful state that theoretically has a ton of great fishing BUT the laws in Colorado lean towards owner rights and there is a ridiculously low level of fishable land.

Montana on the other hand has a stupid amount of fishable land. If you go to Island Park, ID and use it as a base camp you can fish a ridiculous amount of public/federal, BLM lands. And the Snake, Henry's Fork, Yellowstone, and Missouri River (up near Craig, MT) are some of the best fly fishing in the world.

If you go to Island Park, ID I recommend you stay in Last Chance. Check out Trouthunter Lodge. ( LINK ) Nice lodging, good food, seriously fishy vibe, and awesome guides. They'll fish with you all day and drink with you all night.
This post was edited on 3/11/21 at 6:40 pm
Posted by uncletrout
North Carolina
Member since Dec 2012
9 posts
Posted on 3/12/21 at 2:42 pm to
Would suggest the Roaring Fork Valley in July or August.

Frying Pan Anglers or Taylor Creek Fly Shop out of Basalt, CO for guides and gear.

Wade the Frying Pan and float the Roaring Fork.
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
7232 posts
Posted on 3/12/21 at 4:12 pm to
Not sure if grad school and field work will allow him to guide this summer, but check with Scott. If he’s not guiding, he’ll set you up with someone good.

LINK
Posted by CheesyF
Member since May 2017
504 posts
Posted on 3/13/21 at 1:33 pm to
Salida CO is a cool town on the Arkansas River and has a ton of guides. Saratoga WY is also a big fly spot on the North Platte
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