While the dry-fly activity lasts only as long as the hatch, the morning and afternoon hours produce opportunities for hard-fighting trout as well. The challenge is determining the right flies to use and how to best present them. To do this, a dual-fly rig is imperative. Match the top or main fly with the larger insect you’re imitating, and use attractor flies like Copper Johns to entice strikes.

Winter fly fishing is notorious for bone-chilling days, but some of the most comfortable winter days I’ve had fly fishing have been on the Dream Stream. Because the fishery is located at an elevation of 8,700 feet and is not in a shaded canyon, the sun warms the air and water quickly. The water during this cold season is normally low and clear, so a stealthy approach is crucial. The real treat is the holdover fish from summer and fall, as well as a fresh run of large rainbows, cutthroats, and cuttbows from the reservoir toward the end of winter.

---

Landon Mayer is a guide and author of How to Catch the Biggest Trout of Your Life (Wild River Press, Spring 2007). He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

This article originally appeared in the May 2007 issue of Fly Fisherman.

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next