Favorite Fishing Spot on the Colorado River

For scenery there is no place better than the headwaters of the Colorado river.  During the summer, fly fishing is the way to go.  Rainbow and brown trout rise to take everything from the smallest trico dry flies to a stone fly.  There are rarely more than a few anglers fishing the many miles of the Colorado river.  The head waters of the Colorado river are easily accessible by taking short walks right off the road.  The water during the summer is warm enough that some anglers chose to wade without waders.  A good pair of Teva's or wading boots is usually all that is needed during the summer months.  The spring run off usually produces high coffee stained water that is unsafe to wade but after the run off the water turns to a clear blue.  While the run off shows natures fury with crashing white water, after the run off the sound is usually that of a trickle through the trees. Other great summer time destinations for fly fishing include the South Platte river between Spinney and Eleven Mile Reservoir, and the Blue River.  Both of these locations offer significantly larger fish than the Colorado river at times, and there are significantly more anglers putting pressure on the fish, but nothing beats the feel when a fire engine (aka big rainbow trout) pounds the line and makes a run down stream.  While the fish are frequently larger in size in either of these rivers, there is still something special that calls me to the head waters of the Colorado river. When I have a chance to take out the boat through the month of August I go to Cherry Creek Reservoir for night time walleye fishing.  I like to troll large floating crank baits such as the Matzuo tournament crank baits.  It has been my belief that the walleye have learned what a Rapala looks like and by trolling a large crank bait behind the boat late in the evening the fish are somewhat less reluctant to bite a less familiar looking bait.  I like to get out on the water in the evening and start with a jig and bait along the lower parts of drop offs, and then when the sun goes down pull out the trolling rods.  It is a real joy being out on the water and watching the lights of Denver over the dam at Cherry Creek late in the evening.  The weather cools and the bugs are not to bad around this area. All of the water skiers and jet skis have left and there are typically only one or two boats out on the water.  The shad are essentially blind late in the evening and will congregate around any available light source.  The walleye on the other hand have great eye sight in the dark and actively pray on the shad.  With the rising water temperatures the walleyes' metabolism increases and the need to consume more food means they take shad more readily than when the water cools. While I really like fly fishing and appreciate its gracefulness and surroundings.  My real fishing addiction lies in walleye fishing.