Cache La Poudre and Joe Wright areas of Colorado

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

I’ve decided to make a trip out to catch grayling (and trout) in Colorado, and I might even be dragging tlerm with me. We are planning on hitting Joe Wright for part of one day for the grayling, and then heading out from there to get into some trout. I was in the general area 2 or 3 years ago, and had a good time fishing some streams in the roosevelt forest, and am possibly looking at doing it again. I tried to meet up with another FAOL member on that trip, but it didn’t quite work out and we missed each other.

We’ll be camping, and probably arriving in the area Friday AM, and fishing Friday and Saturday before leaving Sunday AM. The date is still not set in stone, but possibly we’ll be out there on August 19th and 20th.

Anyone have any suggestions for us or care to meet up for some fishing? I would welcome any recommendations or pointers that you may have for us as well regarding fishing locations, patterns, or campspots.

Greg

2

I thought the Big Hole river in MT has the Southern most population of Grayling??

3

From what I understand, Colorado stocked them for a while. Not sure if they still do or not. Joe Wright has a population that is sustaining itself now, and they are found in several other lakes as well.

4

You are correct Blue, Joe Wright has a self sustaining population of Grayling and you can catch them! Just over the pass in North Park are a myriad of small streams and Rivers that have lots of DOW leased access. Look at the Colorado fishing network website for stream flows and current hatches.

5

I haven’t heard how Joe Wright has been fishing, but here is a recent posting about it on a local forum: http://www.fishexplorer.com/co/fxrforum.asp?action=det&pid=220705

Here are links to the same good local fishing forum with info on the water, and some current conditions:
FishExplorer: Joe Wright Reservoir
FishExplorer: Cache la Poudre

Also, here is a link to the Colorado Streamflow page for the South Platte drainage. The Poudre is running extremely high right now!
Colorado Streamflows, South Platte drainage

6

I have caught a total of 1 grayling in my life from a lake in the White Mountains in AZ. Which I am pretty sure is south of Montana.

7

I agree. The South Platte is about the only thing around that isn’t blown out from runoff. We had a snowpack that ran as much as 400% of normal. Last I heard, Trail Ridge Road (12,000+ ft) was not open yet and may not open this summer! It is almost always open by Memorial Day. With all flood control on the South Platte, flows are pretty good for the most part. They are refilling several reservoirs that suffered greatly over the last few dry years.

8

There are other CO lakes with grayling in them. The one I fish is tough, tho, full of suckers that muddy the waters all summer.

As for Montana, I have caught grayling in the Gallatin and in the lower Madison rivers, and in a few lakes around that part of the world.

9

I had heard that with all of the extra snowfall that runoff would be pretty heavy this year, so we are hoping that mid-August will be better fishing. Thanks for the pointer on north park. We were considering going back east and then south from the poudre into some small streams up there.

I’m glad to see some moisture out there. Last time I was out, the drought conditions were pretty shocking.

10

This is true wrt fluvial (stream dwelling) grayling. As noted, Colorado (and perhaps others) has been stocking them in lakes for some years.