Estes Dam, Colorado

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

Four weeks ago I was driving through Colorado and went to Estes Park. As I entered the park I was right below the lake and the dam. There was a flyfisherman swinging some flies so I stopped and chatted with him a couple of hours. He shared loads of information for which I was grateful. I walked about 1/2 mile downstream and saw fish periodically. I am going back to Colorado in a couple of weeks. I will have a day or two off. Estes park is about 80 minutes from where I am staying. Here’s my question: are there still fish below the dam? After the incredible flooding (I missed it by 5 days) I am thinking everything got washed down. Is there anyone who can share by experience whether or not the fish are still there?

I’m not set on just going to Estes Park. I’ll be staying in Denver. If there is decent fishing water that is fairly close (within 1.5 hours) of Denver that is wade-able I’d be glad to fish it.

Any help would be welcome. Not looking for honey holes or secret spots.

Thank you,

Greg

2

Hey Greg, I used to live just outside Denver (Golden, CO), and I know quite a few spots to fish. Don’t know about the situation in Estes Park, but if you are looking for a good place to fly fish, try the South Platte River from Deckers to the confluence of the North Fork of the South Platte. The road is good, and access is all along it, just find a good place to park, get to fishing. Also, the North Fork is good and is “flies only”. Just “Google” Deckers, CO., and check out the map. Tight lines, MIke

3

Thank you very much Mike; this is very helpful.

4

Here is a great resource for fishing in Colorado. http://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/fishingatlas/

5

If you happen to swing through KS, give me a shout… might be able to put you on some warmwater fish!

6

Greg,

Talk to Kirk and Laurie Bien @ Kirk’s Flyshop and Mountain Adventures in Estes. They have been catching lots of fish with clients since the flooding so I’m betting they’ll have some excellent suggestions on where to fish.

7

Thank you Brian; I’ll call them tomorrow.

8

I was going to say Deckers as well. It is a tailwater and I haven’t heard of any major flooding issues down that way. Upstream from Deckers is the famous Cheesman canyon. Huge fish with PHD’s. Very scenic. Requires some relatively strenuous hiking. Downstream has lots off parking areas, most of which are now equipped with permanent latrines. Easy access and wading. Great mountain scenery on the drive from Denver.

Here’s the site for the Deckers fly shop, which has fishing reports. http://www.flies-n-lies.com/

9

Floods have been happening since the dawn of time. The fish just move off to the side.

10

Greg, Estes Park is very difficult to get to right now. Hiway 34 from Loveland is completely gone, highway 36 is cut off at Lyons, Trail ridge road is closed by the Gvernment shutdown. There is limited access from Golden by way of Hiwy 7, but a long way around. The fish are there if you can get there! Good Luck…Paddy

11

They’ve reopened the road between Boulder and Nederland, so it is a faster way to get to Estes.