My brother has never fly fished. In our phone conversations over the past few years I’ve tried to convince him to take it up. (He’s lived in the west for a number of years, and I live in the east, and we don’t see each other very often.) Anyway, I think I finally have him convinced. I told him I’d send him a rod and reel, line, leader, and some flies. He has recently moved to the Denver area, and I have no clue as to what flies to send. Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated.
Bob
There is a fine line between fly fishing, and standing in the water waving a stick.
Sawkill;
Small!! A friend and I were planning a trip to the South Platte last July but he had a bout with ill health and we had to cancel. (He’s recovering nicely!!) His son guides out of Colorado Springs and gave me a lot of advice on fly’s and equipment. I had tied a bunch of 18’s to 24’s from Ed Engle’s book “Tying Small Flies” (don’t let the size scare you they are easy to tie. Look up “Pegs Midge & Griffith’s Gnat” in the Fly Archives). Mostly nymphs. Hoppers, ants and caddis for dry’s.
9 foot 5 wgt. floating line. Hip boots as the water is low at that time of year. (On the South Platte.)
There are several places to camp on or close to the South Platte as well as cabins for rent.
I hope this helps, most of my reasearch was on the S. Platte so it is a little biased.
I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!
Well, it all really depends on when he is going to start fishing. The creeks are finished for the year now, and the snow is piling up in the mountains of the front range. I was on the SP a couple weeks ago (both at the headwaters, and around Deckers) and did reasonably well, but I don’t think anyone would argue when I say that the season here in CO is pretty much over, and only the hardcore will be fishing in the winter.
For Spring / Summer / Fall, the flies I use most are dries. Spring will bring back the nice midge and BWO hatches. (although there is still some BWO action going on now)Baetis imitations in sizes 18-22 produce well, as do Adams in the same sizes. Extended-body grey mayflies can be pretty deadly, if you can find/tie ones small enough.
Caddis will come in late spring / summer. Your favorite attractor patterns in large sizes can work wonders on the creeks. I like stimulators, irresistables, crazy-colored foam ants, RW’s, green trudes. Hell, just about anything will work here in the summer.
As far as nymphs go, the same stuff you use will work fine out here. Just send him some of the basics ( princes, PT, HE etc etc) in smaller sizes, say 20ish. In fact, you can probably just send ALL the same stuff you use back east, just two sizes smaller. Except for the mid-summer attractor patterns. Those work well big.
[This message has been edited by Jordan (edited 20 November 2005).]
If you start real early, start with midges and BWO’s, then early caddis, then stoneflies, pmd’s and green drakes, then terrestrials. Very basic, but that should help.
I would have some Adams, copper johns, Pheasant Tail, my favorite is wooly Bugger’s both black and olive. Summer you also want a nice selection of ants and hoppers, and midges through the winter.
The Charliesfly box website that was suggested is a good site and If you have any questions just email Charlie. His shop is in Avada(I think) and he is more than helpful. He set me up a bunch of stuff and sent to me here in Arkansas and was more than helpful with any questions. I recommend that shop. A+++.