"Graham Knight" wrote in message
...


Robert Brinson wrote:
I have been considering Colorado, as that would
be a fairly easy drive and my wife and I have friends in the Colorado
Springs area.

Near Colorado Springs there are some very nice stretches of the Platte
River. Eleven Mile Canyon is a great stretch of water with lots of large
fish. The closer you are to the dam the better. Upriver a bit is the
"Dream Stream" - the section of river in between Spinney and Eleven Mile
Reserviours. That stretch hasn't been fishing quite as well lately, but
is usually good for a number of fish and at least one or two really nice
sized ones. Downstream is Cheeseman Canyon and the Deckers area.
Cheeseman was one of the finest places around, but the fires really
clogged it up. Hoping for a rebound next year. You need to take a pretty
good hike to get into Cheeseman Canyon too - which adds to the quality
of the fishing.

I don't use guides, so have no real recommendations in that department,
but if you check the fishing report at the Blue Quill angler
http://www.bluequillangler.com/stream.html you will find pattern
recomendations that are *usually* pretty spot-on.

If you bring one fly to the area make it a size 24 or 26 gray RS-2.
Trail that with a size 24 or 26 gray RS-2 and you'll usually do pretty
well - if you get my drift. ;-)

Not sure what time of year you were planning, but the trico hatch in
eleven mile canyon is a fly-fisherman's dream come true. Bring plenty of
trico patterns and some PMD's if your fly is dry.

If you were going to pay for play I'd consider boxwood gulch.
http://www.boxwoodgulch.com/
Graham


Hi Robert,
Decent advice from Graham about Eleven Mile Canyon. Depending on when you
visit Colorado, you really need to consider water flows for wherever you
visit.

I looked at the Three Forks Ranch website. "Pricey" you say. Me thinks so
.. . .but you get "custom built" fish.

Probably important to you if you are fairly new to fly fishing, in Colorado,
is to get a guide for at least a half day . . .and practice your casting . .
..before you get here . . .with wind.
And the flies can get kinda small out this way. Seems for my technical
fishin' I start at a size 18 and then go smaller . . .translation . . .I
can't catch crap, with bigger stuff . . .depending on the day.

Heh . . .heh . . . but can catch stuff with sizes 4,6,8,10, in the streamer
and nymph stuff. (did I mention a guide for a half day?)

Here in Colorado, typically, what many have to adjust to is the altitude. I
wouldn't unpack in Colorado Springs and head "up" without a day or so,
unless you are used to about 6000 ft to start. The air gets "skinny"
fairly quick.

Don't rule out the Arkansas River. Starts near Leadville, Colorado, and I
think finally ends up in the Mississippi.

Here are a few websites if you use Colorado Springs as a base.
http://www.anglerscovey.com
Colorado Springs, CO
Used to teach fly fishing for them . . . good folks . . .no
affiliation now.
http://www.royalgorgeanglers.com
Canon City,CO
Have talked to them occasionally. Straight forward info.
http://www.arkanglers.com
Salida, CO
Always seem helpful. . .seems I talk to them most in the
Spring for the Caddis hatch info (g)

Will give you a start, with the other posters.
DaveMohnsen
Denver