Front Range

[molson14]

Any body been out fishing the front range?

[trundle]

Up off of Boulder Creek over the weekend and picked up a small brown and a copper john-style nymph. Bear Creek down by Denver has been a little slow up to about a week ago. Run-off is starting to pick up, so I'd get out there sooner rather than later. Heard clear creek was doing pretty well, though its a bit dirty now.

[72Twenty]

I've read about some fun bass ponds on the eastern plains. You guys know about any of those?

[khakis]

Been thinking a lot lately about pike...anybody got experience flyfishing for them around Denver? Looks like Williams Fork, Stagecoach, and Elevenmile reservoirs have them. Horsetooth? Chatfield?

[schwerty]

There are Pike in the Williams Fork? Maybe in the res??? I've ripped some good rainbow lip there!

I'll be Piking next month...in Canada!

[G. Gordon Liddy]

Ugh... You guys are making me jealous. The season doesn't open until the 23rd and currently the local river (wood river) is running about the color of chocolate milk. Not to mention that my wife just informed me that her cousin from Australia is flying in the night before so fishing Silver Creek on the opener might be out of the question! Damn.

[khakis]

Yeah I was referring to the reservoir

[schwerty]

Nothing around here is fishing, open or not. No need to be jealous. Although...the Henry's upper opener is right around the corner! That and lakes, (after ice off occurs prolly in August), is about all that's happening for me until I head to Manitoba in June.

[trundle]

I've got a reservoir that I will be hitting on memorial day weekend within an hour and half for some pike. Just hoping that runoff backs the reservoir up like it did last year, which seems quite possible.

[hartzejr]

stagecoach has some monster pike and a great area in general. I think Rifle and Harvey Gaps are starting to fish real well for pike right now. Eleven mile and spinney also have some decent pike but can be hard to target. Real nice bows in both those too.

For bass on front range, my best luck came from sawhill and walden ponds near Boulder, Golden Ponds in Longmont and Prospect Ponds in the Fort. Although I was always on foot or in my tube. no boat for me.

Man, you guys are lucky I moved, otherwise I would be giving up all my fishing holes...

edit: Man, you guys are lucky I moved, otherwise I wouldn't be giving up all my fishing holes... heh

[khakis]

sweet beta, thanks!

[molson14]

Thanks for all the info! I have never fly fished for pike. What do you need? I would guess a 4,5,6 weight is to light? General gear info would be great.

[schwerty]

Thanks for all the info! I have never fly fished for pike. What do you need? I would guess a 4,5,6 weight is to light? General gear info would be great.

Depends on the size of the flies you will be throwing and the size of the pike. Assuming there aren't any monsters down there, I'd think a 7wt would be fine...8wt would be on point to.

I don't know the water you're fishin' but I'd recommend a sinking tip or line for anytime after they spawn. However, you may not need it if the water your fishing is shallow.

Leader --- make sure it has steel on the end of it or you'll loose fish. For the big guys, I use 30lb mono with a steel leader and swivel on the end.

Flies - Big, ugly, nasty shit. Chartreuse, white, stuff with lots of crystal flash,.......whatever...they like it all. Change colors often.

my .02 anyway.

[el_jefe]

bear creek reservoir in lakewood supposedly has tiger muskie and walleye. i've never tried for them though. linky

[Pow4Brains]

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal has a “lake” with HUDGE pike in it. There is also a pond with bass upwards of 8 pounds. To fish there you have to take a class on “What to do if you stumble across a nuclear war head” which takes about 15 minutes. Once you take the class you are good for the year. The Arsenal is catch and release and artificial flies and lures only.

A friend of mine caught this pig 2 years ago on an eight weight and leech pattern.

[72Twenty]

^^^ That is awesome.

There are some trout ponds over by Jeffrey City, Wyoming (between Rawlins and Lander) that were formed when the uranium mine was in operation up there. The fish get hudge in there... I wonder why?

[Pow4Brains]

Do they glow-in-the-dark too?

[molson14]

I was fishing mid day on Sawhill and Walden Ponds. I did OK, had 4 bass. One was a little bigger than 16 inch. Kind of a weird set of ponds, super shallow.

[slaymore_sessions]

Got up on the Big Thompson in the canyon below Estes yesterday evening. Decent fishing. flows are coming up, but not unmanageable. Clarity good. Hitting on olive emergers. Meager midge hatch was all to be seen.

[molson14]

So I think The Rocky Mountain Arsenal opens soon. I want to go early on opening day. What works well there? Clouser, woolly buggers, or top water stuff? Any key spots anyone knows of? Can I just fish with a five weight there?

[khakis]

Nice! Opens Saturday! I'll be out Sunday morning throwing big angry shit with my 8wt.
Called about the rules, you no longer have to take a class, just pick up a brochure that describes hazards, sign it and keep it on your person at all times. Admission is a $3 honor box.

[molson14]

Any Estes Park beta? I am headed up this weekend and want to fish but not sure where to go.

[slaymore_sessions]

Avoid the Big T below the dam on weekends. It can be a zoo. I'd head up to either Moraine Park or Horseshoe Park in RMNP. Both are fishing stellar right now. Or head up to the Roaring River in the Park with a really lightweight rod and get on some beautiful Greenback cutthroats. PM for more details.