Colorado Tailwaters: Trout For Miles and Miles

by | Fresh Water

Colorado Trout Video

My father and I set off for Eleven days in the dry air in search of big fish in skinny water. Our trip led us over snowy passes, arid deserts and grassy plains. We fished six rivers with four of them being tail waters that hold fish that are 5-15lbs and extremely educated. These rivers get a lot of pressure making the fly fishing very technical; although you can hook the fish landing them is the biggest challenge. Your reel sings and the battle brings you down the river, up the river, over waterfalls, and under banks then when you think you won, the fish makes a final run into the rocks and breaks your 6x. The whole canyon is filled with silence and you can hear your heart break into pieces. While you re-rig you think of the things you could have done to land the fish “I should have let him wear out, I shouldn’t have chased him, I should of…There was nothing I could do.” These words played over and over many times though out the trip as each of us hooked, battled and lost Trout of a lifetime. Although many were lost few were landed and all were beautiful specimens. The fly patterns of choice were RS2’s, Glo Bugs, Mysis Shrimp, BWO’s, Disco Midges, Scuds, Pheasant Tails and Miracle Nymphs all with the sizes of 18 to 24. Most of the fish we caught could be seen through the gin clear water – all of a sudden the big red stripe you were staring at would rocket out of the water and your line would go tight a rush that any junkie would pay for. I have been to CO many times and the state never ceases to amaze me the fishing is un-real and is only surpassed by to beauty of the mountains. Staring up at the snow covered peaks makes you feel very insignificant and watching the river carving the canyon it created a million years ago boggles your mind. It has remained a place revisited in my mind for years that have passed and will remain for years to come. Thank you Dad for another spectacular trip and until next time keep rewinding those memories.

11 Comments

  1. Fisherboy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Hey joey, nice fish and awsome video. Good luck with the atlantics

    Austin

  2. Luke on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Looks like a blast! That’s what it’s all about. Nice work on the video. Some beautiful scenery out there. Not to mention the Trout!

  3. jeremy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    sweet stuff! .. those rainbows look perfect! clean, cold colorado mountain water will do that ….. i hope you can show me around your CO. stomping grounds sometime sooner than later …. i think you are starting to know colorado better than maine … … i’ll bring the disco midges and coffee …

  4. jason-c on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Great stuff guys. Brings back memories of my old stomping grounds.

  5. waterwhippa on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Excellent read joey. You can tell those fish are hot just by looking at them. The vid was super too. Now string up your 9 wt and get down here.

  6. Shaq on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Great trip. Vid makes the experience. Loved it

  7. wrh on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Joey,

    Very nice video work and editing. The colors on some of those bows are such a beautiful shade of red. I miss those colors as we don’t have a ton of rainbow fishing locally.

  8. joe-m on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Great work Jr. Next time let’s get some picts with out the chew!! HAHA Thanks for always being there! Untill next time
    Dad

  9. timd on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Joey,

    Great post and video. Have had the opportunity to fish a number of locations/states out west and Colorado is probably my favorite. Great fishing, fantastic scenery and always the chance for the fish of a lifetime.

  10. James on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I like the music w/the video, another one of your songs you’ve written and produced?

    Good goove to it.

    Sweet fish too.

  11. colehatch on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Just going through some of the videos on here and this one caught my attention. I spent alot of time of the Yampa below Stagecoach before moving back to N. MI. I lived in Denver for about 7 years and that whole area has some great fishing.
    Sweet vid!