FLY FISHING COLORADO'S EAGLE RIVER
The start of the fishing season had officially snuck up on me, just like tax day each year, and this time the potential hurt was real. A very generous friend was offering up his place out west – a stone’s throw away from the Eagle River in Colorado – to call home-base for a long weekend of fishing at the beginning of April. Being pre-tourist season, the flights would be cheap and the fishing would be hot. What could be a better way to kick off this year’s fly fishing endeavors? Now, to find a colleague to cover my shifts to make this happen was the real challenge – as a group, foresightedness is not necessarily a strength. Never intentionally, but somehow our trips are often scraped together last minute in a zealous frenzy after an opportunity has ambushed us.
Well it suffices to say, the fishing gods were willing to give me a pass this time around and, thanks to some understanding co-workers, I was able to join the Eastbound and Trout crew for some primo early spring western mountain stream fishing.
Just under 2.5hrs west of Denver, the small town of Wolcott is adjacent to a magnificent Brown, Rainbow and “Cutbow” fishery that stretches 60 miles as a Colorado River tributary originating at the continental divide. Our friend, Jim Benedict, perhaps one of the most die hard fly fishers out there, was kind and generous enough to play host and guide on our introduction to spring fishing in Colorado’s high country. We were curious to see how active trout would be with ambient temps getting no higher than mid 40s during the day and water temps averaging around 42 degrees. We were reassured by Jim and his tales of 5 to 10 pounders lurking deep in the Eagle’s waters. And boy would the tales come true!
Grabbing the earliest flights to Denver that we could, we managed to get our 4×4 rental through the foothills and over the passes to Wolcott by early afternoon where Jim was chomping at the bit to get our lines wet before the sun dipped behind the peaks. Our general MO on new flows, as a group, is to divide and conquer – each of us choosing a slightly different approach in an attempt to most efficiently ascertain what our aquatic friends are finding most palatable. Eric opted for a timeless classic – a modest black wooly bugger on the end of floating line and 3x tippet. Well, the water was running a bit low and achieving any sort of depth at the run he picked proved unnecessary – the lucky schmuck pretty much topped the day within the first few casts, netting a dark crimson-streaked 20 inch rainbow. Jerrod was close behind, catching a few 16-18 inchers with his 11’ nymphing rod, tight-lining various midge patterns in sizes 22 to 26.
Before long, jet lagged and partially numb from wading in 40 degree water, we headed back to Jim’s mountain-side digs where dry clothes complimented smooth Tennessee whiskey. With views of the vast mountain landscape giving way to darkness, we settled in for eats while Jim regaled us with his knowledge of the elegant Eagle and the fish it nurtures, in preparation for tomorrow’s pursuits.
Over the next 3 days we got our fill. There was plenty of plump and hungry trout willing to indulge us as long as we could manage to stay relatively warm and dry. This proved a bit of a challenge as 70% of the time there was some sort of precipitation whether it be rain, snow or a fine wintery mix. But alas, we fished her hard and long. Thanks in large part to Colorado Angling Company’s proprietor and good friend of Jim’s, Joe Macomber. Joe is about as western laid back and fish-minded as it gets. I don’t care how much expertise you think you have – when approaching new waters, a good guide by your side is priceless. With insight, tips and tricks that only a local with years on this river could provide, he was an asset through and through. Both Jim and Joe introduced us into the world of going small. So small that our Eastern fly boxes had nothing to provide. This new world of small is something we would bring back to the east with us, changing our techniques forever. We will leave that tale for another article.
The tip of the trip was nymphing midge variations like Egan’s Rainbow Warrior and RS-2’s in sizes 18-22 in deep boils and runs. And like Eric found, streamers thrown straight across with short, quick strips were the most successful early in the day before the water warmed up. When temperatures rose in the afternoon, we experienced some delightful top water action using tiny dry midge and blue winged olive patterns through some impressive (at least to our northeastern eyes) hatches. For those of us with less than 20/10 vision, we would put a more easily visible hopper or attractor pattern in front of the size 18 or 20 midge or BWO behind it, serving as an indicator.
After it rained hard through the night before our last day, the river was blown out. Luckily, our hero of the day and honored host, Jim, set us out in the direction of a couple ponds high up in the mountains. It was good to take a break from wading in the frozen waters of the Eagle and sit back on the pond banks, enjoying the views, sipping on beers and slinging streamers to fat-piggy stock rainbows looking for trouble. We had to share this experience with some of the natives however, which I suppose, we didn’t mind – elk, mule deer, marmot, bald eagles and wild turkey were all present and accounted for.
Like a honey bee finally getting its fix, we returned east with our addiction satiated, however transiently. At least the memories last while the cycle continues.
Special thanks again to Jim Benedict for taking us in and sharing the experience with us. Also thanks to Joe Macomber of Colorado Angling Company for the sage intel, stylish swag and good company.
For more information on fishing the Eagle River, reach out to Joe Macomber of Colorado Angling Company. He can be reached by going to his website www.coloradoanglingcompany.com or by phone at (970) 368-5959.
AUTHOR
FLY FISHING COLORADO'S EAGLE RIVER
The start of the fishing season had officially snuck up on me, just like tax day each year, and this time the potential hurt was real. A very generous friend was offering up his place out west – a stone’s throw away from the Eagle River in Colorado – to call home-base for a long weekend of fishing at the beginning of April. Being pre-tourist season, the flights would be cheap and the fishing would be hot. What could be a better way to kick off this year’s fly fishing endeavors? Now, to find a colleague to cover my shifts to make this happen was the real challenge – as a group, foresightedness is not necessarily a strength. Never intentionally, but somehow our trips are often scraped together last minute in a zealous frenzy after an opportunity has ambushed us.
Well it suffices to say, the fishing gods were willing to give me a pass this time around and, thanks to some understanding co-workers, I was able to join the Eastbound and Trout crew for some primo early spring western mountain stream fishing.
Just under 2.5hrs west of Denver, the small town of Wolcott is adjacent to a magnificent Brown, Rainbow and “Cutbow” fishery that stretches 60 miles as a Colorado River tributary originating at the continental divide. Our friend, Jim Benedict, perhaps one of the most die hard fly fishers out there, was kind and generous enough to play host and guide on our introduction to spring fishing in Colorado’s high country. We were curious to see how active trout would be with ambient temps getting no higher than mid 40s during the day and water temps averaging around 42 degrees. We were reassured by Jim and his tales of 5 to 10 pounders lurking deep in the Eagle’s waters. And boy would the tales come true!
Grabbing the earliest flights to Denver that we could, we managed to get our 4×4 rental through the foothills and over the passes to Wolcott by early afternoon where Jim was chomping at the bit to get our lines wet before the sun dipped behind the peaks. Our general MO on new flows, as a group, is to divide and conquer – each of us choosing a slightly different approach in an attempt to most efficiently ascertain what our aquatic friends are finding most palatable. Eric opted for a timeless classic – a modest black wooly bugger on the end of floating line and 3x tippet. Well, the water was running a bit low and achieving any sort of depth at the run he picked proved unnecessary – the lucky schmuck pretty much topped the day within the first few casts, netting a dark crimson-streaked 20 inch rainbow. Jerrod was close behind, catching a few 16-18 inchers with his 11’ nymphing rod, tight-lining various midge patterns in sizes 22 to 26.
Before long, jet lagged and partially numb from wading in 40 degree water, we headed back to Jim’s mountain-side digs where dry clothes complimented smooth Tennessee whiskey. With views of the vast mountain landscape giving way to darkness, we settled in for eats while Jim regaled us with his knowledge of the elegant Eagle and the fish it nurtures, in preparation for tomorrow’s pursuits.
Over the next 3 days we got our fill. There was plenty of plump and hungry trout willing to indulge us as long as we could manage to stay relatively warm and dry. This proved a bit of a challenge as 70% of the time there was some sort of precipitation whether it be rain, snow or a fine wintery mix. But alas, we fished her hard and long. Thanks in large part to Colorado Angling Company’s proprietor and good friend of Jim’s, Joe Macomber. Joe is about as western laid back and fish-minded as it gets. I don’t care how much expertise you think you have – when approaching new waters, a good guide by your side is priceless. With insight, tips and tricks that only a local with years on this river could provide, he was an asset through and through. Both Jim and Joe introduced us into the world of going small. So small that our Eastern fly boxes had nothing to provide. This new world of small is something we would bring back to the east with us, changing our techniques forever. We will leave that tale for another article.
The tip of the trip was nymphing midge variations like Egan’s Rainbow Warrior and RS-2’s in sizes 18-22 in deep boils and runs. And like Eric found, streamers thrown straight across with short, quick strips were the most successful early in the day before the water warmed up. When temperatures rose in the afternoon, we experienced some delightful top water action using tiny dry midge and blue winged olive patterns through some impressive (at least to our northeastern eyes) hatches. For those of us with less than 20/10 vision, we would put a more easily visible hopper or attractor pattern in front of the size 18 or 20 midge or BWO behind it, serving as an indicator.
After it rained hard through the night before our last day, the river was blown out. Luckily, our hero of the day and honored host, Jim, set us out in the direction of a couple ponds high up in the mountains. It was good to take a break from wading in the frozen waters of the Eagle and sit back on the pond banks, enjoying the views, sipping on beers and slinging streamers to fat-piggy stock rainbows looking for trouble. We had to share this experience with some of the natives however, which I suppose, we didn’t mind – elk, mule deer, marmot, bald eagles and wild turkey were all present and accounted for.
Like a honey bee finally getting its fix, we returned east with our addiction satiated, however transiently. At least the memories last while the cycle continues.
Special thanks again to Jim Benedict for taking us in and sharing the experience with us. Also thanks to Joe Macomber of Colorado Angling Company for the sage intel, stylish swag and good company.
For more information on fishing the Eagle River, reach out to Joe Macomber of Colorado Angling Company. He can be reached by going to his website or by phone at (970) 368-5959.
AUTHOR
Great account and pictures, well written and very engaging! Brought smiles!