Cache la Poudre
Thecache la Poudre is a fantastic fly-fishing destination, where anglers can catch rainbows, brookies, native cutthroat and browns— lots of browns. But it’s best selling point may be that there’s both plenty of river and plenty of access. Meanderwest up Poudre Canyon Road from Fort Collins, find an empty pullout— practically any one of them will do— park your car, tie on a fly and catch some fish.
The Poudre largely flows through public lands, and a 30-mile stretch has been designated as wild and scenic. Fishing regulations vary up and down the canyon; two sections are managed as “wild trout waters,” allowing only for artificial lures and requiring that all trout be immediately released. Check the rules before you go. cpw.state.co.us/ learn/maps/ CPW_ FishingthepoudrecanyonBrochure.pdf
The High Lonesome Ranch
Fish hard, relax harder. Turn your fly-fishing adventure into a fullblown, laid-back luxury vacation at one of Colorado’s fishing lodges. At the High Lonesome Ranch outside of De Beque, you can fish for four kinds of trout right on the premises or join one of the outfit’s guides on an expedition to the Roaring Fork or the Fryingpan rivers.
Catch a slew of lunkers and head back to the ranch, where you can sit back in a rocking chair, kick up your boots and let the executive chef take care of dinner. A two-day, three-night guided fly-fishing getaway will run you about $1,635 to $1,870 per person. 970-283-9420, thehighlonesomeranch.com
Eleven Mile Canyon
Just below the 135-foot tall Eleven Mile Dam, the South Platte River spills out into a scenic canyon dotted with pines and punctuated with jumbled granite outcroppings. Trout thrive in the first couple of miles below the dam, where fishing regulations require artificial lures and catch-and-release.
The canyon, accessed from Lake George, is only a couple hours drive from Denver, which can sometimes make for crowded conditions. But an abundance of hungry trout means there are still opportunities aplenty to set your hook. Courtesy of Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting
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