Colorado Fishing Report

The workhorse of Colorado fly fishing. A 9-foot 5-weight handles everything from midge fishing on the South Platte to streamer work on the Colorado River. Look for a medium-fast action for versatility.

A dedicated Euro-nymphing rod for tight-line techniques on technical tailwaters. The extra length gives you better line control and drift management. Essential for Cheesman Canyon and the Frying Pan.

A sealed-drag large arbor reel balanced for your 5-weight. Quick line retrieval and smooth drag for those bigger fish in the Gunnison Gorge. Machined aluminum stands up to Colorado's rocky terrain.

Size 20–26 midges for Colorado tailwaters. Includes Griffith's Gnats, Zebra Midges, RS2s, Top Secret Midges, and Mercury Black Beauties. The bread and butter of spring fishing.

Blue-Winged Olive emergers and dries for those overcast afternoon hatches. Includes Sparkle Duns, Barr Emergers, and Parachute BWOs in sizes 18–22. Critical for March through May.

Big bugs for big water. Pat's Rubber Legs, Woolly Buggers, Slumpbusters, and golden stonefly nymphs. Perfect for the Arkansas, Colorado, and Gunnison rivers when you want to move some fish.

Stockingfoot breathable waders with reinforced knees for Colorado's rocky bottoms. Look for 4-layer construction for spring cold water. A felt-sole or rubber-sole wading boot completes the setup.

Copper or amber polarized lenses cut glare and let you read the water. Essential for sight-fishing on the Frying Pan and South Platte. Colorado's high-altitude sun demands quality eye protection.

A rubber mesh net protects fish slime coats for healthy catch-and-release. Required etiquette on Gold Medal waters. Look for a magnetic release clip for easy one-hand access while wading.