Fly Fishing Colorado's Front Range: An Angler's Guide (The Pruett Series) - Softcover

Todd, Hosman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0871088932 ISBN 13: 9780871088932

Publisher: WestWinds Press, 1999

Synopsis

This guide covers more than 50 fly fishing destinations, all within a 90-minute drive of Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. Includes descriptions, illustrations, and photos of the region's most common insects and fly patterns.

About this title

About the Author

A fly fisherman for over 30 years, Todd Hosman works as a professional writer and guide. He is also the author of Fly Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park (Pruett). He lives near Boulder, Colorado.

From the Back Cover

Some of America's best trout fishing lies to the east of the Rocky Mountains--and close to the largest cities in Colorado. Fly Fishing Colorado's Front Range takes you to more than 50 great places to fly fish. Explore the St. Vrain, Boulder Creek, Brainard Lake, the Cache la Poudre, the tailwaters of the South Platte, and dozens of other rivers, streams, and lakes.

This comprehensive, compact guide features: 57 fly-fishing destinations, all within a 90-minute drive of Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs Tailwaters, wild rivers, backcountry creeks, and alpine lakes Maps and hatch charts, photos and illustrations Regional fly patterns, techniques, aquatic entomology, and more

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Chapter 1: From Colorado Springs north to the Wyoming state line, a chain of foothills and mountains called the Front Range rises to form the easternmost slopes of the Colorado Rockies. Today around three million people live in the Front Range metropolitan area, but for about a century, nearby lands to the west have been preserved. Hundreds of miles of unspoiled rivers and streams flow through huge tracts of national forests, wilderness areas, and other sanctuaries and parks. The waters there offer ideal habitat for trout -- and wonderful opportunities for the fly angler. Wild and remote as they seem, most Front Range fly-fishing destinations lie less than a ninety-minute drive from the nearest city.

A few thousand square miles of land extend from Front Range cities to the Continental Divide. During your fishing trips in the region, you'll experience an amazing variety of contrasting terrain and conditions. Depending on your destination, you might fish in waters located anywhere between 5,000 and 11,000 feet above sea level. Aspen and evergreen may grow along the banks of one stream; cactus and cottonwood along another. Some waters rush through steep mountain canyons; others meander through flat, grassy meadows of the high prairie. Brushy, backwoods creeks barely five feet across may hold fish as large as those found in broad rivers. The trout might range from eight-inchers to ten-pounders; the most suitable flies, from size #28 midges to size #6 streamers. The prime time to fish could be a sunny summer morning or a snowy midwinter afternoon.

There's much to know about fly fishing in a place as big and diverse as the Front Range. However, the most successful local fly anglers share the same basic knowledge and skills. They know not only where to fish, but when. They know the region's aquatic insects, the best flies, and the most effective presentation techniques. They also understand how to contend with the challenging environments of the Front Range outdoors. With this book as your guide, you'll develop the same kinds of insights. And you'll enjoy fly fishing here even more.

Edition details

• Publisher: WestWinds Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0871088932
• ISBN 13: 9780871088932
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160