The Northern Front Range of Colorado presents the angler an array of water from tight pocket to medium sized rivers, all within reach of Denver/Boulder area. Every blue line of the map usually means fish. The Rocky Mountain National Park has over 450 miles of fishable water alone. Many streams rush out of the Mountains rather quickly. A tight-line, high stick dry method, take fish on a consistent basis. On ...

a majority of Freestone’s, the longer runs and deeper pools allow for longer casts and certainly hide more fish, but at times of the year, an angler may be able to step/cast/catch on any piece of water. Brown trout flourish in lower sections of the streams, with rainbows, cutthroats, brookies following upstream to the headwaters. The Big Thompson, The South Platte, North St. Vrain, South Boulder Creek, and Clear Creek offer tail-water options for winter. Our season starts with Midges and Winter Stones until the Blue Wings start to pop around late February to early March. Sporadic Caddis hatches give way to the mother lode, the annual Mother’s Day Hatch. This Hatch is long gone by the time the date actually arrives. Run-off hits around the second week of May in earnest, coinciding with Large Stones and Big Flies. Run-off can last until the last week of June to the fourth of July. Callibeatis on ponds and lakes, hone your skills in anticipation for the PMD, Green Drake, Flavs, Red Quills, and Tricos to come. Terrestrials take hold of the long days of summer giving way to the October Caddis and finally, Beatis that completes the cycle.