Fly Fishing

In the Pikes Peak Region

The Pikes Peak Region is a favorite destination for anglers on the fly. We have some of the most beautiful trout streams, such as the South Platte River and the Arkansas River, which are easy to get to and enjoy without traveling for hours. If you prefer the still water of lakes and reservoirs, we have many to choose from and several are located on Pikes Peak – both the north and south slopes. If you don’t mind a hike and ike to get away from people and into the woods, our backcountry contains numerous small streams, such as Beaver Creek, Grape Creek, Four Mile Creek and more with browns and brookies eager for your dry fly.

Getting Started

We are fortunate that fly fishing is year-round in our region as our winters include some very mild days and our tailwater streams don’t freeze completely. Spring is a lovely time of year to break out the fly rod but good information about runoff from the local fly shops is helpful so you don’t end up in an area of off-color water, high flows, or blown out small streams. Of course the summer is the most popular time to fly fish here, and don’t overlook the fall! During the brown trout spawning season, fishing can be terrific – just make sure to leave actively spawning fish alone and be careful not to disturb the redds – teir spawning beds.

Pro Tip

To fly fish the Pikes Peak Region, it is recommended that you use a 9′ 5 weight rod – a good all around rod choice size for trout fishing. A heavier rod, perhaps a 6 weight, would be great for stillwater and a lighter rod such as a 2 weight would be great for our small streams.

Be Prepared

Waders and boots are needed for many of our rivers and some local fly shops rent them out (see below). Although we recommend using non-felt sole boots to avoid transporting harmful aquatic critters from one location to another (such as New Zealand mud snails), Colorado does not have any regulations against felt. You can comfortably wet wade our small streams with quick-drying pants and wet wading shoes or closed toe sandals.

Be sure to pack

Fly Rod and Reel
Selection of Flies
Landing Net
Sunscreen
Sunglasses

Outdoor Ethics for Fly Fishing

The Leave No Trace Seven Principles are reprinted with the permission of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. For more information, visit www.LNT.org.

Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the local fishing and boating regulations for the area where you’ll fish. Obtain licenses and stamps and have them with you.
- Use a personal flotation device where required and/or appropriate.
- Learn to identify the different species of fish in the area where you’ll be fishing.
- Obey the limits on size and quantity of fish you are allowed to keep. Abide by regulations concerning types of bait and tackle permitted where you are fishing.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Plan your trip to avoid times of high use.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Durable surfaces include rock, gravel, water, established trails and campsites, sand, or snow.
- Concentrate use on existing trails, campsites, and boat launches.
- Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
- Avoid trampling aquatic vegetation when wading. Refrain from wading in spawning areas when possible.
- Enter and leave water sources at places where the banks are low or where there are gravel bars.
- In pristine areas disperse use to prevent the creation of new campsites and trails.
- Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack it in, Pack it out. Inspect your camp and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all monofilament fishing line, leftover live bait, and bait cups.
- Avoid using lead sinkers and jigs. If lead sinkers are found, pack out for proper disposal.
- Use established bathrooms when available. If not available, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep and 200ft away from water sources.
- Check with local land managers for regulations on disposal of fish entrails. Pack out entrails when possible. If not possible, burial, deepwater deposition, or moving water deposition are acceptable options in most areas.
- To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
Leave What you Find
- When practicing “catch and release”, use barbless hooks and be sure to not injure the fish. Do not fight a fish to exhaustion, use a rod and line of sufficient strength, avoid suspending fish out of water by the fishing line. Keep fish in water when handling for release and do not touch gills.
- Carry and use needle-nose pliers or hemostats for hook removal.
- Take care not to introduce non-native species to water sources and surrounding areas. Pack out all un-used bait and dispose of properly (e.g. worms, minnows, leaches) and properly wash all equipment between fishing trips.
- Avoid transferring fish from one watershed to another.
- Preserve the past: observe, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Campfires can cause lasting impacts. Use a lightweight stove for cooking when possible.
- Where fires are permitted use established fire rings, mound fires, or fire pans and consider bringing your own firewood.
- Keep fires small and use only dead and downed wood that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and charcoal to ash. Ensure that fire is completely out and properly dispose of cold ashes by scattering or packing out.
Respect Wildlife
- Respect fish by humanely dispatching catches you are keeping with a quick blow to the back of the head with a rock or other solid object.
- Refrigerate or eat fish quickly to avoid wasting them. Check local regulations on using stringers.
- Use caution when cooking fish in bear country.
- Never feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Control pets or leave them at home.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Non-motorized crafts usually have right-of-way over powerboats: slower boats should keep to the right.
- If using a radio keep volume low or wear headphones, let nature’s sounds prevail.
- Pick campsites that are away from shoreline or trails and avoid crowding other visitors.

Gear & Services

Sierra Trading Post

5916 Barnes Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80922

Biking, Camping, Climbing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Ice Climbing, Mountain Biking, Pikes Peak APEX, Rock Climbing, Skiing/Snowboarding, Snow, Snowshoeing, Stillwater Canoeing, Stillwater Kayaking, Stillwater SUPing, Street Cycling

JP Fly Fishing Specialties

1100 Grand Ave Canon City, Colorado

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Royal Gorge Anglers

49311 W U.S. 50, Cañon City, CO 81212

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Tumbling Trout

38283 US-24, Lake George, CO 80827

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Bass Pro Shop

13012 Bass Pro Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Archery, ATV/UTV, Conventional/Spin Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Off-roading

Angler’s Covey

295 21st Street Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Sportsman’s Warehouse

555 North Chelton Road Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Archery, ATV/UTV, Camping, Conventional/Spin Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hunting, Off-roading, Shooting, Stillwater Canoeing, Stillwater Kayaking, Water, Whitewater Kayaking

REI

1376 E Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Biking, Climbing, Conventional/Spin Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Pikes Peak APEX, Rock Climbing, Skiing/Snowboarding, Snow, Snowshoeing, Water, Whitewater Kayaking

The Peak Fly Shop

5632 Academy Blvd N, Colorado Springs, CO 80918/ 301 Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO

Fishing, Fly Fishing

South Platte Fly Shop

405 E U.S. HWY 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Broadmoor Outfitters

1 Lake Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Adventuring, Biking, Climbing, Falconry, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Geocaching, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Paintball, Rock Climbing, Ziplining

Rentals

South Platte Fly Shop

405 E U.S. HWY 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Angler’s Covey

295 21st Street Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904

Fishing, Fly Fishing

REI

1376 E Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Biking, Climbing, Conventional/Spin Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Pikes Peak APEX, Rock Climbing, Skiing/Snowboarding, Snow, Snowshoeing, Water, Whitewater Kayaking

Classes

Angler’s Covey

295 21st Street Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Royal Gorge Anglers

49311 W U.S. 50, Cañon City, CO 81212

Fishing, Fly Fishing

South Platte Fly Shop

405 E U.S. HWY 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863

Fishing, Fly Fishing

The Peak Fly Shop

5632 Academy Blvd N, Colorado Springs, CO 80918/ 301 Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO

Fishing, Fly Fishing

REI

1376 E Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Biking, Climbing, Conventional/Spin Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Pikes Peak APEX, Rock Climbing, Skiing/Snowboarding, Snow, Snowshoeing, Water, Whitewater Kayaking

Tumbling Trout

38283 US-24, Lake George, CO 80827

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Guided Adventures

Dvorak Raft Kayak & Fishing Expeditions

17921 U.S. Hwy 285 Nathrop, Colorado 81236

Conventional/Spin Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Water, Whitewater Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting

The Peak Fly Shop

5632 Academy Blvd N, Colorado Springs, CO 80918/ 301 Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO

Fishing, Fly Fishing

JP Fly Fishing Specialties

1100 Grand Ave Canon City, Colorado

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Tumbling Trout

38283 US-24, Lake George, CO 80827

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Angler’s Covey

295 21st Street Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Arkansas River Tours

49311 W U.S. 50, Cañon City, CO 81212

Adventuring, ATV/UTV, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Off-roading, Water, Whitewater Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting, Ziplining

South Platte Fly Shop

405 E U.S. HWY 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863

Fishing, Fly Fishing

Royal Gorge Anglers

49311 W U.S. 50, Cañon City, CO 81212

Fishing, Fly Fishing

REI

1376 E Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Biking, Climbing, Conventional/Spin Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Pikes Peak APEX, Rock Climbing, Skiing/Snowboarding, Snow, Snowshoeing, Water, Whitewater Kayaking

Broadmoor Outfitters

1 Lake Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Adventuring, Biking, Climbing, Falconry, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Geocaching, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Paintball, Rock Climbing, Ziplining

Featured Places to Explore

Curated trails & experiences

Tarryall Creek – Below Tarryall Reservoir

Tarryall Creek is mostly private ranches, but Anglers can fish the tailwaters below the dam and diversion.

Chalk Creek

Easily accessible by road, about ten miles south of Buena Vista. Many pockets and stretches of fishable water all the way up the heavily wooded canyon.

Beaver Creek – Below Skaguay Reservoir

Accessible by trail above the Skaguay Reservoir dam. The section is a 3 mile gentle run before it drops into an untamed, un-trailed, harsh canyon.

Beaver Creek – Above Penrose

Beaver Creek’s headwaters begin at the top of Pikes Peak and cuts its way down to the Arkansas River. Dirt roads to trailhead; hiking required.

More Fishing Actvities

pikes-peak-outdoors-activities-fishing-ice_fishing-CTP_IceFishing_Fotor

More Information

Local Fly Fishing Blogs:

To get some real time, local info on fly fishing, check out these blogs:
The Angler’s Blog

Local Fly Fishing Groups:

Pikes Peak Trout Unlimited
Project Healing Waters – Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak Women Anglers

Guided Fly Fishing:

Many people find that the best way to learn about local waters and the techniques required to catch those fish is to take a guided fishing trip. Our local shops offer a number of options to suit the individual, family, or company outing. Click on “Guides” above for the outfitters who are permitted to guide our local waters.

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