There might be more fly fishing opportunities closer to home than you think, right here in the Denver Metro area. We often meet anglers who are surprised to learn that they can find pike, bass, walleye, wiper, panfish and carp willing to eat a fly – all right here in town.

Whether your favorite river is experiencing runoff conditions, or if you simply want to enjoy some fishing close to home, these warmwater species are a ton of fun. Warmwater fish provide anglers with great opportunities during runoff season and throughout the summer.

In fact, these varied opportunities were the inspiration for the original, Mile High 25 On the Fly event. This tournament challenges anglers to catch a wide variety of fish species in only two days time. It’s a ton of fun and it highlights all the great fishing we have here in Colorado – even during runoff. Learn more and register your team here.

As you explore all the warmwater fishing opportunities along the Front Range, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Pike

From Mountain Reservoirs like Elevenmile, Williams Fork and Stagecoach, down to Rocky Mountain Arsenal here in the Denver Area, there are plenty of opportunities to catch pike on the fly in Colorado. 

Pike are ambush predators, and can therefore often be found around weed beds, submerged logs or drop-offs. Rather than cruising for prey, pike will lie in wait. Early in the season, anglers may find pike in shallow water, using the warm sun to boost their metabolism. This creates opportunities for sight fishing. Later in the summer, pike may move into water with more depth. 

When fishing for pike, 7-weight through 9-weight fly rods are ideal in order to cast big, wind-resistant flies. In most cases a weight-forward floating fly line will do the job. If pike seem to be holding lower in the water column, an intermediate sinking line can be helpful. A couple of our favorite fly lines for pike include the Rio Elite Predator and the Scientific Anglers Titan Taper. 

Pick up a Rio Toothy Critter 20lb. Leader and a few pike flies and you’ll be ready to rock. Alternatively, you can build your own pike leaders using heavy monofilament or fluorocarbon. Come visit us at the fly shop or give us a call at 303-794-1104 and we’d love to help get you rigged up.

Bass

Largemouth bass are among the most widespread fish here in the Denver Area. From large reservoirs to small neighborhood ponds, largemouth can be found almost anywhere. Don’t overlook small waters. Even a ¼-acre pond in the middle of a neighborhood might hold surprisingly hefty largemouth.

Smallmouth bass are not quite as prolific, but there are still plenty of opportunities. From Horsetooth Reservoir on the north end of the Front Range, to Pueblo Reservoir on the south end, many Front Range reservoirs are great places to look for smallmouth. Casting from rock dams or fishing from boats along these dams is a great place to start.

When fishing for bass, consider using a 6-weight through 8-weight fly rod. In most bass ponds around town, a floating fly line is the way to go. Consider the Scientific Anglers Bass Bug Fly Line. When fish are hanging in deeper water, adding a sinking leader to your setup can be helpful.

Bass will eat everything from small swimming nymphs, to leeches, to large baitfish patterns. Most trout anglers already have some Hare’s Ear-type nymphs and Wooly Buggers in their fly box. But as the weather gets warmer and bass become more aggressive, it’s fun to throw poppers and experiment with other bass patterns.

Panfish

Before you turn your nose up at a bluegill or a crappie, just know that this is some of the most fun you can have with a fly rod, perhaps within ten minutes of home. Most small ponds in the metro area are home to bluegill, sunfish or crappie.

If you’ve been fishing for bass with your seven-weight and spot a pod of bluegill, you can tie on a small fly. But if you have 3-weight or 4-weight, that’s even better. Try stripping a small nymph or lay a dry fly on the surface. These fish usually aren’t picky. They often prefer weed beds or sunken logs.

When it comes to tackle, there’s really no need to stray from your trout fishing setup. A weight-forward floating line and a standard trout leader will get the job done. 

Carp

Common carp are abundant in the South Platte River through Denver, as well as many of the lakes, ponds and reservoirs along the Front Range. They offer exciting sight-fishing opportunities. And they can easily take you into your backing. What’s not to love? 

While an angler can get started fishing for carp with a standard 5-weight trout rod, something in the 6-weight through 8-weight range would be helpful. Weight-forward floating lines are ideal, as most carp fishing happens in shallow water.

When rigging up for carp, consider using a leader like the Umpqua Deceiver HD Carp Leader. Carp can be spooky and finicky. And when sight-fishing in shallow water, this can present a real challenge. Having a leader that is long and stealthy, as well as very strong, is an important combination. 

For a much more in-depth look at fly fishing for carp, see this previous article on the subject.

Need Help Getting Started?

If you have questions or if you need help getting rigged up, please give us a call at 303-794-1104 or come visit us at the fly shop in Littleton. We’d love to help you get after these fun warmwater species right here in the Denver area.