Chasing Big Browns on the Colorado: Mid-October Report from Woody Kiehl

It is October 12th, and the Colorado River is finally starting to settle down. Sitting at 1,001 CFS, the flows are perfect for pulling my new Clackacraft drift boat through the channels below Glenwood Springs and the technical stretches below Grizzly Creek. If you are looking for that once-in-a-lifetime tug, this is the time. The water clarity is a bit moody, but that just keeps the tourists off the water and the big boys active. This isn’t about catching fifty dinks; it is about trophy trout. We are talking about big rainbows and big browns that do not play nice. When you hook one, make sure your drag is set and your backing is fresh, because these fish will absolutely dump your reel before you can blink. I’ve been putting my Sage fly fishing setups through the wringer lately, and paired with a trusty Hardy fly fishing reel, they are the only way to go when a twenty-inch brown decides to head for the next county. Currently, the bugs are getting small and specific. We are seeing plenty of Blue Winged Olives in the 18-22 range and some Tricos hanging on in the 22-26 range. If you are casting to rising fish, keep your Harrop’s CDC Biot Dun or a Barr’s Vis-a-Dun handy. If they aren’t looking up, drop a midge emerger deep and hold on. Aspen area fly fishing isn’t just about the scenery, though our scenic float fishing trips offer the best views in the Rockies. If you are planning a bachelor or bachelorette party and want something more memorable than a bar crawl, get your group on a drift boat with Aspen Angling Company. It’s an adventure you won’t soon forget. Whether you are wading near the confluence or hitting the heavy water, respect the river and keep your gear clean to stop the spread of ANS. I’ve spent thirty years guiding these waters, and the Colorado is as temperamental and rewarding as ever. Don’t wait for the first real freeze to lock the river down. Give us a shout at Aspen Angling Company, grab a seat in the boat, and let’s go hunt some monsters before the season turns. The water is calling—are you ready?