Chasing Giants on the Colorado: Fall Tactics for Trophy Trout

It is October 17th, and the Colorado River is starting to show its true colors. We are sitting around 1,000 CFS, and while the water clarity has been a bit temperamental lately, that is just part of the game on a big, brawling river like this. If you are looking for easy numbers, go find a stocked pond. If you want to hunt big rainbows and big browns that will absolutely bury your backing and leave you shaking, then you belong on the Colorado. I have spent over 30 years guiding in the Roaring Fork Valley, and there is nothing like the intensity of this stretch in the fall. Whether we are floating below Grizzly Creek or running the technical water below Glenwood Springs, the stakes are high. Right now, it is all about the BWO hatch. Those little size 20-22 Blue Winged Olives are driving the fish crazy. When the clouds move in, have your Harrop’s CDC Biot Duns or a solid Barr’s Vis-a-Dun ready to go. If you are on the sticks with me in my new Clackacraft drift boat, we are hitting the banks hard. These fish are aggressive, and they are looking for a meal. I have been putting my clients on some absolute studs using my Sage and Hardy fly fishing setups—you need gear that can take a beating when a trophy trout decides your streamer or nymph is the only thing that matters. Speaking of gear, let’s be clear: clean your boots. Don't be the guy spreading ANS throughout our local waters. It’s bad for the river, and frankly, I don’t have patience for it. Beyond the serious angling, this time of year is also prime for group trips. If you have a bachelor or bachelorette party looking for a unique Colorado adventure that involves more than just a bar tab, scenic float fishing with Aspen Angling Company is the ultimate experience. We combine the technical challenge of Aspen area fly fishing with the camaraderie that only a day on the river can provide. From the technical pockets to the deep, heavy runs where the monsters hide, we have the water dialed in. If you are ready to stop talking about it and start pulling on some pissed-off fish, get in touch with Aspen Angling Company. We’ll get the drift boat prepped, the flies tied, and put you in front of the biggest trout of your life. Let's get out there.