I take a week off every August to cool off and relax in Colorado, flying into Denver and then renting a car and venturing wherever the winds lead us. This year I am looking for recommendations on where you would choose to fly fish if you could pick any location within Colorado. Any tips or guidance would truly be appreciated.

Wyoming

Creede, South Fork, Pagosa Springs.

He's flying into Denver, Wyoming is 1 1/2 hrs away with just as good of fishing and a whole lot less folks to deal with.
Avoid I-25 at rush hour , it's a mess.

We have good local beer too !!

I am partial to the Yampa river as I have a second home in Steamboat Springs. It is a quality fishery versus a quantity. If I use a guide I use Straightline Sports in Steamboat. I do a lot of fishing with Rocky Mountain angling club and they have properties all around the state to be accessed. There is also one called rarewaters that is similar but I have not used them yet. August can be a tough as it is still pretty warm up there.

Any headwater stream in the high country will suit you well. Every single one of them about 9000’ or more will be good. Hop on I-70, head west until you’re in the mountains. The opportunities are endless.

This is actually a good point. Laramie is a good starting point and it isn’t much further than where you will start to find fish in the Rockies from Denver.

I think it’s also worth mentioned that you’d be best suited to rent a high clearance vehicle (4x4) if you can get it to get to the best fishing. The best fishing is generally down some rough forestry service roads and even 4x4/ATV only roads.

The South Platte. The Dream stream,Eleven mile canyon and cheesman canyon.

I appreciate all the responses. I will definitely dig into you folks recommendations deeper.

Yep, but the tires will be junk on it, be careful on the rough roads.

I just got back from a week in Buena Vista, about an hour or so on the other side of Colorado Springs. I don't fly fish but I do love to fish and I saw PLENTY of great looking places to fly fish and there are numerous fly shops in all the towns around there. They also have several mountain lakes within an hours drive if you wanted a change of scenery. I caught a bunch of decent sized rainbows on ultra-lite spinning gear on a small lake about 30 minutes from Buena Vista. Plus, when you are done with the fishing, the town of Buena Vista (and nearby Salida) are very cool.

That place might be the most overrated gold medal water I’ve ever been on. Ridiculous amounts of pressure, fish are tough to catch, wind is always blowing like crazy.

Good point. You’d want a 10 ply for the real hard to reach places.

My wife’s cousin was in Steamboat for a couple of years, and I went there and fished with him last August. The Yampa is definitely a beautiful place, and it’s worth checking out. Stagecoach Reservoir tailwater is a great place to visit, too. We fished there several days, and I landed quite a few trophy trout, both rainbows and brownies.

We also took a day trip to the Frying Pan. The toilet bowl area of that tailwater was awesome, but there are also some spots downstream that were stacked with eager and healthy trout. I have some patterns for tying mysis shrimp that were pretty productive.

Thread midges were the star of the trip, but dries were very productive, too. I could go on and on about that trip.

Someone mentioned the area around eleven mile. If you’re going to that area, check out Spinney Mountain Reservoir. I caught one of my biggest rainbows ever in that lake, but I was in a kayak.

I’m officially jealous, BTW.

JR

I've got a trip planned on the Yampa over the July 4th weekend and then multi-day trips in September and October. I'm going to split time up there when I retire in a 6-7 years. It's just too damn hot in Texas from June to September!

You know I think a great question would’ve been what kind of backpacking gear do you have, and are you willing to hike and camp overnight? The absolute best locations (the ones accessible by foot that is) in Colorado require a minimum of a 2 mile hike in after a pretty lengthy drive up some rough forestry service roads.

Good question to ponder, and overall, I am really not that mad at them. I am getting away from my guide business to relax a few days with my wife and cool off. If I catch some fish, great, if not, I will still enjoy the beauty of Colorado and the cooler air temps for a few days.

Can't go wrong at Spinney for big fish on drys. Hoppers-damsels-beetles are prime in August as they cruise the shallow bays. Big pike too.

If you plan on fishing around Leadville and Buena Vista on the Arkansas pm me and I will share a spot I like.

If you want some solitude on a decent sized river system - Conejos/PLatoro. I know several places where you will be unlikely to encounter another person. Camping everywhere, little village at platoro (cabins). I am headed there in exactly 50.5 hours!

Going to be great weather next few days, a little cooler across the West.
Watch for thunderstorms, we've had some pop up when not expected.

Hope you have a great time there. Haven't been there in 10+ years. Let me know how it is and send some pics.

Since you're flying in to DIA head straight West on I 70 and get off at Silverthorne and fish the Blue coldest water in Colorado as in foot numbing cold through waders, nothing but dries. Hop back on I 70 W as you go through the Mtns, you'll pass The Eagle River it'll look great but the fishing will be not so good this time of year with low flows. Continue West and you'll hit the Glenwood Canyon portion of the highway running parallel with the Colorado River. Several pull outs and good access to the river that at this time of year the water is gin clear and you'll be able to pick your fish with good glasses. Continue from there to Glenwood Sps. when you get there you will have a choice of fishing The Pan, Roaring Fork or the Colorado. Scenery is beautiful, temps are moderate during the day 80's since you'll be on the West side of the mountains, night time temps are great. Bigger water = bigger fish and they love big dry flies like Hoppers.
Depending on traffic you can make Glenwood in around 3 1/2 hrs give or take from the airport.
I saw the suggestions for several good waters and you can't go wrong with them since you're wanting to relax and escape the heat. If you have any questions/need more info let me know.

I miss that little cafe at Skyline Lodge. The wagon wheel pancake was my go to breakfast meal.