Fly Fishing Colorado: A Review

In 2008 the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) released a new video called Fly Fishing Colorado. More than two years in the making the DOW touts it for fly fishers of all skill levels, saying all will benefit from this "comprehensive look at year-round fly fishing opportunities in Colorado." The timing of the release is just right for any fly angler chomping on their waders to get on Colorado's abundant fly fishing waters.

The Menu has two options: Play Movie, or Month Index. The movie begins in March and ends with winter fishing. I watched the entire DVD first. Monthly sections begin in March and go through October, and my subsequent viewings will begin here so I can watch current, pertinent information. While transitions between segments, for me, are a bit awkward, and some of the music is out of place, overall the DVD is very well done. The narration is clear and concise, and most commentary is excellent.

Each month covers specific hatches, very basic fly patterns and techniques, and highlights waters where species of fish are most active. In addition to trout, the main attraction for most fly anglers, other fish species, flies, destinations and opportunities are also noted. Sub-menus available within each month, offer viewers the opportunity to easily review specific topics.

In addition to many delightful segments on trout fishing, which cover all four species of trout as well as cold-water grayling, mountain whitefish and Kokanee salmon, the DVD presents warm water fly fishing opportunities for wipers, largemouth bass, sunfish and Northern pike. Missing are smallmouth bass, crappie, carp, and perch, also common fly angler targets. A lovely section on native Colorado Cutthroats - Rio Grande, Colorado River and Greenback - is included.

Much of the footage is very realistic fly fishing footage, even though more time is spent seeing fish hooked and landed than is usually experienced; and that's fine. I like the fact that a few really big fish are hooked and landed - in several cases it is clear that more time was invested to hook these fish - and that small and medium fish are also hooked and appreciated by the anglers. At one point, the angler says something about the fishery being healthy when a small fish is landed, and that is a good thing to note. The emphasis of the DVD is enjoying Colorado's vast array of fly fishing opportunities, which we should all appreciate.

Colorado's fish and the beautiful places they inhabit are the main thrust of the DVD. The scenery is lovely. The promised fly selection and instruction sections are limited, but will be useful for new fly anglers; this makes sense as the DOW says the DVD is also designed to recruit anglers. On that note, I would have liked a basic section on proper fighting, landing, handling and releasing fish. All fish are released in the film. The narration does include a dandy section encouraging anglers to keep and immediately fry small brook trout in high, remote areas where they tend to overpopulate; a nice touch.

The DVD follows emergences of insects through the fishing season, covering blue-winged olive, caddis, stoneflies, green drakes, red quills and pale morning duns, as well as lake emergences of callibaetis and damselflies. In each case specific drainages are mentioned for the emergences. At the start of each segment a dandy map with the location being discussed appears so we know where we are; at the end additional spots are highlighted on the Colorado map. Specific DOW waters are often mentioned, which makes sense, while other, very popular angling areas are almost or completely ignored. And I agree with that portion of the DVD coverage.

It appears that a purposeful attempt was made to introduce less-fished areas to Colorado anglers. Even though the heavily-fished Roaring Fork, South Platte, Arkansas, Gunnison Gorge, Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Delaney Buttes are often mentioned, such areas as the Conejos, White, Yampa and general invitations to high mountain lakes and small streams are also highlighted. I hope this encourages anglers to venture into new territory in order to try new waters.

Even though I'm often critical of fly fishing movies I enjoyed seeing the places, fish and bugs, and pictures of people having fun fly fishing as presented in Fly Fishing Colorado. I'll watch the DVD again, and will definitely share it with friends. I recommend that you to add it to your video collection and hope you enjoy watching it, dreaming and planning your time participating in Colorado fly fishing.

Fly Fishing Colorado is nearly two hours long. It sells for $22.00 and is available at DOW service centers and at www.wildlife.state.co.us/wildlifestore.com, and by now should be available at fly shops and other sporting goods retailers.

Good viewing; good fishing!