Outside of some of the January days fly fishing the Roaring Fork River, and the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs can be amazing, especial with one of our bowls of homemade green chile, chicken dumpling soup, gumbo, etc. Today is December 10th and looking at the weather forecast for the next 10 days it will continue to be unseasonable warm. 40 degrees and even 50’s are in the forecast for the week before Christmas. Truly harmful to the ski areas and our winter snowpack. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for some moisture, as we will need it come next year. But for now, take advantage of some amazing fishing. All the trout have moved from the shallows, runs and riffles to the deep holding water. They are stacked up like cord wood in the deepest holes. Right on the bottom. It’s all about midges right now, and will hold true right into March. My go to pattern is call a D-River. I fish this year round, but especially in the winter. My son who is now 12, has been tying these commercially since he was 9 years old. Let me know if you would like to support him. While many people think of midges in the size 20 to 26 range, we tend to go larger, size 16 and 18. Even size 14 works amazingly well, especially of the Colorado River, except the dead of winter. Be sure to book a trip, especial in mid February or March, as our water temperatures begin to rise, and the rainbow trout start to get active with their pre spawn. With March brings the NCAA March Madness basketball, but here in our valley it’s all about Midge Madness. So if your legs get tired from skiing, take a break and go trick some trout. Back in the day, Charlie Meyers, the outdoor sports columnist for the Denver Post, wrote numerous full page articles about myself and winter fly fishing. Why, because it is great, and you’ve got the river to yourself. There is a local contest put on in our valley, called the “Local’s Favorite” I am the Local’s Favorite Guide for a reason. Come check out Harcourt Fly Fishing and like our page on Facebook, Harcourt fly Fishing 3G. Tight Lines, Dustin Harcourt
