August 2nd, Due to our fantastic winter snow pack, August should be the best fishing in years. All of our rivers, the Roaring Fork River, the Colorado River, as well as the Frying Pan River, and the Crystal River are running almost double their yearly averages for both July and now into August. And certainly we can’t leave out the Eagle and White Rivers. While the high flows have presented some issues wade fishing, the float trips are just off the charts good. This has made for some just incredible fly fishing being able to hit all of those pocket in private water as you float by. The wade trips are improving as we speak with lower flows and are really coming into there own.
The higher flows provide cooler water temperatures and better holding water for the fish, a big advantage to the angler. The wader will be rewarded directly as the flow come down. The fish haven’t seen a wader in months. Advantage angler.
At any given point of the day, a hatch is happening. You name it, it’s happening all day long. Blue Wing Olives, Pale Morning Duns, Red Quills, Caddis, midges Etc. The Green Drakes are moving upstream and will fish well on the Frying Pan all the way to the end of September, and maybe even into October. This hatch actually happens right at dark in an around Glenwood Spring. But once they reach the Frying Pan the timer changes to 11:00am to 3:00 pm due to the dam controlled releases and cooler temperatures coming out of the bottom of the dam. We’re talking dry flies the size of a 50 cent piece! The right pattern is critical to fish this hatch ( be sure to have some Green Drake Cripples)
The fishing is crazy good all day everywhere, and especially epic the last 2 hours of the day. You can play all day, have an early diner, and come land some fish and watch the sunset.
As of today, the high feeder creeks, are fishing really well, but could use a little lower flows in the next week or two. All that said, my dad, at age 73, took one of his 9 year old Cub Scouts out to check out the flows in the higher creeks. This scout had never fly fished and landed 5 species of trout in 4 hours. Yup, a Rainbow, a Cut bow, Brown, Brooke, and lots of native Cutthroat. 95% of all fly fishers will never have a day like that, but it will do nothing but get better. This is a great trip for some one that wants have fun and get into the sport. You should be aware of Hiking at altitudes, but take your time, pause, and most of all make memories.
Glenwood Springs is world renowned for it fly fishing. Forbes Magazine says we are the best fishing town in America. We have 5 truly great rivers within a 40 mile radius. The Colorado River is referred to as the #1 trout river in the Western United States and Canada by Wide Open Spaces. The most common size fish in the bigger rivers are 14 to 18 inches and average 1-3 pounds each, and they are abundant.
Along with the Colorado River, we have the Roaring Fork River running right through our town. Additionally, you could fish the Frying Pan River with dry flies 12 months out of the year due to it’s dam control and constant water temperatures coming off the bottom of the reservoir. We can’t forget the Eagle River and the Crystal River.
What makes these rivers special is that Glenwood Springs is surrounded by over 2,000,000 acres of public lands thank to the White River Nation Forest and the Bureau of Land Management.
If you have ever wanted to learn how to fly fish, now is the time. I’m Dustin Harcourt and an independent guide in the valley. I was selected the 2019 Best Guide of the Rockies by Elevation Outdoor Magazine. This covers 6 states and all sports. Quite an honor for me. My prices are the best in the valley. If you have fishing questions please give me a call, 970-404-1339. I will probably be on the river guiding, but will get back to you as soon as I can, You can also check out my website www.harcourtflyfishing.com. On the 1st page I have a full report about up to the minute fishing conditions that is no more than 2 or 3 days since the last post. Tight Lines
3 thoughts on “Fly Fishing Glenwood Springs in August 2019”
My brother in law, Tom Magnuson booked a trip for us on 2 October 2020. Looking forward to a great time. Have never fly fished before, only lake with boat and shore fishing in North Texas. Hoo AH! Here we come!
You are in for a great treat, and we love people that have never fly fished before. The fall colors are just as spectacular as our fall fishing. We look forward to meeting you.
Thanks to my father who shared with me about this web site, this website is actually awesome. Michael Oppenheim