Urban Fly Fishing

Unless you are one of the lucky few who can make a living elsewhere, the majority of us work an 8 to 5. The problem with an 8 to 5 job is that you are forced to miss out on a few hours per workday you could spend on some water! Yeah ... you could go on your lunch break, but lets get real, your closest trout river is at least an hour away! Good luck swinging that lunch break!

So what do those of us who are die-hard trout bums fall back on? Well, the answer is simple: Find that lake or river we drive by everyday, drop our issues with trout being the only true fish worth catching on a fly, and get our fix! I'm here to share some inspiring stories about my urban fly-fishing adventures, and I hope to inspire some of you to get out in your local lake or river and catch whatever may bite your fly!

Wanna know what I caught it on? A CDC CADDIS DRY FLY!!! Some of the most difficult fish in the world (and I've tried my luck at the large browns in New Zealand) are these fickle grass carp. The fly-fisherman's only real option for catching these buggers is to catch them when they are "clooping" for cotton seeds on the surface. I guess it is possible to catch one of these guys on a grass fly, but hooking him off the top is much more fun!

The lake I frequent is one block from my apartment, and is honestly not much of a fishery except for these large grass carp. But, on the bright side, I don't know of anywhere else in the state of Colorado that I can catch a 32-inch fish in the evening after a hard day's work. That day I caught 5 fish all over 28 inches, and I caught them all on 5x and 6x line. It was a real joy.

This is what these fish look like when "Clooping." This bad boy was about 3 feet from the bank!

I understand that not everyone can get into this whole carp thing ... you're crazy in my opinion, but I understand. So, for those of you purists, let me come at you from a different angle: TROUT.

Now, I realize this is one of the many perks I get by living in Colorado, but this is one river that is right in town and on the front range! Boulder creek has been my home creek for many years due to its proximity to my living location and the fishing quality. I've never come across a another river that provides as much dry fly fishing year round. Further, the number of quality fish this river produces is remarkable.

But, the best news of all: It's in town and less than 30 minutes from downtown Denver! Guys (and Gals) this is not an anomaly. There are countless lakes and rivers within a stone's throw that offer productive and rewarding fishing for those who just take the time to explore. I've had 40 and 50 fish days on dries and nymphs, and I've caught fish as large as 17 inches in my home creek. And the best part: It is all fishable in between classes or before and after work.

Lets face it, we are all addicted. We all want to fish that favorite spot every day, but when you only have an hour or two, don't let the fact that you can't drive an hour keep you off the water. Spend that time tossing a fly! I promise, you will not regret it.

So now it's your turn to explore the lake or river you have been thinking about during this article and catch some fish. When you do, remember to send you stories to TOSFly!!!

Till next time, toss them long and toss them well, then come to TOSFly.

~Dry Fly Or Die~

Allen Gardner

Allen Gardner is a Colorado Fly Fishing enthusiast who also spends some time writing articles. He is a guest contributor for TOSFly.com. Stay on the lookout for more of his articles soon!