Fly Fishing Southern Colorado - A dry fly paradise
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- Part 6 is the final video in the Fly Fishing Southern Colorado Series. The Conejos River was great but I was looking for a more remote experience. So I decided to pack up and drive to a more remote stream. Spent my last full day in Colorado watching brown and rainbow trout sip dry flies, double dries and the occasional dry/emerger. The trip was such a cool experience! You can find the other videos from this trip below.
The Other Videos from this series
Part 1: A stream near Creede, CO: • Fly Fishing a small st...
Part 2: Backpack/Fly fishing the Weminuche Wilderness: • Fly Fishing the Weminu...
Part 3: Camping/fly fishing a small stream in Colorado:
• Camping and Fly Fishin...
Part 4: Small stream full of browns, brookies and cutts:
• Fly Fishing a Small St...
Part 5: The Conejos River:
• Fly Fishing Southern C...
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#flyfishing #colorado #troutfishing
Drew - you find the MOST beautiful streams and fish! Thanks for sharing!
I luv ur video, no yelling, no OMG, OMG!! Just the sound of water over rocks, very relaxing!! Thank you for posting and I'm of the opinion that you don't give out the location to anyone.... except me!!!👍😎
Haha, thank u for the good vibes! Yep, I don't enjoy hearing people talk while I'm fishing so I avoid it at all cost!
Aside the being mellow while you’re fishing I also appreciate your handling the fish as little as possible and get them back in the water if I had to watch people keep fission Annette and let me double handed a couple more times and hold it on the water forever while he talks about worry fishing and where he fled to the beer he’s drinking Jesus get the fish back in the water already…
Best VIDEO I've watched NO TALKING AND NO MUSIC JUST THE WIND WATER AND FISH GREAAAAT VIDEO JUST FUSHING
Interessant creek,splendid trouts and fly fishing. Super mister,yea.
Thanks for not naming this stream--it is one of my favorites but you might be surprised how often we have to share it. I recognized several of those rocks in the stream bed.
Yes sir, a very special place! Always look forward to visiting it!
Phew! That is definitely a place/day people dream about. Awesome film here. Gorgeous fish, good mix of bows and browns, All taken on top! Can't beat it. Thanks for filming and sharing!
It was definitely a great time! Thx man!
You've renewed my hope for finding low-pressure spots.
There are definitely a few lesser known areas left to explore!
You seem like a perfect candidate for a truck camper
Just gotta go where everyone is to lazy to go. I fish in denver and catch 15-24 inch brown and rainbows at least one everytime i go but i walk far far up the creek where ppl wont.
@@Jamestreeman amen brother.
Haha that’s the truth!
Another great trip Drew. Headed up that way in a week or so and cannot wait! Your videos just make me want to go all that much more, thanks for sharing.
One of the best spots I have ever seen before and thank you so much for making this beautiful video
Thanks, a favorite for sure!
I had to come back and watch this again. 17 degrees here. Im not into ice fishing. Thanks for videos. Dreaming of spring.
You and me both!
Perfect venue, perfect fish. Very, very nice videos
The fish are a product of their environment! Thank u much!!
Giant fish on a small stream, awesome video!!!
The reason I drive 20 hrs to this stream every summer!
Beautiful spots. Beautiful spotted fish. Thanks for sharing and taking us along on the journey.
Tight lines.
Thanks, was definitely a good time and one I hope to repeat this summer!
Paradise is a good title. That average size was fantastic!!!
Good genetics found in that stream lol!
pretty shallow crystal clear water with very nice fish . Good one !
One of my favorite places for sure, thank u!
The best feeling when fly fishing, is when you set the hook and the fish doesn’t come flying out the water, and doubles the rod over, because it’s bigger than 12”. Great vid!
Yea it is...I like when they hold their ground!
Very nice!! Makes me wish I were still living in Colorado, and 30 years younger...
I wish I lived in CO too...then I wouldn't have to drive so far to visit the other states out west. Haha, I hear you on the age thing!
What great fish in a small stream. Thanks for the video.
Amazing video. Incredible scenery. Awesome fishing!
Really dig hearing it! Thank u much
What a beautiful location and amazing fish.
One of my favorites for sure!
Man, you just crush it almost every time you go out. All good sized fish!
Thx man, glad a 10 min video full of fish doesn't suck...I need to work on the story telling part more lol!
@@LooknFishy honestly, the lack of narration is kinda nice when you compare it to other tubers. But I do love info, especially a wrap up is nice. I'm guessing it was hoppers out there but I'd live to know! Keep up the good work.
Good deal. Yep, put them in the video but never explained it lol. Pretty much used my top shelf hopper pattern (sz14) with a smaller caddis or emerger. Lots of stones, hoppers and caddis out! Thanks for the feedback will definitely add some of that in but also not be too, tuberish!
Incredible trout, for a small stream.
No question, definitely one of my favorite streams!
Browns are very hardy to say the least. I bet there are numerous browns over 20" in that water. Look at the banks and shore line - probably 3' higher during run off.
I’ve seen all your videos, and this one is on the top of the list.
One of my favorite streams! Helps that I have fished it many times!
Fantastic video, great fishing, thank you.
Really great to hear! Thank u
Super fisherman. Always good luck 🤞
Thx man, nice to have some good fortune!
I am familiar with the Conejos River. The area around Platoro Lake is quite remote and some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen. Was there last July4th weekend. It was a bit crowded. We went downriver to local public access area right off the highway just an 1/8 mile. It was great. No one there for hours. I put my 12 yo daughter in some boots and she had a ball fishing and catching trout. She is hooked on trout fishing. The year before, I flew a private airplane into Alamosa and fished the Conejos, Elk Creek, and La Jara creek. Got rained out so I went around to South Fork the next day and fished Beaver creek. Plenty of fish in there.
We probably passed each other, that was the weekend I drove out...definitely busier than normal. That entire area is really cool, love exploring it more each summer!
Drew LooknFishy Oh you were there that weekend? Did you run into a couple girls from Clovis, Mn that had a flat tire on awful rough road up to Platoro. Red car. She had no spare tire! And they had a baby boy with them. I saw them later going down so I assume they made it home.
This entire series has been fantastic!
Really glad to hear it...pumped to do more like it soon!
Looking forward to it. I am planning to venture out that way in a couple years. All my trips are exploring Michigan's UP and the smoky mountain national park right now.
@@josephmarietta4135 had both on my schedule for this year but covid happened. Hoping to do both next year. Might chance GSM late this fall after the tourist leave.
Yeah, had a trip to Shenandoah National Park canceled. Dry fly fishing during October in GSMNP is phenomenal. Have a trip planned for late October to some very remote water. Fished the UP in June. Had several 100+ fish days chasing brookies.
October would be great timing!
I grew up coming to Colorado to see my family every summer. I started fly fishing here in NC but your videos make me want to come back out West to fish. Keep it up man, cheers.
Thx dude, heading out tomorrow for 2 weeks, vids coming soon!
Great little river.
One of my favorites!
Beautiful water and fish
One of my favorite streams for sure!
Drew LooknFishy I fish in the state of Victoria in Australia, and you just don’t see fish like that in a stream like that here.
@@Matto_Harvo That's too bad man, definitely a good time!
The opening of this video. Drew, with the Who Pissed In My Wheaties look on his face. 😂. Glad you found the solitude! It would have sucked if you made that drive and a car was already there!
Haha...yep that was the feeling for sure. Definitely would have!
Dang...the heck with a larger stream if it's crowded and you have this as an option! Nice size fish, some great jumps and good dry fly action! Awesome! This is a little gem! Love me some Colorado!!
For sure, it's just a drive and if you're sleeping in the truck you don't have to move camp when you do lol! Can't wait to get back out there!
I grew up around that around area!I live in Utah now and I sure do miss that country. A lot of great fishing on some of those streams! Great video.
No question, it's a great area. Lots of great fishing where you're at now too!
The title is correct! Wow what a wonderful place and stream...
I'd love to be there with a light fiberglass or bamboo rod 😀
Yeah I had my 3wt but those winds were gusting over 30 at times so I stuck with my 4wt. Glass would have been fun though!
I saw (and heard) the gusts
Haha, yeah if you listen carefully you might have heard some choice words too!
Awesome. Thanks. I like your style...
Thank u much!
Healthy stream. Healthy fish. Healthy mind.
Yep, yep and for sure!
Drew, Thanks for the great video. You had a day there that we all dream about. I just returned home to NC from a business trip in Colorado. I got to fish two days at it was great. I fished Eleven Mile Canyon and had a good day on Saturday and ok day on Sunday. My theory is that anytime you can fish, go….
Awesome vid, Greta fish for those small waters.
Thank u much, definitely a good time!
No people✔️ lots of trout✔️ god's country ✔️ small stream fishing for trout ✔️. Great video &, in my book, ur not spoiled wanting to get away it's just better that way👌
Couldn't agree more!
Nice! Welcome to my backyard of Colorado 👏🏻👌🏻from Denver Colorado
My sons and I were just in Montana fishing for a few days and had a blast. They have both fished Colorado before. I might need to go there next year with them! Great video, my friend, and some awesome catches! :-)))))))))))
Thank you. I'm thinking I need to head to Montana next year. But I just purchased an annual NR WY license for the next 2 weeks (it was cheaper to get the NR annual)...so I'm going there again for sure, lol!
looked like a solid day of fishing my friend
keep making videos buddy
Thanks man, definitely will!
@@LooknFishy cool
Southern Colorado is amazing. I lived in cheyenne for 4 years. Nice up that way, but different. North Platte river ( miracle mile, Grey reef ) is a great stretch.
Change your title from “ Drew look fishy” to “ Drew catching-fishy”. Every time your killing it. Great job. Nice video!
Good videos Bro !!
Thank u much!
Dream Stream!
Definitely!
Great video Drew. What a scenery, can't find that here. GRtz Andrew
First off , i love the video. Small streams are the best! I see you may be using an Orvis Helios rod. I have 2, a D and an F. Those are all the rods I need. I’ve been selling off my others. I can use them anywhere. Whether here in the Driftless or on western rivers and streams. Keep up the great work and videos. You make my dreams worth chasing! Hope to run into you some day! Tight lines. >
Thanks man, yea I have the 5wt d and 4wt f...both are great!
Every fish in this one spicy as hell, acting like they’ve never been caught before 😂
Yea, gotta like those remote streams lol!
Fantastic video mate!! Here in the UK, the trout season doesn’t start until March! So fly tying and videos like this are keeping me sane at the moment haha. Great average size of fish in this stream 👌🏻
Thanks man, trout seasons and private water are the most frustrating things in the world lol!
@@LooknFishy They are indeed mate! Drives me crazy this time of year. I really want to get out to the US and fish at some point!!
Such big fish in such shallow water! Really cool video man, love your stuff!
Thank u, was a fantastic summer!
Getting into my neck of the woods. I'm near Pagosa Springs. Pretty lucky to live here.
In your videos can you do a quick recap of the rod/rod setup/fly you’re using? “Using a Helios 3wt with copper John and midge” etc? I’m brand new to fly fishing and relying on these videos to learn more so that info is always so helpful. Great videos and I’m glad I found your channel!
Yep, have started adding more of that in my latest vids and will do my best to include it going forward!
Wow you never miss a strike or lose a fish!
Magic of youtube...that day started with a break off and 2 come aparts lol!
I cant believe fish this large can winter over in a stream so shallow.
Lots of food in that stream and the trout grow fast!
Super nice video no obnoxious music!
Every cast awesome fish no big deal lol.
Haha, I just catch them and release them...but I was exploding with joy on the inside lol!
Drew LooknFishy
👍 lol.
I'm really surprised at the abundance of decent browns that you're catching in these small isolated streams. I'm jealous.
Definitely one of my favorite streams!
Looks amazing out there. What size leaders and tippet do you use?
@@jonathonkersting9043 varies a ton...out west in the summer a 11ft ish with 4x to your dry pretty common for me!
This is driving me nuts trying to guess the stream you're on! I guess if I don't figure it out by the time you come through here next year, Ima put a gps tracker on your truck. ;)
In case you didn't hear, you probably came through about the perfect time. We got rains the last part of July and waters got pretty dirty. Not that we're complaining...
Either way, great vid and I'm hoping you'll have some new carp footage for us all, soon!
Haha, well I bet you've found some cool streams in the process. I had not heard, definitely needed the water. Yes, I'm hoping to get out this weekend and chase them...but that doesn't always mean a video lol! Carp are camera shy lol!
Lol try 10-12 people on just two bends in the canyon I like to go to😂 Colorado’s best public spots are over crowded
haha, nope go find some carp!
I use to encounter crowded conditions in Cheesman a lot.
I am native here man and I feel your pain! To many people
Colorado has definitely become popular, but I'm cool with road trips!
Hope they get some rain down there for those beautiful fish. Looks really low!
Same here, and this was the first week in July...wouldn't head there now.
@@LooknFishy how were the water temps?
@Thomas Tero Feet numbing cold, still getting frost when I was there and the highs weren't high!
Was wondering if you carried a side arm in Bear / Big cat country. Great videos, keep up the good work!
Always! Will do!
Hey Drew me again with another question as I just found your channel and can't stop watching haha. So my question is, how do you know you're allowed to fish a stream? For example you said to get to this stream you drove to the end of a road and parked. In another video I saw you were at a stream that you said was unnamed so in that situation are you good to fish? Or are there ways of checking if the water is restricted? Main reason I ask is because I'm actually road tripping through CO at the end of April and would love to go to smaller streams but I always worry about trespassing issues.
It can definitely be tricky. Each state has different stream access laws...CO the property owner, owns the stream bed...so no wading. But in MT, you have a legal right to wade if you access the water from public land but u can't leave the high water mark. Most of the time I try to stay in the national forest. There are a few times I run into private land there but not often. I recommend scanning the state fisheries websites before you go. In most cases, you'll find where the public access area. Just a heads up. ..this is not fool proof. I've been screamed at several times and leave. But in CO the owner doesn't have to mark their property, so I just politely apologize and move on. Not as much an issue in the national forest areas!
Wow! What a stream! A lot of really nice fish out of a little creek. That's the kind of creek that makes dry fly fishing look easy (except for the wind). Noticed that you seem partial to Orvis rods, what are you using? I have a 1962 Orvis Battenkill bamboo that I was given by a man who was a fishing buddy with Chief Justice William O. Douglas, it's rumored that Douglas gave to the rod to the man whose name is inscribed on the rod but I can't prove it.
Wow, what a cool story. I've been happy with Orvis. Pretty much live in the middle of no where and order everything online...they've always delivered on time and made returns easy. Plus, I broke a rod once, a week from a big trip...called them up and explained and they sent my a loaner. That was super cool of them!
Did anyone else see that bigger fish tucked under that bank try to eat the fish he had on?! It is right at about 9:14 in the video
Dang good eye! Had to watch that a couple times to find him!
You are killing it! Consider adjusting your camera color saturation settings, they are on the light side...
Is that a GoPro camera?
Yes, gopro hero 8. Definitely not a camera guy...just turn it on and shot! Will look at the settings. Thx for the feedback, really appreciate it!
super video.... beautiful trout.... Do these trout survive in this shallow small streams during the cold winter months or do they take refuge in the deeper pools...
Was there a fish in every likely spot? Wow!
Wish I knew where these streams were....great looking area.
Definitely a great area!
Southern Colorado, lol. Just get on a map and find some. The more out of the way, the more chance of finding these type of streams.
@@ericharmon7163 yep, more streams in that area than either of us could fish in a life time...if u need 4wd, high clearance and see lots of bear scat...good chance of it being a productive stream lol!
@@ericharmon7163 completely agree. I hike in a couple hours and its fishermans heaven. Pick virtually any one.
Yeah I have fished the canajos plenty myself . I feel the same way about to many people fishing these days I guess fly fishing is becoming more and more popular
I think it's great to see more people getting into the sport but the covid situation has basically created one long weekend lol!
Really enjoyed this series! Watching these six videos is the next best thing to being there this summer. Small stream fly fishing at it's best. Some spots I recognized and for others I'll have to get the maps out and start searching the blue lines. How do you cast/catch/release and video at the same time? I'm still trying to figure that out for myself. 🤨
Thank you! I really enjoyed creating it and will do more like it in the future. So I wear a hat with an attachment for a gopro. Basically, I wear it for the cast and catch, then remove it and hold in in my hand for the release. Takes no time and doesn't add any extra stress to the fish.
@@LooknFishy Thanks for the gopro tip; I'll try it out on my next outing. Also, adding a drone as an airborne tripod to see how that works.
I cant get away from people no matter how far i go now. Hiked 2 hrs with the dog only to come up on about 10 people within a mile. Cant find the seclusion to save my life. Great vid btw.
Dang, had that happen a few times and it sucks. Fortunate to have some flexibility that lets me avoid weekends and holidays. Thank u!
Yep, we owe this to the democratization of the sport and to the insatiable greed of the FF industry. The saying goes- “don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs...” Well, that ship has sailed!
Nice video! Colorado is such a beautiful state! What rod are you using?
Thanks dude, definitely one of my favorite places to fish. Orvis h3f, 10' 4wt.
@@LooknFishy Thought for sure it'd be a Recon
Awesome trip. Once more, are you using your 3 wt or a 5 wt in this creek? Hopper dropper? I saw the hoppers on the ground so I figure you tried matching the hatch there.
Thank u, used my 4wt. Had my 3wt but it was too windy for it. Top shelf hopper and chernobyl ant as top fly mostly...the second fly being a smaller dry or emerger!
As a guy who only fished for reds and tarpon down here in Florida, how would I find out where I can camp and fish in Colorado? Looking for spots like this it’ll be my first time fishing for trout
Forest Service lands are public and most all allow dispersed camping. So basically, I just pick a national forest, find some water and either call the ranger station to check the camping and fire restrictions as well as other restrictions or visit the website and read up. Then I just drive there...never had an issue finding a place to camp. Plus there are tons of forest service campgrounds which I mark as back ups...but never needed one. Keep in mind, FS roads can be terrible...the more remote the worse they are...what looks like 3 miles could take 3 hours and skirt the edge of a 500ft cliff lol! So be flexible! Bring bear spray also!
Gotta love spam!
Gotta!
Another great video, thanks. In your reports I seem to miss info on location, at least a town nearby, also flies names and sizes.
Thank you, the fly I used most was my top shelf hopper. There's a tying video, in my fly tying playlist. Sz 12 and 14 mostly. Sorry didn't add any location data b/c this one is super special but the general area in the title has more small streams than you or I could fish in a lifetime.
Let’s talk about your rig setup?!? Great video... are you seeing fish or casting to where they “should” be?
Sure...whatca wanna know? I'm an open book. Just fishing the should be water and moving after a few casts to each spot.
@@LooknFishy Thanks. What size of dry fly did you have on? The water looks pretty low, is this early spring or fall? I'll be in SoCO next weekend near Pagosa, I'll be fishing the Rio Blanco.
Was throwing my top shelf hopper ( in my tying vids) sz 14. This was last week in June, probably really low right now...hope for some rain! No shortage of small, fishy creeks near pagosa!
This location is a little more difficult to figure out for me, might take a few more days. I figured out the Creede ones over the weekend. The sleuthing is making me unproductive at work!
Haha, go for it! my thoughts are, anyone willing to do the work won't burn them!
Drew LooknFishy exactly!!
What rod do you use? A 3, 5? I used a 3 when I fished 11 mile canyon up around Colorado Springs.
Got several. My go to nymphing rod is orvis h3f 10' 4wt. Got a superfine carbon 7.5' 3wt for small streams. And h3d 9' 5wt but keep it as a back up or boat rod now.
Nice place and nice video. Did you spot most of them, or fished a lot blind?
No, just fishing blind and hitting likely holds!
@@LooknFishy I see. Great river and very good fishing :).
@@hakataramea yes sir!
The san juans deliver. Just got back from a 3 day trip. After two hours each day, i was burned out on catching fish. Its that giod.
Haha, not sure I could ever get burned out but that's definitely a great feeling!
Is that gopro on your head or chest? Love your videos!
What length is your leader. I don't think I could cast the distances you do with my current 9 foot leader.
10 to 11ft...9ft 3x with ~1ft of 4x and ~1ft of 5x to the first fly. Rod is 10ft also.
Some nice catches. I don’t understand the down votes.
Thanks! That makes two of us lol!
What drys were you throwing then? Hemingway’s ?
My top shelf hopper...there's a tying vid on my channel. Been a solid fly for a few yrs!
My gosh. Were they hitting those grasshoppers?
They were definitely looking up!
No juveniles caught (under 10 inches)? Or did you just edit those out?
Yep, several 8-10" but I only use the better quality shots and fish...the video would be over an hour otherwise!
@@LooknFishy whew...no juveniles means unhealthy fishery. Love that spot by the way
Does Colorado have a trout challenge? I know they are part of the Western Native Trout Challenge but they only have 2 trout for that
Honestly, have no idea. Not something I usually check out...might in the future tho!
Drew LooknFishy thanks the fishing looks great out there
Drew LooknFishy look up the western Native Trout challenge 12 states 18 fish breeds I joined earlier this year but COVID messed up any travel here in ny but I have had a great time catching the trout here
Such a beautiful small stream! Love the content always gets me psyched to go fish! What was the name of the road you mentioned in the beginning?
Thx dude, it was a forest service road!
What fly were you using?
My top shelf hopper...in my tying vids. Show it in a lot of my vids been a solid bug!
@@LooknFishy love your vids, keep up the good work👍
Pretty sure i just fished that creek about a week ago and got skunked. I was just visiting. The water was soooo low everywhere! Is this WC?
Curious what weight rod and what fly you were getting hit on?
Definitely would be low right now, that was in June. Took my 4wt for the wind, but I would have taken my 3 if it weren't gusting to 30 that day. Fly was my top shelf hopper pattern, sz 14, it's in my tying vids. Great bug that I've used in CO, NM, WY and the driftless!
@@LooknFishy awesome ill look it up. Thanks man!
How would one go about finding a spot like this somewhere in southern Colorado?
We're did You get the fly rod covers for you rods
How do you find these sorts of places?
Lots of reading...blogs, yt, ih, fly shops, message boards etc!
Swallow hill songs
Swallow hill
Is this private water?
Nope, totally public!
Italia.
Maybe one day!
Do you think there's fish in every creek out here?
Haha...no idea but going to do my best to check as many as I can!
@@LooknFishy where are you fishing this time of year? Caught my first bow out here in clear creek but I've been getting skunked since them
@@OfficialParkit I live in Arkansas and stay on the tailwaters here mostly!
@@LooknFishy I come from Socal originally, we had no sort of streams or rivers around us. What is a tailwater?
@@OfficialParkit I’m in SoCal now. There are actually lots of places to fly fish. Spots near Big Bear and Arrow Head, Piru Creek, East and West Folk of the San Gabriel river, those are just a few spots for trout (rainbow and brown). You could fish the LA river for carp, something I need to try at least once. There are actually many other spots as well. I’m near Pasadena and I’ve caught 16-18” trout not far way