With many of our mountain trout streams experiencing low flows, hot water temps, and river closures, warmwater fishing remains a fantastic option to give the trout a much needed break during the heat! Throughout the front range, warmwater species have remained active and fishing is excellent for bass, carp, and panfish.
Denver South Platte
The DSP is a shop favorite for targeting a large variety of warmwater species, providing steady action for carp, smallmouth and largemouth bass, suckers, catfish, and walleye. Flows are currently around 10 cfs, which is a bit lower than normal but still very fishable. The carp are spread out at the moment and holding in the deeper holes and flats. With the low water the fish are spookier than normal, making a stealthy approach essential for success. Smallmouth bass can be found holding near rip-rap, brush piles, bridges pilings, and deep oxygenated water. They’re eager to chase streamers at the moment, though poppers can fish well in the early mornings and evenings. Black Wooly Buggers, Hybrid Worms, Crazy Daddys, and Poachers in sizes #6-12 have been fishing well for both carp and smallmouth.
Reservoirs/ Small Ponds
Quincy, Aurora, and Chatfield are fishing well for largemouth and smallmouth bass in the early morning and evenings. Targeting weedbeds, wood, rip-rap, and brush piles with poppers and streamers has been productive. Crazy Daddys, Thin Mints, Slumbusters, and Dungeons in sizes #4-12 have been solid choices for subsurface action on a sink tip or full sink fly line. Opportunities for panfish are also easy to come by at all of the above reservoirs, and can be a ton of fun on a 2 or 3wt fly rod. Dry dropper or double dry fly rigs with terrestrials and attractor nymphs are good options for panfish. Target shallow coves, weedbeds, and reeds.
Small local ponds can also be a blast for targeting warmwater species close to home. A vast majority of ponds on the front range have strong populations of bass, bluegill, and carp, and can be easily explored in an evening fishing outing. A size #10 or #12 Wooly Bugger is a great option for “prospecting” a new pond – just about anything that swims will eat a bugger.
Warmwater species are greatly underappreciated, and provide unique challenges that don’t often arise when targeting trout. Pound for pound, bass and carp put up a far stronger fight than trout, and will put a serious bend in a 6 or 7 weight fly rod.
Take advantage of the great warmwater conditions while our trout streams cool off a bit!
Stop by the shop and we’ll help you put together the right flies, lines, and game plan for whatever water you’re headed to this summer.
Justin Nolan