Here are a few ways to try fly fishing in Colorado

For a long time when I thought of trying my hand at fly fishing I pictured myself standing in the ankle-deep water of a mellow river with a large rod in hand and a helpful professional fly-fishing guide next to me in matching waders New York resident Mike McGovern fly fishing near Jaffee Park in Woody Creek on the Roaring Fork River Friday Oct Anna Stonehouse The Aspen Times via AP Oh but there is more than one way to fly fish in Colorado and it looks different than what I had imagined On a trip to Buena Vista last summer I signed up with The Colorado Angler a full-service fly shop and fishing guide company What I didn t realize was that we would be fishing from a boat as we bobbed down the Arkansas River not standing on the banks in a limited inches of water near the shore So that was my introduction to whitewater fly fishing My teenage daughter and I put on our safety vests no waders needed and learned how to cast our flies from a moving boat While we didn t catch any fish that day I detected a new way to enjoy being on the river other than rafting and how to think differently about spots to fish appreciating those calm little pools near the riverbanks Over the years on hikes to alpine lakes I ve spied people fly fishing in the wilderness at over feet above sea level At the time I didn t realize how elite this activity is considered in the sport Angling is a two-billion-dollar industry in our state announced Bridget O Rourke statewide society information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fly fishing in alpine lakes is sole compared to shore fishing because you have to be in shape to make the hike with your gear Also it s a limited opportunity with access viable from around July through September only There will be fewer people fishing alongside you too Where to go Fly fishing guide Steve Gossage leads the author s daughter to the next spot on Taryall Creek near the Lost Creek Wilderness site of the Broadmoor s Fly Fishing camp Photo by Joshua Berman Special to The Denver Post With miles of streams and more than lakes and reservoirs in Colorado where anglers can fish for over species of fish it s hard to narrow down just a scarce recommendations of where to fly fish O Rourke noted that Colorado Parks Wildlife stocks around trout annually into more than backcountry lakes One place to try alpine fly fishing is Lake Agnes in State Forest State Park which sits at feet above sea level and is stocked for fishing including with cutthroat trout Another spot Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park which is at feet above sea level You can also fish for cutthroat trout there A good supply for finding a guided whitewater fly fishing experience is the Arkansas River Outfitters Association Looking for exclusivity while fly fishing The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs offers fly fishing camps including two that are just for women called These Boots Are Made for Wading One camp is June - and the other is July - Before you step into the Tarryall River however there is a class in tying flies Krista Heinicke director of society relations at the Broadmoor joins the camps each summer on the Water is an initiative spearheaded by Orvis that we thought was a good idea to champion she revealed in an email interview Related Articles Despite snowpack concerns Colorado rafting industry expects plenty of water to ride Four-month fishing tournament ended Wednesday with in prize money at stake Loveland s new Wild Natural Area to open on Friday The Orvis Company started the on the Water initiative in to encourage more women to engage in fly fishing Heinicke disclosed that she supports more women becoming fly fishing guides too This isn t the Broadmoor s only fly fishing experience but Heinicke declared it is unique We showcase the experience differently and add amenities to round out the weekend she explained Each guest receives a fantastic gift bag that has in the past included Orvis and Lululemon products We feature a wine tasting but I think the greater part impactful and unexpected part of the weekend are the moments on the porch or around the fire pit where we get to know one another When it s cold out If the summer slips by without a fly fishing adventure there s one more peculiar way to try this activity winter fly fishing in a river I was able to try this on a guided excursion on the Roaring Fork River in Basalt Note That is distinctly different than ice fishing where you drill a hole in a lake Winter fly fishing involves layering up underneath the waders then stepping into a freezing cold river where the water is moving below a layer of snow and ice Try the Fryingpan River or Upper Roaring Fork River for midge fly fishing in winter or Gore Creek in Vail There are plenty of rivers that rarely freeze over the trick will be finding the fish If you are going to fish in a state park the Keep Colorado Wild Pass can save money on state park admissions when you pay instead of for the annual State Park Pass There are annual state park fishing events and this pass is good for admission Check the Colorado Parks Wildlife website for details on events and pricing for licenses and fees Subscribe to our weekly newsletter The Adventurist to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox