The South Platte River begins high atop the frozen Continental Divide, home to a chain of rugged 13,000-foot, snow-capped peaks. This region comprises lush valleys, meandering meadow streams, and rose-colored, boulder-filled canyons. For generations this area has been a recreation mecca and a fly fisher’s paradise in its purest form. Out of all the trout fisheries in America that are within an hour’s drive of a major metropolitan area, the South Platte River is clearly one of the best. It has become a river shrine to thousands of anglers on an annual basis and for good reason. Throughout the river’s entirety, the South Platte creates a series of reservoirs (Antero, Spinney, Eleven Mile, Cheesman, Strontia Springs, and Chatfield) that provide major metropolitan water storage systems for Denver Water and the City of Aurora. The by-products of these storage facilities are world-class tailwaters that provide anglers with year-round fishing opportunities. Against all odds, the South Platte River remains a world-class trout fishery abundant with some of the most finicky and challenging trout in the world. There’s a common belief among South Platte regulars—if you can catch trout on the South Platte; you can catch trout anywhere in the world. * Completely new maps and updated river, access, and fishing information * Regional experts like Landon Mayer, Greg Blessing, Jeremy Hyatt, Chris Wells, Richard Pilatzke and John Perizzolo, Rick Mikesell and many more, share insider information * New line up of cutting-edge fly patterns * Additional chapters on stillwaters and the Denver Metro Area

This guide to the catch-and-release waters of Cheesman Canyon and the Spinney Mountain Ranch has been designed to help the angler understand one of the most beautiful trout streams in the West. B&W photos, index.

Pat Dorsey, an Orvis-Endorsed guide who has been guiding for more than ten years, spends at least 200 days a year on the stream. His familiarity and tremendous affection for the Platte is conveyed through his insightful advice regarding the challenges of each season, the gear needed, and special instructions, Pat has won the annual Master Fly Tournament in Cheesman Canyon five out of eight years. Pat, his wife, and their five children reside in Parker, Colorado. * 160 color photographs * 30 illustrations * five detailed maps * hatch charts for each river section * recipes and photographs for over 40 fly patterns * specific techniques for the South Platte River * history, ecology, and resources

The best places and times to fish in Colorado.

Discusses the diverse nature of the North Platte section by section and reviews the varying characteristics of the water, its accessibility, and the seasonal changes that affect it. B&W photos, index, original line drawings, and fly patterns.

The single most important factor that determines a fly angler’s approach to a stretch of water isn’t the time of day, nor is it a hatch of insects or even the character of the water itself. It’s the season. From spring and summer through fall and winter, changes in weather dictate changes in strategy. This can be intimidating. If fish were biting here a month ago, why are things so different now? Where to go where they might be better? The seasonal variation of fishing strategy is necessary knowledge for any fly angler, and Fly Fishing the Seasons: Colorado is the first-ever guidebook to address this subject. Focusing on the world-class waters of the Centennial State, and with full-color photos throughout, this book comprises four equal sections—summer, fall, winter, and spring—each with a general locator map and each covering five to ten primary locations. The best waters to fish in this particular month or span of months? What flies and techniques to use? Look no further than Fly Fishing the Seasons: Colorado.

This all-new third edition of this best-selling flyfishing guide to Colorado's waters includes an 8.5x11-inch layout, full-color photos and maps, and many brand-new redesigned highly detailed river and lake maps with GPS coordinates for all access points. Breaking the state into six sections, Bartholomew, a Colorado native and guide, blends his personal knowledge with the experience of state biologists and regional shop owners to offer the most complete flyfishing guide ever offered on Colorado. Also includes a warm-water section.

This guide covers more than 50 fly fishing destinations, all within a 90-minute drive of Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs. Includes descriptions, illustrations, and photos of the region's most common insects and fly patterns.

What if you could peer into the fly boxes of the guides who make their living helping people catch fish, day in and day out? With this comprehensive guide to the best patterns for Colorado rivers and reservoirs, now you can. Not only are these patterns effective for Colorado, but anglers from around the world will discover new flies for their home waters. • 600 patterns from the state's top guides and fly tiers • Complete hatch information for the state • Interviews with 20 of the state's top guides

A complete, all-seasons guide to the Colorado River and tributaries including Roaring Fork, Eagle, Frasier, and Fryingpan. Includes breathtaking images, fly patterns, hatch information, and more.