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Top Commercial Streams For Fly Fishing In Colorado

More than 24,000 miles of Colorado's streams are commercially stocked with native and non-native fish. With the efforts of 19 hatcheries, the great fishing of the state has been made even better, under blue skies and amidst breathtaking scenery. Fly fishermen who enjoy the Colorado wilderness have many streams and rivers to choose from in Colorado.

Bear Creek Cabins
Photo Credit: Bearcreekcabinsco.com

Bear Creek
Bear Creek Cabins

27400 State Highway 74
Evergreen, CO 80439
(303) 674-3442
www.bearcreekcabinsco.com

Price: Winter cabin pricing: $95-155, Summer cabin pricing: $125-165

Located 25 miles west of Denver is a stretch of Bear Creek in Evergreen that is great for fly fishing. Minutes away from the popular waters is the Orvis Fly Shop and fly fishing school, as well as the Bear Creek Cabins located on Bear Creek. With 200 yards of private fishing stream, the catch-and-release area is accentuated by owner Bruce Hungate's personal advice as an avid fly fisherman on the four-season stream.

Related: Top Hiking Trails Near Denver

Eldorado Canyon State Park
Photo Credit: nps. gove

Boulder Creek
Eldorado Canyon State Park

9 Kneale Rd
Eldorado Springs, CO 80025
(303) 494-3943
www.parks.state.co.us

Price: $5- $6 automobile entrance fee, $2-3 pedestrian fee
Hours: sunrise to sunset

Located within Eldorado Canyon State Park is one mile of fishable Boulder Creek. Noted for its stunning and climbable rock formations, the park is home to abundant wildlife, including cold-water rainbow fish, brook and brown trout, longnose dace fish and white and longnose suckers. The stunning setting and accessible fishing lend to a picturesque setting and tranquil fly fishing.

Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 U.S. 36
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 586-1206
www.nps.gov

Price: $20 automobile entrance fee, $10 pedestrian fee
Hours: daily - 24/7

If high-altitude angling is more your style, Rocky Mountain National Park is just the place to fly fish. Reintroducing the once thought extinct Greenback Cutthroat Trout to the area as the only native fish, German brown, rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout are the common catch of the park's miles of streams. With strict possession limits and licensing, a quick check of the park's website is advised before heading to the high country with your pole and lures.

Antero Reservoir
Photo Credit: Flyfishaddiction.com

South Platte River
Near Antero Reservoir
Access at Route 24 and 9 along Highway 285
Fairplay, CO 80432
flyfishaddiction.com

Price: No fee to fish the streams or reservoir

With abundant amounts of rainbow and brown trout in the South Platte River, the miles of fishable terrain are perfect for both beginners and expert fly fishermen. This junction of South and Middle Forks is a perfect stream to cast a line as a freestone fishery. Producing large fish of the rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout varieties, the short hike into prime fishing spots are well worth it for 20-inch catches. Nearby Antero Reservoir also provides stocked fishing opportunities with rainbow, cuttbow, cutthroat, brown trout and splake.

Blue River
www.flyfishingconnection.com

Access at I-70 and Highway 9 at Silverthorne Exit
Parking available at The Outlet Shops at Silverthorne
Price: Free, catch-and-release only

Easily accessible and perfect for the spouse who wants to shop while you fish, the Blue River stretch near the Outlet Stores in Silverthorne is perfect for wading and fly fishing. A quintessential mountain stream, the fishing is challenging due to its shallow and sometimes swiftly moving waters. Catch and release only as the stream is leased by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Blue runs along Highway 9, with less busy and quieter spots further from the interstate.

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Chad is an avid globetrotter and brings the best of travel secrets and expert insights to his readership. A Denver-based travel writer and photographer, Chad's travels have taken him to five of the seven continents in a passionate love affair with the world of travel and the outdoors. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

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