Fly Fishing the Big Thompson River in Estes Park Colorado (Hot Dry Fly Bite)

[@DpuckFishingandOutdoors]

That looks like such an awesome river. That is real river fishing with real trout. Fantastic trip.

[@BackroadsAngling]

This river is so beautiful but also very accessible being right next to the road. It's nice catching some wild trout for a change that's for sure! Thanks!

[@KaisFishing]

Beautiful scenery and great looking fish! Nice video!

[@BackroadsAngling]

A fishing, hiking, camping, outdoor paradise for sure! Thank you!

[@Bleda412]

Great video, and it looks like you had a fun trip. Thanks for posting.

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks, always a good time in Colorado!

[@naturalverities]

Amazing how quickly your vacation turned into a fishing vacation! It shows you have your priorities straight. 😊 You have to try the next drainage to the north, Cache la Poudre, which is my home water.

[@BackroadsAngling]

It was good to sneak away for a quick fishing session(s). I lived in Fort Collins for a summer when I was younger and enjoyed fishing the Poudre. I need to make it back there sometime!

[@naturalverities]

@@BackroadsAngling Lots of new features on the Poudre in town including a nice "whitewater park" at the old power plant and other durable habitat structures. I've caught several nice browns and rainbows in town, as well as upstream, of course. Cheers!

[@EngineeringHooksets]

I used to drive right by that on my way to work! Great river. Nice trout, man.

[@BackroadsAngling]

Every pull off on that road is good. So many deep holes and riffles all the way down the valley. Thanks for watching!

[@Leon-lp9fl]

"Big" Thompson river, nice name. Very beautiful clear water ,tall trees and big rocks. Never go any where with out a rod, 😊. That took some effort and persistence. Does the trout get bigger there. Seems like the ideal place you choose for holiday. Thank you

[@BackroadsAngling]

Colorado is such an amazing place for an outdoor enthusiast. There are so many mountain streams and every one of them is so different in terms of fishing opportunities. Some of them have some surprisingly large fish. In this river it seems most fish are 12-14 inches but I have heard of them getting up to 20 inches. Some of the more popular streams have plenty of fish in the 18-22 inch range. It was a fun place for a family vacation and I'm glad I got to sneak away for a few casts!

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Great video.

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@MB_angling]

awesome video man good fishng looks like keep it up

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks, it was a nice quick little fishing trip and the fish were agreeable. Thanks for watching!

[@ItchyGonadz-THC]

Can this kind of fishing be down with traditional fishing rod/ reel setups? I am going there next week and want to try fishing as I have never caught a trout before. Thank you in advance!

[@BackroadsAngling]

Yes, you can catch them with light spinning tackle and small jerkbaits, rooster tails, panther martins, etc. You can also use weighted flies below a float.

[@jarodpyron6992]

Nice work. I’ll be there in early June.

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks, It's a fun area with a lot of different angling opportunities!

[@seanfender961]

Fun but from prior experience, never wet wade in that kind of water. I ended up with a very bad gash on my shin and ended up getting infected.

[@SluSharkND]

Ironically I'm in Colorado right now for work. No fishing at this conference. Looked like a good time!

[@BackroadsAngling]

No sneaking out for a few hours during down time at the conference? That's too bad - it's a fishing paradise! Thanks for watching!

[@SluSharkND]

@@BackroadsAngling Not a lot of fishing spots near the hotel by the Denver airport, unfortunately....

[@dennisneuhaus2607]

Have you ever posted a video showing your fly fishing equipment? Do you have recommendations for beginners? I have thought about this hobby but am not sure where to start.

[@BackroadsAngling]

I try to discuss what I'm using as I go along but I have never done a gear video showing everything at once. I would start with a 5-7 wt rod depending on what species you usually target. If you want to fish panfish or trout a 5 wt is perfect. If you want to catch more bass then a 7wt is better. The reel doesn't matter as much in my opinion because most of the time you don't use it. Any decent fly reel will work. Then you need a spool fly line. This is the colored line that allows you to cast. To that you tie a tapered fluoro leader that is usually 7.5-10ft long. Besides the flies thats about all you need to get started. Then you just need to find out which flies your species of choice really like and you are good to go. Panfish and bass are easier because they will bite a wide variety of popular flies. Trout are a little harder because they usually key in on whatever bugs are on the water that day. If you have the right bug you will catch them like crazy. If you are a little off you might not catch anything. That's part of the appeal of trout fishing the challenge of dialing in exactly what they want.

[@dennisneuhaus2607]

@@BackroadsAngling So have heard about floating flies and sinking flies, but then there is something about the leader line that floats or sinks is that correct? Perhaps there is a beginner's kit online, you think so?

[@BackroadsAngling]

@@dennisneuhaus2607 Yes the fly line can be floating or sinking. I've always used the floating as the sinking is only used when you are nymphing in deep water and most beginners are not going to do that. On amazon there are travel rod starter kits. I think some of them in the $100 range would be good for a beginner.

[@9724470741]

Hey, enjoyed the video. I fish the BiG Thompson quite often and I can't place the wide, slower water you fished. At about the 12 minute mark. Is that near Drake? Thanks and again, I really enjoyed the video.

[@BackroadsAngling]

Both of the spots I fished were probably about 3 miles downstream from the Estes Lake outflow. To be honest I wasn't paying that much attention to the exact location but it was definitely above Drake. Thanks for watching!

[@johnhetlandii3418]

Wet your hands before handling. Use a poly net, and don't drag'em over the rocks. Other than that good vid.

[@Zell970]

I guige on this river and you did ask, after you broke that fish off a soft basket net would have done you wonders!

[@BackroadsAngling]

Ya I hear ya. I was kicking myself for not bringing one.

[@CarmenFemano]

What fly ride unicorn using

[@TULUSRECORD]

Good

[@BackroadsAngling]

Thanks!

[@RamseyTheProducer]

Believe it or not bro there are 10lbers+ in that river! Seriously!

[@BackroadsAngling]

@@RamseyTheProducer ya I believe it

[@CarmenFemano]

Are you fishing below the dam tour drake

[@BackroadsAngling]

I was below estes lake a few miles.

[@KPSoutside]

What a beautiful place to fish. Colorado has some of the most spectacular fishing holes around especially if you like to fly fish. Beautiful place! When I fly fish I usually spend most of my time removing flies from trees instead of fish. 😢 Nice video for sure.🤗

[@BackroadsAngling]

Colorado is a fly fisherman's paradise indeed! I also lose plenty of flies in trees and other places. If I have a 1:1 fish catch to lost fly ratio I usually feel pretty good. Thank you!