By Lynn Burkhead

The New Year has dawned, and for many anglers, any thoughts of fly-fishing for Colorado's boisterous trout seem to be light years away with Old Man Winter firmly in control.

But as some Centennial State anglers know, just because the snow is flying and there's little mercury showing on the thermometer, that doesn't mean the state's rainbow trout have quit eating, nor have they gone into hibernation for a long winter's nap.

In fact, on four of the state's prime tailwater trout streams - the Frying Pan, the Taylor, the Blue, and the Yampa - midwinter offers some of the hottest trout fishing of the year. Thanks to the presence of mysis shrimp and midges on these hallowed but nearly congealed waters, winter angling can be surprisingly good.

Be assured that midwinter trout fishing in Colorado can be a test of the will, thanks to frigid water and air temperatures, not to mention icy roads and foot-paths to trout streams. But for those willing to bundle up in layers of polypropylene, wool and fleece, and for those who are willing to adjust their angling tactics for the season at hand, the best advice I can give is this: Keep the digital camera handy!

But for those whose thoughts often turn to rainbow trout, don't overlook the sliver of water gurgling under I-70 as it ushers thousands of skiers into Summit County's winter playground. The Blue River tailwater, flowing through Silverthorne, provides wintertime trout fishing that can be every bit as epic as the nearby skiing.

According to Mitch Vogt, manager and guide for Trapper Rudd's Cutthroat Anglers fly shop in Silverthorne, the Blue River shares one key commonality with its other Colorado tailwater cousins.

"The Taylor, the Frying Pan and the Blue are very similar in that they are mysis shrimp fisheries," Vogt said. "The water flows out from the dam and brings mysis shrimp into the river systems, which keeps the fish happy and full. The big rainbows sit in there and munch on these mysis shrimp and get full of protein, which causes some of them to grow to be very large."

But just because the Blue River's 'bows are eating plenty of shrimp cocktail, that doesn't mean the fishing is easy. "The Blue is right here in town, and some people think that just because it's right here and accessible, they'll have good luck," Vogt said. "The Blue is a very technical fishery with small mysis shrimp. Most of the time, you're sight-fishing for these larger fish in the various pools. (The conditions are challenging), especially in the wintertime when it stays very low and clear."

Photo by Tosh Brown

Skiers on the nearby slopes live for those epic Colorado powder days in which the snow is measured in feet, not inches. Believe it or not, some of the best fly-fishing on the Blue also occurs when the weatherman is working overtime.

"Some of the best fishing can occur in the worst weather conditions," Vogt said. "Even when it is dumping snow or rain, it can be some of the best times to fish the water."

Vogt urges anglers heading for the midwinter Blue to pack the tailwater one-two punch of a 5- or 6-weight fly rod that has enough backbone to land one of the river's big 'bows. "The rainbows are so big that you want to be able to land them without having to play them a long time," he said.

At the same time, keep in mind that 7- to 9-foot fluorocarbon leaders with delicate 6x, 7x and even 8x tippets are necessary to fool the Blue's highly educated rainbows. "Using rods that aren't super stiff is one key," Vogt said. "You want something to be able to pull and put pressure on them, but also something that is also going to save those light tippets. Landing them can be a little bit easier with a softer tip. You can play them out with it. There's no way you can horse an 8- to 10-pound rainbow in if he doesn't want to come in."

As for flies, Vogt suggests any kind of mysis shrimp pattern, including the locally tied Randy's Mysis pattern in Nos. 18-20. Other top winter patterns for the Blue River include Candy Canes, Miracle Nymphs, WD-40s, Black Beauties, Real Midges, Brooks Sprouts, and Parachute Adams flies in Nos. 20 and 22.

Where should these flies be used on the Blue? Right in the middle of Silverthorne near the noisy I-70 travel corridor.

"Everything in town is public," Vogt said. "From the Town Hall Bridge up to the dam, it all fishes pretty well through the wintertime and stays pretty open. There is public water farther downstream, but in the wintertime it can be pretty well frozen."

While still not deserted, winter angling does offer some solace for anglers hoping to sample the Pan's epic trout fishing, according to Art Rowell, manager of Frying Pan Anglers fly shop in Basalt. "The trick in the winter is finding a sunny spot on the river, and that changes as the day goes on," Rowell said. "In December with its very short days, there are only a few spots on the river that get any sunshine at all, and then only for one or two hours maximum. That's the secret to getting the midges hatching. We fish dry flies all winter long, but just (be sure) to follow the sun."

On the other hand, the fly shop manager also points out that when the sun isn't shining through heavy clouds, bad weather days can produce some of the Pan's most memorable fishing.

"I have fished up there for a half-hour in a driving blizzard," Rowell said. "When I turned around, there was six inches of snow plastered to my back, but I had had one of the best half-hours I've had in many a year. Usually, it's not that cold when it's snowing like that; usually it's just around 30 to 32 degrees, so it's a little warmer. On a snowy day, you can do fine. In fact, some of the best baetis days of the year happen out there in the snow."

Aside from fishing the right weather, Rowell advises anglers to be sure to think small when stocking their fly boxes for a Pan adventure.

"I'd fish nothing much bigger than No. 20 all the way down to No. 24 or No. 26," Rowell said. "When it comes to those real small flies though, I'm not that good. (We) old guys have to fish some of the larger flies so we can see them."

Rowell says several patterns tied by Frying Pan Anglers fly shop owner Roy C. Palm are always good on the Pan. "Roy's Biot Emerger is a good one," he said. "Roy's Special Emerger is a good one too, especially in the smaller sizes."

Other patterns likely to find their way into Rowell's midwinter fly box include red Brassies, Discos, various Barr's patterns, Parachute Adams, Black Midge Parachutes, and various red worm patterns. Primarily, he'll use flies tied in red or black variations since he finds the river's gray-shaded midges - and their matching fly patterns - to be simply too small for him to adequately see and fish properly. Mysis shrimp patterns are also important to have in Nos. 14 through 20.

Like the Blue, the use of delicate tippets is a key on this famous tailwater.

"One of the secrets of the Frying Pan is light tippet," Rowell said. "The fish will follow you around like dogs, but if they see the tippet, they will not touch the fly. We don't use anything heavier than 6x tippets."

While some Pan regulars insist on snaky leaders in the 12- to 14-foot varieties, Rowell says he hasn't found such lengths to be necessary. He uses 9-foot fluorocarbon leaders.

As for fishing locations, just about any portion of the river's public water is good, although for bigger fish, the fly shop manager admits that the well-known upper river sections like the Toilet Bowl, the Bend Pool, and the Bridge Pool are good for those hoping to hook a Frying Pan pig.

"The Toilet Bowl right up below the dam is pretty good," Rowell said. "One of my guides got a 17-pound rainbow out of there last January. I didn't believe him and told him I didn't believe there was anything in there over 12 pounds. But he showed me a picture and it was definitely over 17 pounds - as big as a silver salmon."

But while the Pan's upper reaches can be rainbow hog heaven, Rowell often prefers to fish farther downstream.

"I'm 62 years old and I've caught a lot of trout all the way up to 10 and 12 pounds (in the upper river sections)," he said. "But those rainbows actually get fished over so much by pros who are there 365 days a year. The hotter fish are downriver. You can go downstream and catch a 20-inch fish that's hotter than a 10-pounder up by the dam because he's so tired."