Many people think trout fishing in Colorado is purely a spring or fall activity. However, it is possible to fish for Colorado trout in the winter as well, so long as you have the right mentality, equipment and know the best places to test out your skill. Whether it's on a chilly river or an iced-over lake, there remains the potential to catch trout during the coldest months of the year if you're willing to brave the snow and wind.
Techniques
One of the most common winter-fishing technique is ice fishing. This involves staking out a frozen lake and drilling or sawing through the ice layer to reach the warmer waters below, where fish wait out the winter months. Ice fishing can be hazardous on lakes lower than 8,000 feet in elevation because a constant thawing and refreezing of the ice makes the layer unstable and more likely to crack. Another technique is the traditional fly-fishing setup along rivers that remain warm enough to not freeze during the river.
Equipment
For fly fishing winter rivers, require the usual setup of rod and reel, along with hefty waders so they frigid water doesn't soak your clothes. Winter fly fishers will also want to exchange their usual flies for ones that more closely match the trout's winter diet, midges and nymphs. For the ice fisher, portable fishing shelters and electronic fish locaters are handy tools to bring along to protect from wind and ensure you have the best chances of bringing a fish up from below the ice.
Locations
Winter fly fishers mainly want to look for tailwaters, which are rivers and streams located below manmade reservoirs. Water released from these reservoirs tends to be warmer and so remains exposed, giving the fly fisher an area where they can cast for trout. Some popular Colorado tailwaters include Cheeseman Canyon, Spinney Reservoir, Eleven Mile Canyon and the fisheries along Blue River, near Silverthorne, CO. For ice fishing, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) publishes fish stocking reports each October so fishers can get a better sense of what lakes and reservoirs will have the types and numbers of fish they seek.
Requirements
For any type and season of fishing in Colorado, it is necessary for anyone 16 years and older to have a license. Anyone younger can fish without a license. Licenses can be purchased online, over the phone, or at all DOW offices. A fee is required.
Laws
The DOW publishes an annual Colorado Fishing Regulations handbook, detailing the legal side of fishing. Some of the more important laws include legal methods of capturing fish, such as the use of only one line per person and three hooks per line. Fishing can only be done on public waters, unless written consent is provided from the owner of private land. Depending on the species, trout must be within 16 to 32 inches in length to be a legal catch, and the daily limit is within five to 10 fish.
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