The many dams and reservoirs near Denver provide tailwaters which are abundant in fish nutrients and offer ideal and stable water temperatures year round. The result is the perfect habitat for over 35 varieties of fish, many of which are trophy size. Residents of Denver are taking advantage of their proximity these productive waters, and avid out of state anglers are becoming more and more aware of the thrills of fly fishing Denver waters.

Start with the South Platte which runs right through the center of Denver and offers the ultimate in urban fly fishing. These waters are home to a great range of warm water fish, most notably carp. A number of other warm water fish reside in these waters, including small and largemouth bass, catfish, walleye, suckers and bluegill. There are also trout in some of the upper sections. The Denver Urban Platte offers exciting fly fishing, only steps away from home or hotel.

For those anglers with a bit more time available, consider venturing out to the Eleven Mile Canyon portion of the South Platte, about two hours away from Denver. This is the tailwater section of the river just below the Eleven Mile Reservoir. Thanks to an abundant insect population within the first two miles from the dam, rainbow, browns and cutthroat trout often grow to the 12-18 inch range. Every year, there are many fishermen boasting of even larger catches.

Another popular section of the South Platte is the Deckers teeming with 4,000 fish per mile. Besides the impressive quantity of fish, specimens longer than 20 inches are not uncommon either. Expect productive fly fishing on any day of the year.

Visitors to Denver, and even residents, often engage the services of fly fishing guides from the Minturn Anglers shop in Denver. These professionals know the waters intimately, and love to help both experienced and novice anglers improve their skills. Visitors to Denver especially appreciate being able to rent or loan necessary gear and clothing from the Minturn Anglers fly shop. All it takes is a phone call to arrange your next fly fishing adventure!