Fishing in Runoff

A lot of streams are going to be murky or “tea-colored” as a result of the rains that we have been getting lately in Colorado. For some, you may find this frustrating as the typical flies that you know work well this time of year will seem ineffective and there will be a serious lack of surface activity. All is not lost! When you find yourself fishing in runoff conditions, you will want to consider “color contrast”. While streams are clear, your best flies, regardless of pattern, will be within a range of natural colors. However; with darker streams, consider using brighter patterns that will stand out better against the runoff. Also, don’t forget that black patterns often work well in the soup. They may not be bright, but they are a great contrast to brown!