Fly Fishing the Yampa

The Yampa River flows through Steamboat Springs. This area is known for housing some really large trout and providing reasonable access to the river at multiple locations. If you happen to be in this area and stop into the local fly fishing shop, you will be quickly handed some flies and directed away to one of the many street access points to the river downtown. While these areas can produce some nice fish, the traffic noise and the constant bombardment of drunken tubers make the experience frustrating at best. I talked to a few locals and was able to find several other access points farther south.  These alternate locations were quiet, remote, and the fishing was outstanding. The tailwaters of the Yampa near Stagecoach Reservoir and Sarvis Creek are perfect examples. The fish here are large and wary so be sure to lighten your tippets and drag. I met Spence there, a pseudo local very familiar with this section of the river, that made some fly and technique recommendations that certainly did the job. By the end of the day, I had caught 7 trout, the smallest of which was 15 inches. The patterns used here were yellow stonefly nymphs and white wing black emergers. Be sure to work the areas near overhanging brush and cutbanks as these were the most productive locations that I found.

Nice Rainbow caught at Sarvis Creek