Are you looking to stock your fly box with the best nymphs for Colorado?
Well, with more than 20 years of Colorado fly fishing experience, I can confidently tell you there are a few nymphs that will work just about anywhere you go. Whether you’re casting to greenback cutthroats in Rocky Mountain National Park, or to Rainbows and Kokanee on the Gunnison River, the fish in Colorado — with little exception — tend to stick to a fairly consistent menu.
So, if you want to make the most of your next mile-high fly fishing trip, keep reading.
In the rest of this guide, I am going to cover 15 of the best nymphs for Colorado.
Let’s dive in!
1. RS2
If you want to catch fish in Colorado, then you should buy as many RS2s as your bank account will possibly allow. In fact, I’ve often considered dedicating an entire fly box to different colors and variations of this wonderful fly pattern.
I can tell you with absolute certainty that I have caught more fish in Colorado on this pattern than any other fly on this list. It’s just so incredibly versatile. Seriously, you can fish it as a nymph with a ton of weight, without weight as an emerger, or even slap it with a little floatant and fish it as a dry.
I recommend keeping a nice stock of both the Rim Chung and sparkle wing patterns in black, olive, tan, and grey (sizes 18-22). Oh, and if you’re feeling a little naughty, you might want to throw in a couple purple RS2s. You know… for special occasions.
2. Copper John
The Copper John is just one of those patterns that every angler should keep on hand. They imitate so many different aquatic insects, and trout just can’t get enough of them. At minimum, you should have a few CJs in copper (obviously), red, green, chartreuse, and black.
In Colorado I have personally had more success on red and chartreuse Copper Johns than any of the other colors, so you might want to buy a couple extra of those.
3. Prince Nymph
Ah, the Prince Nymph. This pattern holds a special place in my heart, because it was the first nymph that ever triggered a hot streak for me. I was about 10 years old, and it was one of the best moments of my life. And if you plan on doing any Colorado fly fishing, you should have a nice selection of these on-hand.
Now, just to be safe, you should buy a few with bead heads, and a few without. Oh, and if you’re heading for the Poudre River, once again, buy a few in purple. (Seriously.)
4. Rainbow Warrior
I stumbled into the Rainbow Warrior about 5 or 6 years ago, and I have never been the same. The first time I took this little flashy little gem for a ride, I ended up landing about 15 fish in an hour, so…
I especially recommend this fly if you are going to be doing any fishing on the South Platte. Though, this pattern is sure to produce some fish on just about any water in Colorado. For your best chance of success, I suggest buying it in sizes 18 and 20.
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5. Kauffman’s Stone
Of all the large stonefly nymph patterns I’ve used in Colorado, the Kauffman’s Stone has produced the best for me. Seriously, I have tried just about every stonefly pattern known to man; including a few that were so realistic that they almost fooled me, and yet, the Kauffman’s Stone has produced, by far, the most fish for me.
I recommend buying this glorious pattern in sizes 10-14 in black, brown and gold.
6. BWO Barr’s Emerger
The BWO Barr’s Emerger is one of the staple flies in Colorado because it imitates, you guessed it, a BWO emerger. And if one thing’s for certain, Colorado has a ton of Blue Winged Olives flying around.
Side note: no matter where you buy it, for some odd reason, this fly pattern tends to fall apart pretty easily. So don’t be afraid to overstock your box with these. They may fall apart quickly, but seriously, they work like a charm.
7. Flashback Pheasant Tail
This is another fly pattern that holds a special place in my heart, because it was one of the first flies that brought me fishing success as a kid. Though, it has stuck with me through thick and thin, and to this day, it is still one of my go-to flies.
Like the Prince Nymph, you can buy this fly with or without a bead head, and you should have a few of both in sizes 16-20.
8. Flashback WD-40
The Flashback WD-40 is a sneaky-good fly pattern to have if you’re going to do any fly fishing in Colorado. They are a great imitation of a baetis emerger, and they are a phenomenal way to draw a couple strikes when nothing else will.
Now, you can buy these without a flashback, but truthfully, I don’t recommend it. I’m not sure why, but when that little shimmer makes fish lose their minds. You should get a few of these in olive and black from sizes 16 to 22.
9. Two-Bit Hooker
Not only does this pattern have a great name, but the Two-Bit Hooker is one of the most durable patterns you can keep in your fly box. I’m talking catch-10-fish-in-a-row kind of durability. And seriously, you are likely to catch upwards of 10 fish when you throw one of these things on.
While they make this fly in all sorts of colors, the red version is probably my favorite, but the olive and black have brought me a lot of success as well.
One again, you should have a few of these (in various colors) from size 16 to 20.
10. Juju Baetis
Plain and simple, the Juju Baetis is one of the all-time best nymphs for colorado. I personally think this fly pattern has magic fish-catching powers, but until David Blaine returns my phone calls, we won’t know for sure.
Like many of the other flies on this list, you can get it in a variety of colors, as well as with or without a bead head. At minimum, you should get it in grey, black, purple and red, and focus on sizes 18-22.
11. Zebra Midge
In Colorado, you better keep a bunch of freakin’ Zebra Midges in your fly box, because these things work everywhere! I can’t tell you how many times this tiny little pattern has been the fly to break a cold streak for me. Trout just love these things.
Oh, and If you really want to experience something special, I recommend trailing one of these behind a Rainbow Warrior, or something else with a little flash. While trout love the Zebra Midge, it’s not much of an attention-getter. So, if you can pair it with a good attractor pattern, you will probably have more success.
12. Caddis Larva
In Colorado, you can find Caddis Larva in just about any body of water you decide to fish. And since they’re so prevalent, you should always keep a few imitations in your fly box.
My main advice when selecting a caddis larva imitation, is to keep it simple. You can find all sorts of variations of this pattern, but ultimately, if you have a fly with a black head and a green body, you will be good to go.
If you’re looking to order an imitation online, I recommend the Hotspot, or the Electric Caddis Larva in sizes 16-20.
13. San Juan Worm
Despite the fly fishing purists out there that look down on the San Juan Worm, there’s no denying how much fish love them. And quite honestly, they can complain all they want. With how many fish I catch on this simple pattern, I’m not going to stop stocking my fly box with them any time soon.
In Colorado, you should have a nice assortment of San Juan Worms in your fly box at any one time. I recommend getting at least a few in red, brown and pink. Though, tan, wine and orange work great as well.
14. Mysis Shrimp
If you’re going to fish close to the dam on any tailwater in Colorado, you should keep a few Mysis Shrimp on hand. Oh, and by the way, get ready for some fun. Why? Because Mysis Shrimp are almost entirely protein, so fish that eat a steady diet of them tend to be on the gargantuan side.
You should keep about five of these on-hand at any one time in sizes 18-20.
15. Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
The final fly on my list of best nymphs for Colorado is the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear. Why? Because trout attack this thing with a vengeance, which makes for some exciting hook sets.
Also, I’m not sure why, but in my experience the fish that hit this pattern tend to be on the larger side. If that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will.
To boil it down, if you’re looking for a good time, throw on a Hare’s Ear. After all, they’re ribbed for your fly fishing pleasure!
Related Posts:
- 10 Baetis Nymph Patterns You Need To Try
- Fly Fishing With Small Flies (The Complete Guide)
- San Juan Worm: Fly Pattern Profile
- 25 Best Dry Flies For Colorado Fly Fishing
- What Is An Attractor Fly? (With 10 Examples)
Summary
If you’re looking to do some mile-high fly fishing, there are a few fly patterns that you should never be without. And while I realize there are countless nymphs that work well in Colorado, in my experience, the patterns on this list are some of the absolute best.
Now, go stock your fly box with as many of these as you possibly can, and get out there and fish.
Oh, and if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Fly Fishing Fix! We have all sorts of cool content in the hopper (including an article on hoppers), and trust me, you don’t want to miss it.
