Winter doesn’t keep die-hard anglers out of the water

PUEBLO, Colo. — It was an ugly day along the Arkansas River, with the mercury at 26 degrees and an icy fog that made life feel wet and much colder.

That didn’t stop Larry Meyer from wading into the frigid water for a day of fly-fishing. It was, after all, his 60th birthday, nasty weather be damned.

“It breaks up the winter and gets you ready for spring,” shouted Meyer, of Palmer Lake, to this reporter, who stood — drier and warmer, but far from toasty — on the dry bank. “It’s a way to get out and enjoy nature and get away from things.”

“But the main reason I do it in winter,” he added, “is because there are fish.”

Click here to see a photo album of winter fly-fishing along the Arkansas.

Armed with better gear and warmer clothing, a growing number of anglers are pushing fly-fishing beyond the traditional boundaries, into the icy depths of Colorado winters. The fish are just as big as in summer and the crowds are lighter, though popular spots, like this stretch of the Arkansas below Pueblo Reservoir, can still see heavy use — even on a chilly Wednesday morning in late December.

“Word has gotten out,” said Michael Seraphin, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Colorado Springs. “Fly-fisherman are a hardy bunch and they’re a dedicated bunch and they enjoy the fact they can catch fish in an area so close to the Front Range.”

Of the half-dozen anglers braving the elements this day, four were from El Paso County.

“Just the diehards,” said angler Jonathon Kleis, an employee and fishing guide at the shop Angler’s Covey, when asked what percentage of anglers fish year-round. “It’s a good chance to find solitude and fish the places that usually get pounded.”

“If you are dressed for the occasion, it can be a really enjoyable experience,” he said.

Indeed, the weather can present that biggest challenge to winter fly-fishing. Dress in layers and stay out of the water as much as possible. But with rivers running at their lowest levels of the year, that’s not always possible, so make sure your waders are in good shape, and take frequent breaks. Take de-icer spray for your rod.

Winter angler Joe Frasca said he rarely notices the cold.

“When I’m fishing, I block out everything. I don’t realize I’m hungry. I don’t realize I’m thirsty or cold. But you do have to bundle up,” he said.

You’ll also need to find a place where winter has not turned the river into an un-fishable skating rink. The best spots are tailwaters, areas below dams where water released from the bottoms of reservoirs keeps the river a few degrees warmer. Fishing licenses are good until the end of March, so you won’t need a new one for winter.

The consensus among anglers is that the fish themselves don’t seem to be any more catchable in winter than in summer, though with fewer anglers on the river, you can have them more to yourself. Also, since fish diets are limited in winter, you will only need a couple different midges and nymphs for a day of fishing.

For Kleis, the hardest part is tying the miniscule knots with hands trembling or numb from the cold. If you can do it on a winter’s day, he said, you can do it anytime, anywhere. And he vastly prefers winter fly-fishing to ice-fishing, because the former is much more active, with a constant casting to keep the blood flowing.

So, does he ever get too cold or start to question why he thinks it’s fun to stand in a river in Colorado in December, when he could be warm and dry?

“If the fish aren’t biting,” he said.

“If they are biting, you have stuff to look forward to.”

———

The Arkansas River just below Pueblo Reservoir has become a popular year-round fishing spot, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife recently adopted new regulations for the 2 miles from the bridge near Valco Ponds downstream to Pueblo Boulevard.

At the request of a local fishing-supply shop, whose owners sought to preserve the fish population, the DOW adopted regulations that require trout 16 inches or larger be released and restrict tackle to artificial flies and lures. The portion of the river near the Pueblo Nature Center is exempt from these new restrictions. The restrictions took effect Jan. 1.

GO FISH

You can still experience great fly-fishing in winter in Colorado. You just have to know where to look. The best spots are in tailwaters, the area just below dams, where warm water from the reservoir above is discharged into the river. Here are popular and accessible locations:

THE ARKANSAS RIVER BELOW PUEBLO RESERVOIR

You won’t get away from road noise and other anglers, but for easy access, relatively warm temperatures and abundant trout, try the first 2 miles below the dam, though keep in mind new regulations require catch-and-release in spots.

ELEVENMILE CANYON

Near Lake George, the first mile of the South Platte River below the reservoir offers solitude, though since it is in the mountains, prepare for colder weather. The river may be iced over downstream.

CHEESMAN CANYON

Another frigid spot in the high country, this twisty stretch of the South Platte near Deckers offers rugged beauty and plenty of trout year-round. Watch your step, as the short trail into the canyon can get icy.

CONDITIONS

For the latest conditions call a fishing-supply shop, such as Angler’s Covey at 471-2984, or the Colorado Springs DOW office at 227-5200.

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