River: Cache la Poudre: starts near continental divide roughly west of
Ft. Collins; runs east through the Poudre Canyon for about 50+ miles, then
through Ft. Collins, on through Greeley and south, where it joins the S. Platte
on the plains. South Fork; begins in RMNP;
joins Poudre in the canyon; N. Fork, one stretch is referred to as Phantom
Canyon; joins the Poudre lower on the river in the canyon.
Water: has most water types; riffles, runs, pools and flats; upper river
has more riffle/run texture; in flatter areas, obviously more pools and flats;
the area around Rustic stays ice-free during much or winter and fishes well with
midge patterns; much of the remainder of the river freezes in winter months due
to low water and being in the canyon; as it thaws, is pretty low; for a month or
two in the spring/early summer, water is high with run off and very popular for
rafting; lower river is floatable by raft and fishes well; much public access,
but some private areas as well.
Fish: Poudre is highly infested with WD; stocking still takes place; some
very good browns in the river; rainbows stocked; upper area tributaries have
some grayling and brookies; as river gets larger, mostly browns and rainbows
Flies: yellow stimulators; humpies;
Royal Wulffs and other attractor patterns; green drakes, PMD’s BWO in season;
caddis imitations; midge adults during midge hatches; basic stone fly nymph
patterns; prince nymphs; other general nymph patterns, including pheasant tail,
hare’s ears and bead head patterns.
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