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Colorado River Beats:
Mayhoffers — Mayhoffers is Elktrout Lodge's upper most section of the Colorado River and offers some of the very best of our famed classic fly fishing. The stream is characterized by well defined riffles and runs throughout its course. Prolific numbers of caddis, baetis, midges, tricos, stones, pmd's, and sculpins provide amble forage for large browns and rainbows.
Confluence Up — An impressive stretch of water positioned just below Mayhoffers with the renowned Frank's Riffle as a dividing line. Lucky anglers move from productive structure and riffles through appealing slack water. The stream in this area provides anglers the opportunity to use their full bag of tricks with nymphs, streamers, and dry flies all producing well.
Confluence Down — The delightful Troublesome Creek forms a productive riffle as it empties into the Colorado River and creates a natural division between the stretches at Confluence Down. This stretch provides first-rate dry fly fishing throughout the season and gives anxious anglers a chance to tune up their streamer fishing skills in the fall.
Shepard's Bend — This exclusive spot on Elktrout Lodge's private water is so appealing it bares the owner's name. Andy Shepard has spent many productive afternoons sight casting with dry flies to large bows lurking below undercut banks on his bend. Grasshopper patterns and droppers are a recipe for success. Streamer fishing for beautiful browns remains magnificent between hatches.
Grady's — Andy Shepard originally purchased the land Elktrout Lodge sits upon from local rancher Grady Cullbreth. The waters widen at Grady's as the Colorado's round rock bottom gives way to gravel and trouble-free wading. Technical dry fly fishing and sight casting to browns and bows will bring success.
VW Hole — The picturesque water is named from the aged car bodies that were placed long ago to stabilize the river's banks. Clouds of pale morning duns, blue-winged olives, and tricos fill the air creating ample opportunities for dry fly fishing. Increasing numbers of big browns lurk in this water and await the patient angler.
Pipe Hole — Remnants of the pipe that brought water from the KB ditch to the surrounding bountiful hay meadows can still be seen. Though the meadows continue to exist, the pipe's only current use is as structure for trophy browns and bows. Lucky anglers spend delightful afternoons stalking big fish and fun.
The Blue River:
Elktrout Lodge introduces two new private stretches of this productive tailwater in 2007. The Blue's famed gold medal fishing and beautiful settings will continue to enrich your experience for years to come. The river's unique character rewards our guests with heavy browns, bows, and cutts. Productive riffles and runs move through magnificent and unspoiled vistas. The valley offers the seclusion and privacy you've come to expect from our lodge. Remember to bring your green drakes this summer and enjoy using big flies for big fish. Share in an unforgettable experience on Elktrout Lodge's Blue River.
Troublesome Creek Beats:
Highway Up — This fruitful stretch begins near Highway 40 and concludes at the fabled skull hole. Big fish move up from the Colorado into the creek here and ambush prey in its many deep holes and undercut banks. Dry fly and dropper combinations can produce good numbers of robust fish. Don't forget to throw a few big ugly streamers to temp those monsters lurking in the shadows.
Cliffs Up — Cool running springs tumble down sandstone cliffs into the creek at this section. The fertile creek winds through picturesque hay meadows creating an ideal opportunity to cast hoppers to anxious browns, bows, and cutts. This spot has been a long time favorite of many of our guests.
Picnic Up — The stretch begins at the Picnic Hole where hungry guests enjoy gourmet lunches and a few trout have been known to sample our cookies. The water at Picnic Up consistently allows anglers the chance to land big bows on dries, nymphs, and streamers.
Bills Creek — Although this is a recent addition to Elktrout's water on Troublesome Creek it is quickly becoming a favorite. Large and richly colored browns lurk beneath heavy foliage as a reward to hard working anglers. The fish don't always come easy here, but you will never forget the jewels you catch.
Swansons — Named after June Swanson, whose family originally homesteaded the area, this spot marks our upper most sections on Troublesome Creek. With the increase in elevation the hay meadows below give way to aspen groves and high mountain vistas. Troublesome Creek narrows in the upper stretches and its water moves quickly. Vibrant jewels strike rapidly and eagerly to traditional dry flies. Small rods and short casts will keep skilled fly fisherman out of the trees and into the mouth's of willing fish.
Spring-Fed Ponds:
Hidden Valley — The surrounding sage brush and high desert landscape hide a spring-fed jewel. This prolific pond teems with callibaetis, damsels, boatman, scuds and leeches. This forage base allows the pond's residing rainbows, browns, cutthroats, and brookies to grow big. The impressive populations of both fish and bug life will delight and thrill lucky anglers.
Star Gulch — The same spring that feeds Hidden Valley begins at Star Gulch and has created a world-class fishery. This pond provides ample opportunities to sight cast to big bows cruising in large freshwater flats. Whether your fishing callibaetis dries in the flats or dropping scuds and midges off the pond's dam you'll be wowed by the strength of the fish. You may just be in awe from the amount of backing that screams from your reel.
The Curry's Ponds — Eight spring-fed ponds stair step through meadows adjacent to an authentic working ranch. While each of the ponds maintains its own unique character they all possess nutrient rich waters offering plentiful bug life and trophy trout. Anglers use the gamete of still water tricks to land educated browns, bows, rainbows, and brookies. The ponds offer opportunities to sight cast to the big ones and symbolize classic western still water fishing.
Harsha Gulch Ponds — Three ponds are nestled in a valley between sheer shale cliffs. These cliffs are home to an annually nesting pair of Golden Eagles. As the eagles soar above guest enjoy chasing the big ones below. Standard Wolly Buggers and leech patterns correlate to success in these ponds and it's a longtime favored spot to enjoy one of Elktrout's gourmet lunches.
Pass Creek — A gem that stands alone in the center of expansive hay meadows Pass Creek Pond allows lucky anglers the opportunity to catch hard fighting rainbows while enjoying the scenic beauty Middle Park offers. Purple and black streamers are always a good choice, but you may have the opportunity for explosive surface strikes to large dry fly patterns including trudes, Madam X's, and Turk's Tarantula.
Bill's Lower Pond — This pond is one of our largest bodies of water and holds a substantial forage base of minnows. Resident rainbows feed heavily on these minnows and grow into true trophies. Elktrout Lodge's guests enjoy chasing these hogs from belly boats as well as casting from the shore. Though streamers work well anglers often elicit strikes with big dries on top.
The Brown Palace — The deep and seemingly bottomless pond is named after the historic hotel in Denver, CO. The water holds a truly enormous population of brown trout. Exciting top water action can be enjoyed using callibaetis and damsel patterns throughout the summer. However, many of the monsters lurk far below and can be fooled with large streamers and nymphs fished slow and deep. The pond doesn't typically give you many chances, but anglers will remember each beauty they've fooled for a lifetime.
Ruth's Creek Pond — This little pond is nestled against Bill's Creek and gives anglers fishing the creek a little break from bushwhacking the willows. Feisty rainbows eagerly take streamers and prince nymphs providing some fun away from the creek.
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