We planned our trip to Rocky Mountain with the idea of fly fishing on Colorado’s Big Thompson River. A wonderful treasure. The Big Thompson flows through Estes Park and Big Thompson Canyon before draining into the South Platte River. Every fly angler should have a bucket list that includes fishing this river. The 78-mile-long Big Thompson headwaters begin in the upper reaches of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Forest Canyon. The river travels through steep grades on its approach to Moraine Park. Only experienced hikers should attempt to fish the upper waters because of the challenging path conditions.
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Moraine Park-The Big Thompson River Runs Through it
The “Big T” has a dramatic change in Moraine Park. The water becomes smoother and flattens out in the valley. Anglers can easily access the river on foot. There are many pullouts along the road in this section of Rocky Mountain National Park. Browns, rainbows, and Brookies frequent the waters in the meadow. There is little vegetation cover in the meadow, therefore it requires anglers to be stealthy so as not to spook the fish. From Moraine Park, the river continues to flow through Estes Park into the reservoir. The tail waters at the dam provide easy access for angler.s The drawback, however, is the area attracts more crowds.
The river below Estes Lake that runs along Highway 34 where it becomes a freestone trout stream. This section of the river contains numerous fast-moving pockets and riffles. The 9 miles of river below the Estes Lake are Catch-and-Release only using artificial flies and lures only. There are many pullouts areas to access the river along Hwy 34. However, some sections of the river are private property. Watch for the signs.
Big Thompson River Fishing Guide Services
They say that not all river waters are created equal, that each is unique. The Rio Grande in South Fork or the Animas River in Durango do not have the same features as the Big Thompson. The terrain is just different. This is where your guide can help you find the best location for casting to those finicky trout.
Hiring a guide has always been best for us, as we want to target fish quickly. For this trip, we selected the Estes Park Mountain Shop. We chose them based on the recommendation of the owner of Loveland Heights Cottages. There are other guide services available in Estes Park:
- Lost Outfitters (now used by Estes Park Mountain Shop)
- Kirk’s Fly Shop & Mountain Adventures
- Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountains
- Estes Angler
We scheduled our guide six months in advance with Estes Mountain Shop. They offer 4 hr, 6 hr and full-day trips. We opted for the six-hour trip and we were not disappointed. We arrived early and had time to do some shopping and get our fishing licenses. Our guide, Ryan, got us started early because we had our own gear.
Fishing Equipment for Fishing the Big Thompson River
Since we had some experience with fly fishing in the past on freestone rivers, there was no better place to start than the stretch of the Big T along Hwy 34. The waters of the Big T are cold year-round, providing excellent fishing. Having a good pair of chest waders and wading boots with wool socks will keep your feet comfortable for the entire day. Our gear included a Redington Crosswater 9-foot 5-wt. fly rod with a floating line with a 5X tippet. The flies we used were caddis in size #10-#20 and mayflies #16 – #24. The best colors were green, tan or black because this is a perfect river for dry flies in June. Ryan found good pockets of water among the river boulders. As a result, my first two casts produced good-sized rainbows.
Throughout the morning, we moved up and down the river looking for bigger fish. Although we missed a few fish in this section, I did manage to catch a nice 10-inch brown trout. I also had a large redhorse sucker on a small mayfly in one of the deeper sections of the river.
Final Thoughts: World Class Fly Fishing on the Big Thompson River
This river has been a popular fishing spot for decades. It appeals to both local residents and tourists alike. Not to mention fishing in gorgeous surroundings makes it a paradise for fly fishing lovers. The river’s wealth of trout species ensures that this time-honored pastime continues to thrive in the years ahead.
We both appreciated our time on the “Big T.” We reminisced about our day on the river while eating our picnic lunch in this idyllic Colorado location. It was then we realized how fortunate we are to be able to fish these waters. Hiring a guide will get you on the productive waters, as finding fish faster is the key to having a good day on the water. The Big Thompson is one of Colorado’s finest rivers and, if you can add this to your Colorado road trip itinerary.
Have you fished in the Big Thompson river canyon? What are your memories of the river fishing? We would love to know how your day went. Please share below in the comments.
