Brook trout were the first salmonid species in Colorado

The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is an engaging fish. Nearly every trout fisher that I know, young and old alike, has fond memories concerning the beautiful little trout that inhabit most of Colorado's mountain streams. Many anglers remember a brook trout as being first at something or other; their first trout caught from a stream, first trout on a fly rod, first trout on a spinning rod, first trout on something other than a worm, first trout cooked over a campfire beside a moonlit mountain lake, first trout (fill in the blank).

Eastern brook trout are good at being first. Pioneers of a sort, they were the first salmonid species introduced into Colorado, beating the California rainbows by ten years. In late 1872, Denver Alderman, James M. Broadwell, obtained 10,000 fertile brook trout eggs from a fish culturist in Boscobel, Wisconsin and hatched them at his facility located on the South Platte River ten miles north of Denver. According to newspaper accounts from the era, this is the earliest known fish hatchery in Colorado.

Broadwell raised the brook trout alongside what was known then as Rocky Mountain trout (native cutthroats), which he had procured from Colorado waters. He hatched the eggs in flowing water channeled through plank troughs lined with clean gravel, and then raised the young fish on a diet of thickened milk, boiled eggs (grated fine), and boiled liver. Older fish received rations of raw liver and raw beef.

Soon, other private hatcheries began springing up, including one at Manitou Park operated by William A. Bell. In 1874 and 1875, Bell obtained and hatched 100,000 brook trout eggs from New York at his facility located in the mountains west of Colorado Springs. Brook trout were the darlings of the early hatcheries. Bell exalted the brook trout over the native trout as better tasting, more wary and therefore more sporting, and more successful at spawning.

William R. Scott, a fish culturist from Morrison stated in the July 19, 1897 issue of Sports Afield, "... it (brook trout) is probably the best known and most admired of all the fishes in Colorado to-day, and if any man says anything derogatory to its character, he is sure to have a contention on his hands ..."New state and federal hatcheries also jumped on the brook trout bandwagon, stocking them in great numbers. The numbers peaked in 1930, when 15.4 million brookies were stocked into Colorado streams and lakes.

Brook trout are easily distinguished from other trout by light-colored vermiculated (wavy) lines on a dark green back, and by white stripes on the leading edges of the fins. The olive-colored sides are freckled with bright red and yellow spots rimmed in light blue halos. The abdomen varies in color from milky white in younger fish to a light orange in adults. During spawn, coloration becomes more vibrant and the abdomen turns brick red. Tails are square at the back, not forked as in cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout.

The prolific brook trout often produce too many offspring, resulting in populations of stunted fish. However, many anglers boast of a secret beaver pond or stream where the brookies are "sixteen inches and better". The state-record brook trout weighed 7-pound 10-ounces and came from Upper Cataract Lake in Summit County in 1947. It is the oldest and the longest standing record on the Colorado books.

Finding brook trout is easy; high country streams are full of them. Drive to almost any creek or stream above 10,000 feet and peek through the willows or over a beaver dam. Most streams will have a self-sustaining population of wild brook trout that likely are descendants of the 19th Century pioneers. Brook trout are willing players for anglers casting bait and lures on light tackle but nothing quite compares with the sight of a colorful brook trout taking a dry fly from the surface of a beaver pond or mountain stream.

Today, brook trout are mostly on their own in the wild, successfully reproducing in scores of mountain streams and beaver ponds, often to the dismay of Division of Wildlife (DOW) fish biologists. Hearty brook trout populations can complicate restoration efforts for re-establishing native cutthroat trout populations.

Nevertheless, the DOW continues to stock brook trout in a limited number of waters. Approximately 200,000 catchable and sub-catchable brook trout are spawned in hatcheries for distribution in places such as Andrews Lake, Big Creek Lakes (lower lake), Cowdrey Lake, Dome Lake, Delaney Butte Lakes (south and east lakes), Haviland Lake, Red Feather Lakes, and San Cristobal Lake.



Denver Metro

Clear Creek (above Hwy. 119) - Fish near the edges of the stream for trout holding off the bank. Use a San Juan worm or a Prince nymph, and fish deep.

Clear Lake - The lake south of Georgetown off the Guanella Pass road has catchable-sized rainbow trout and also some brook trout and a few browns. Fishing can be fairly good on a variety of baits and lures, but success largely depends on periodic stocking. No boats are permitted on the lake. A campground is available one mile to the south.

South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) - The river has been discolored, making fishing difficult. The section from Strontia Springs Dam downstream to 300 yards above the Marston diversion structure is restricted to artificial flies and lures and offers the best fishing. The most effective lures for spin-fishermen are small Panther Martins, Mepps or Blue Fox spinners. Night crawlers are most effective in the unrestricted lower stretch.



Northwest

Blue River (below Green Mountain Reservoir) - Flows below Green Mountain Dam have been steady around 371 cfs. The water is clear and the river holds its share of trout, but through much of this section courses through private property.

Blue River (Dillon to Green Mtn. Res.) - The river has been flowing around 110 cfs through the town of Silverthorne. Fishing the tailwater with Mysis shrimp and pale morning duns has been the most productive lately. A few green drake duns have been spotted in town. From Silverthorne to Green Mountain Reservoir, it's a mixed bag of hatches. The green drakes probably are over, but a few adults still appear in the evening. Blue wing olives, pale morning duns and caddis, may appear at any time, and frequently all at once. Be prepared to change flies multiple times to hone in on chosen insect. The overcast, rainy days of the past week produced some very good hatches of blue wing olives - very small ones, sizes 22, 24, and 26.

Colorado River (below Parshall) - Early in the week, river flows were around 170 cfs below Windy Gap Dam and 872 at Kremmling. The water generally is clear, though rains can cause some discoloration. Fishing has been fair. With hot daytime temperatures, eary mornings have been the best time to fish. Afternoons have been slow; evenings somwehat better. Caddis and yellow Sally stoneflies are the main hatches.

Colorado River (Glenwood to Rifle) - The Colorado River has been flowing at about 2,310 cfs below Glenwood Springs. The water is slightly off-color, though still fishing quite well. Cooler temperatures during the past week have the fishing picking up. Good hatches of PMDs, caddis, and yellow Sallies are all taking place. Hot flies include: Clousers, Splendors, Ziwis, Slump Busters, Princes, Copper Johns, Biot Golden Stones, Stimulators, Rusty Spinners, BLMs, and Little Yellow Caddis. Streamer fishing has been superb lately.

Colorado River (near Granby) - Caddis, mosquito and blue dun dry patterns, and Gregg's Emergers, RS-2s and black-midge wet patterns are still working. Hotter weather has made early morning fishing best. The flow below Windy Gap is running around 187 cfs. The Williams Fork near Parshall is flowing around 38 cfs (below the dam, it is around 261cfs). In the immediate Granby area and downstream to the bridge at the west end of Byers Canyon, bait fishing is permitted and two fish may be kept.

Fryingpan River - The Pan has been smoking hot. Green drakes are pouring off in heavy numbers along the upper river, especially with the abundance of overcast skies lately. Heavy hathces of PMDs, Rusty Spinners, and BWOs are taking place, as well. Superb water flows of 249 cfs are ideal to both dry fly and nymph fishing. This is the best fishing of the entire year along the upper Frying Pan. Hot flies include: Sparkledun Drakes, Drake Cripples, Colorado Drakes, Thorax PMDs, Pink No Hackles, Perfect PMDs, BDE BWOs, Sparkledun BWOs, Rusty Spinners, P-Tails, Tung Baetis,Thread Emergers, RS-2s, Poxyback PMDs, Halfback PMDs, Epoxy Mysis, and Tim's Mysis.

Green Mountain Reservoir - Trout fishing from the shore is slowing down, but some still are being caught on night crawlers and salmon eggs. Trolling for kokannee salmon using bright-colored lures is still working toward the inlet.

Roaring Fork River - The Roaring Fork is fishing very well throughout its entire 50-mile length. Green drakes and caddis are foud in good numbers from Snowmass to Aspen. From Basalt to Carbondale, the river has good hatches of Caddis and PMDs. Below Carbondale, in Glenwood Springs, good numbers of yellow Sallies also come into play. Below Carbondale, the river has been day-to-day in terms of water visibility because of recent rains. Streamer fishing has been superb. Dry fly fishing is good early and late in the day, with solid nymph fishing during the afternoons.

Williams Fork River - Flows below Williams Fork Dam have come up, and early in the week were around 261 cfs. At Paeshall, however, the flow was only 38 cfs. Anglers have reported fair to good activity for mostly small- to medium-sized brown trout and an occasional larger rainbow. With midges, Baetis mayflies, caddis and yellow Sallies the dominant hatches, most of the action has been on small flies. Effective patterns have included Flashback Pheasant Tails, Mercury Baetis, Buckskins, RS-2s and Parachute Adams in sizes 18-22. San Juan worms may be effective in faster water. Days with subdued sunlight generally are best.

Yampa River (Stagecoach through Steamboat) - The river is generally clear and fishing well, especially in the mornings before the heat of the day. Caddis and grasshopper patterns provide much of the action. Trico mayflies also have been evident in slower sections of the river. With cooler weather, periodic rain and the irrigation season winding down, the river should have decent flows through the remainder of the summer.



Southeast

Arkansas River No. 3 (Through Pueblo) - The flow has been around 545 cfs and the water has been off-color. A few fish have been taken off the riffles by #12 black Woolly Buggers. Fishing remains very challenging below the dam. Habitat improvements have created deeper pools and structure for the fish to thrive in even when releases from Pueblo Dam are minimal. Standard fishing regulations and limits are in effect on this section of the river.

Arkansas River (Buena Vista to Salida) - On Monday, flows were 700 cfs in Buena Vista and 850 going through Browns Canyon. The water quality has been good and fish are feeding hard throughout this reach. Attractor dries and nymphs, and/or hoppers, have been the ticket. Streamers fished from a boat have been outstanding.

Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista) - On Monday, flows were 179 cfs at Hayden Meadows and 525 at Granite. Visibility has been great on the upper river and fish have been taking a variety of attractor dries and nymphs. Hoppers have been particularly effective on the upper end.

Arkansas River (Salida to Canon City) - Monday's flow at Wellsville was 915cfs, with 925 at Parkdale. This lower reach of the river has been challenged by rains - days with good clarity have produced outstanding fishing, while murky days have been tough. The continuing monsoon rains have made predicting the fishing on this section a day-by-day process. Call ahead before heading to this section this week.

South Platte River (btwn Spinney and Elevenmile) - Flows from Spinney Mountain Dam have been increased and are averaging 170 cfs. The river has been fishing well, with many anglers having success landing trout of 12 inches and up. The river is open to catch-and-release fishing with artificial flies and lures. Micro caddis, regular caddis and Tricos have been the prevalent hatches. Effective flies have included No. 18-20 scuds, No. 20-22 Miracle Nymphs, No. 20-22 RS-2s, No. 20-22 Midge Pupae (Black, gray and red), No. 18-22 Copper Johns, No. 20-22 Parachute Adams, No. 20-24 Mercury Midges, Callibaetis, and Woolly Buggers.



Southwest

Gunnison River (below Crystal Dam) - The flow is stable at 1,170 cfs. Fishing has been good. On top, try caddis, Stimulators and hoppers. If nymphing, Halfbacks, Befus Wired Stones, Scuds, Caddis Pupa, Caddis Larva and Elk-hair Caddis, PMDs, RS-2s, Flashback Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, Flashback Pheasant Tails and an assortment of different-colored midges have been the go-to patterns.

Gunnison River (through the canyon) - The flow is around 1,300 cfs and the water is clear. Fishing has been very good the past week. Anglers have been using red and green Copper Johns and RS-2s. Caddis have been hot; also Flash-Back Hare's Ears, size 18. San Juan worms, streamers and hopper/droppers are still working well. No motorized craft are allowed above the North Fork tributary. Other restrictions include: Gold Medal Water, catch-and-release, flies-and-lures only. No rainbow trout may be kept.