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Lauren · 3 min read
Colorado · Fly Fishing
Colorado fly fishing on three miles of private water.
Wild brown and brook trout on East Beaver Creek. Fly only, single barbless, catch and release. Guided half-day and full-day trips, mid-May through October.
- 3 mi
- Private water
- Wild
- No stocking
- Fly only
- Single barbless · C&R
- $525
- From / full day
East Beaver Creek runs the full length of the leased ranch ground — three miles of cold, spring-fed water from the upper beaver complex down to the lower confluence. Eight to twenty feet wide. Knee-to-thigh-deep in the runs. The only meaningful water for six miles in any direction.
The water holds wild brown trout (the dominant species, 8 to 14 inches with the occasional larger), brook trout in the upper reaches above the cattleguard, and a small population of native Greenback cutthroat in the highest beaver complex above the irrigation diversion. The population is reproducing on its own; we do not stock and have not since the late 1990s.
The fishing is small-water technical: long leaders, careful approach, and a presentation that lands like a hatch. Trout that see real pressure don’t take sloppy casts. A patient guide can put a first-time angler on fish inside an hour — experienced anglers will find the casting and the read of the water both rewarding.
When to come
Hatch chart, month by month.
Refreshed by our guides each spring against the prior season’s notebook. Conditions vary year to year — we’ll text current-week notes a day or two before your trip.
| Month | What’s hatching | Note |
|---|---|---|
| May | Early caddis, BWOs on overcast days | Water rising; nymph the deeper runs. |
| June | Caddis peak, Yellow Sallies, PMDs | Best dry-fly fishing of the year. |
| July | Terrestrials — hoppers, ants, beetles | Sight-fish from the bank. Long leaders. |
| August | Trico spinners early, hopper-dropper | Low water. Stalk slowly. |
| September | BWOs return on cool mornings | Browns get aggressive pre-spawn. |
| October | Blue-winged olives, late hoppers | Streamers on overcast afternoons. |
What’s included
- →One guide per four anglers (1:2 ratio available on request)
- →Rods, reels, waders, and flies if you don't bring your own
- →Streamside lunch on full-day trips
- →Monthly hatch chart and current-conditions briefing
- →Access to all three miles of private water
- →Pickup from Colorado Springs Airport for multi-day fishing trips
What’s not
- ·Colorado fishing license (~$36 non-resident annual)
- ·Tips for guides
- ·Lodging for multi-day trips (add the lodge — see pricing)
Colorado fishing licenses are available online at cpw.state.co.us. Pick one up before you arrive.
Frequently asked.
What kind of fish are in East Beaver Creek?
Brown trout dominate the lower meadow stretch — most fish 8–14 inches with the occasional larger. Brook trout in the upper reaches above the cattleguard, and a small population of native Greenback cutthroat in the highest beaver complex above the irrigation diversion. The population is wild and reproducing; we do not stock.
Is it really catch and release?
Yes. Fly only, single barbless hook, catch and release on the full three-mile private stretch. We've held this water under that policy since the late 1990s and the fish count has built steadily across that period.
When is the best time to fish?
Mid-June through late July is the strongest dry-fly window — caddis, Yellow Sallies, and PMDs all going. Late August and September fish smaller hatches and bigger streamers for pre-spawn browns. The shoulder months (May, October) fish hard but the rewards are bigger fish.
Do I need to be an experienced fly angler?
No. We run trips for first-timers regularly — a half day on a small forgiving creek with a patient guide is one of the best places to learn. Experienced anglers will find the small-water technical fishing rewarding; the trout here see real pressure and won't take a sloppy presentation.
Can I bring kids?
Yes. Age 8 and up for guided trips. Younger kids do well with a parent and a guide on the lower meadow where the casting is open and the fish are forgiving. We have small-handed rods.
Can I combine fishing with a stay or a hunt?
Yes — most of our fly anglers come for a multi-day ranch stay (lodge + meals + fishing) and a lot of our fall hunters add a half-day on East Beaver Creek to a hunt trip. Mention it on the inquiry.
Plan a East Beaver Creek day
Three rods on the water at a time.
We cap simultaneous anglers at three pairs of rods so nobody crowds anyone’s water. Most guided trips book 2–4 weeks out; June and September fill faster than the shoulders.
Go deeper
The East Beaver Creek references.
From the journal
Notes from the creek.
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The Lifestyle · September 20, 2026
A child's first brookie on East Beaver Creek
There's a pool above the cattleguard where, most summers, a kid catches their first fish. It's the same pool, a different kid, every year.
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