Fly fishing gear is really a matter of personal preference. In Colorado the gear and tackle you use will also depend upon the stream or river you are fishing and the challenge that they pose. You'll find yourself fly fishing small streams that meander through grassy areas or plummet quickly through dense shrub thicket. Then there are the major rivers that present wide expanses between their banks and rocky shorelines.
For an all around fly fishing rod I prefer my 9-foot. But I also take my 6-foot rod along when I head out fishing as I've found that it has proved invaluable when I'm fishing small, brush banked streams. Which I use just depends upon where I plan on fishing and the conditions that day.
As to rod weight, many of my Colorado angling friends like a 4-weight rod as it has the ability to present flies delicately to the trout and it will withstand casting in moderately windy conditions. A 6-weight rod is probably the heaviest you will need when fly-fishing in Colorado. This is good for very windy conditions or when using large, weighted flies.
While a two-piece rod works well for all occasions. You might want a multi-piece rod if you are going fly-fishing while hiking or backpacking. They're more convenient for travelling and getting up trails to where the good fishing really is.
As for fly fishing reels, just make sure that you have a high puality, single-action reel. Your fly fishing reel should provide you with a reliable, smooth drag system. A sinking tip line with a sink rate of around 4 inches per second will come in handy when fishing ponds and lakes or with streamers in creeks and rivers.
A floating fly line will accommodate most Colorado fly fishing conditions though. So it would be your choice if you were to only pick one type of line. I prefer double-tapered lines but it's up to you and your preferences. Leaders and tippets will be the line features that you will vary the most depending on the angling conditions and fish that you are seeking.
Under general Colorado fly fishing conditions, your leader should measure between 4 and 14 feet long. For all round trout fishing, a 8- or9-foot monofilament leader tapered to 4X or 5X should do you well. Whether you used knotted leaders or knotless depends on where you're fishing. If you're fishing a weed-laden area, you'll definitly want a knotless leader.
Your tippet sizes will vary from 3X to 7X. The 3X tippet you'll use for deepwater nympsh and the 7X for tiny dry flies or emergers. I find myself using 5X and 6X tippets the most. But I try to keep a supply of all sizes with me so that I'm prepared for all fishing conditions.
You'll need waders for your fly fishing trip to Colorado. The relatively shallow waters of many Colorado trout fishing streams will allow you to only need hip waders. But if you're going to fish a variety of Colorado's streams and rivers you'll find that chest waders are more versatile. I'm getting a bit old to get into too deep a water, so I prefer a waist high wader. This is my compromise and they work well under most Colorado fly fishing conditions.
Waders made of Gore-Tex weigh a fraction of the weight that neoprene waders present. They don't allow for the sweating and perspiration either. Winter is the only time of the year that you might want to use the neoprene waders as they would be warmer.
Many Colorado rivers and streams have slippery bottoms. Wading boots with felt soles are a good protection against falling and being swept away by the current. You can find light-weight, collapsible, felt-soled boodts that will store better when backpacking into your fly fishing spot.
One handy thing to carry with while your fly fishing in Colorado is an aquarium dip-net. These can be at the local pet shop. The dip-net can be used to capture subsurface insect specimens by holding the net underwater for a few minutes and then inspecting the net for its contents. A magnifier will be needed to see all the specimens. This will give you an idea of what the fish are feeding on and what flies to use.
The aquarium dip-net can also be used to skim the water surface to determine what insects are hatch at the time. You may find that the hatch changes throughout the day depending upon temperature and time of the year. Here again, this will give you an indication of the insects the trout are feeding on and what flies to tie on your line.
Other fly fishing gear that you will need will be a backpack to haul your gear and tackle, rain gear, and hiking boots. Most good fly fishing spots in Colorado require some hiking to get to. Be sure to have comfortable shoes or hiking boots to make your fly fishing experience more enjoyable. Your backpack should be large enough to accommodate all your fly fishing gear plus some snacks and other conveniences.
With the right fly fishing gear and tackle, you will be prepared to fly fish in Colorado under any conditions. Be prepared for changing weather. Fly fishing for trout and other species in Colorado is some of the best angling conditions in the world. Stop by the local fly fishing tackle store to find out what's hatching and the prefered flies for the area and soon you'll be reeling in your first Colorado trout.
