Just moved to Arvada & Bought my First Fly Rod/Reel

Standley Lake-

Boulder.

might want to mention what wt. fly rod. will help determine where

Go to the shop where you spent all the money and get started with a program like a beginners class, or take a guide trip with them. If you remind them of all the money you spent they should be glad to get you started. If you start at one of the local lakes you will have fun and start your learning more profitably as you won't have to learn a lot about the problems associated with rivers.

I'd start simple - buy some popper flies for your local pond, learn the mechanics of a proper fly cast and start catching some bluegill.

A lot of those shops have a little whiteboard up with conditions reports on popular waters.

Those are all "*great*" places to fly fish.

Your timing is excellent for the most unique fly fishing that our state has to offer: high country. Pick up some topo maps from REI and venture into James Peak Wilderness, Indian Peaks Wilderness, or Rocky Mountain National Park. Any big bushy dry fly... Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator... pick a lake and or creek and hike in for some cutthroats.

When the rivers come down in a month or so fish Boulder Creek anywhere from within the city of Boulder all the way up to Barker Res for brown trout with rainbows sprinkled in on dry flies.

Be sure to visit Charlie's Fly Box in Arvada and/or Rocky Mountain Anglers in Boulder for flies.

Like Tangler said, go to Charlie's for flies, and sign up for a casting lesson...

I always tell people there is about a two year learning curve before you really start figuring things out (casting, where to go, what flies to use, good stretches of water) and over time you will start to pattern certain flies for certain times of year. Practice casting as much as possible. Ponds close to home are great for that. You have endless options within a couple hours from you and it would take a lifetime to fish it all. Good luck and have patience!!

Luke the Dog said:

Like Tangler said, go to Charlie's for flies, and sign up for a casting lesson...

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yep. guys are great there. after that you can stop at the arvada brew company next door for a cold one

I wanted to jump on this thread and say I'm a new fly fisher that recently moved to Arvada as well. I've been told both Arvada reservoir and Standley lake are good spots to go get started. I work in Boulder and one of my coworkers also mentioned Boulder Creek.

For sure. Make sure you're equipped properly in Boulder, though. You'll need at LEAST a $4000 fly rod and a pound of sweet cheebah.

Opry99er said:

For sure. Make sure you're equipped properly in Boulder, though. You'll need at LEAST a $4000 fly rod and a pound of sweet cheebah.

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You forgot to mention tattoos, piercings, dreadlocks and "Kill Your TV" bumper sticker. And of course you must be a Trust Fund baby, fishing license optional.

Go to Clear Creek and explore and flail around. Try a big visible dry fly with a dropper. Work on getting good drifts. Try to figure out where the fish are feeding and try to put your flies in front of them. You don't need to be able to cast 50 ft. to catch fish.

Have fun. Fer crissakes don't take it too seriously. :thumb:

chuckphlegm said:

Go to Clear Creek and explore and flail around. Try a big visible dry fly with a dropper. Work on getting good drifts. Try to figure out where the fish are feeding and try to put your flies in front of them. You don't need to be able to cast 50 ft. to catch fish.

Have fun. Fer crissakes don't take it too seriously. :thumb:

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Good advice..

chuckphlegm said:

Go to Clear Creek and explore and flail around. Try a big visible dry fly with a dropper. Work on getting good drifts. Try to figure out where the fish are feeding and try to put your flies in front of them. You don't need to be able to cast 50 ft. to catch fish.

Have fun. Fer crissakes don't take it too seriously. :thumb:

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Don't listen to this advice. You need to take yourself way seriously. If you don't, the fish won't take you seriously either and will just laugh at you. I had that happen when I was first starting out...most humiliating experience of my life being laughed at by 50 fingerling stockers.

Safe to say, I came back a few days later and punched the first fish I saw in the face. You better believe they took me seriously after that. It's all about stream cred man.

explodedlad said:

Don't listen to this advice. You need to take yourself way seriously. If you don't, the fish won't take you seriously either and will just laugh at you. I had that happen when I was first starting out...most humiliating experience of my life being laughed at by 50 fingerling stockers.

Safe to say, I came back a few days later and punched the first fish I saw in the face. You better believe they took me seriously after that. It's all about stream cred man.

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I'm feeling ya. Stream cred is hard to come by. Take Clear Creek, them's some badass trout in those waters. Any trout that survives below a Superfund site has got some serious juice. Show any fear and they'll take you down.

explodedlad said:

Don't listen to this advice. You need to take yourself way seriously. If you don't, the fish won't take you seriously either and will just laugh at you. I had that happen when I was first starting out...most humiliating experience of my life being laughed at by 50 fingerling stockers.

Safe to say, I came back a few days later and punched the first fish I saw in the face. You better believe they took me seriously after that. It's all about stream cred man.

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This **** is legit. You gotta have mad gear... I'm talkin like 20K worth of gear. You need a fly box with at least 300 flies, 50 patterns in 6 different sizes each.

There's more to this than meets the eye. When you decide to fly fish, you decide on a complete change in life philosophy and worldly outlook. If you're gonna go, go all in... Or risk gettin laughed at by 50 fingerling stickers. That's enough to make your junk turtle up.