Winter midge fishing on Colorado tailwaters

Tailwaters are the stretches of river below dams. Water leaves the reservoir at a fairly steady temperature, so these rivers stay open and fishable when freestone streams freeze. In winter that's where we fish, and on most tailwaters the food is midges.

Where to go

Colorado has well-known tailwaters on the South Platte, the Blue below Dillon, the Fryingpan below Ruedi and the Taylor below Taylor Park, among others. Check current flows on our river conditions page before you drive, and read up on each stretch's rules with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Some tailwaters have special regulations, like flies-and-lures only or catch and release.

Timing

Winter fishing is a late start. The best window is usually late morning through mid-afternoon, when the sun is on the water and midges hatch. There's no reason to be on the water at dawn in January.

The flies

• Midge larva and pupa: a Zebra Midge in black or red, size 18 to 24. Simple, slim and deadly.
• Emergers: small gray emergers with a bit of flash or a bubble of foam, size 20 to 24.
• Adults: on calm afternoons midges cluster on the surface, and a small cluster pattern like a Griffith's Gnat will bring fish up.

The rig

Most winter fish eat near the bottom in slow, deep water. Fish two small nymphs under an indicator with a tiny split shot above them, on 6X or 7X fluorocarbon. Set the depth so the flies tick the bottom now and then, and adjust before you change flies. Takes are subtle, so set the hook on any hesitation of the indicator.

Stay safe and gentle

• Ice builds in your rod guides. Dip the rod in the water to clear it, rather than picking at the ice.
• Watch for shelf ice along the banks, and don't step onto it.
• Brown trout spawn in fall. Step around their redds (clean, light-colored gravel beds) and leave spawning fish alone.
• Keep fish in the water when you unhook them. Below freezing, their gills and fins can freeze in seconds.