The best backcountry trout fishing | Gorgeous valley full of massive trout | Fly fishing Colorado
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- The Conejos River Drainage is fly fishing paradise. I am convinced that I have died and gone to fishing heaven. This was one of the best days of fishing I've ever had. Days like are so few and far between that when they do actually happen, it doesn't seem real. So I feel so incredibly lucky that I was able to trap this memory in a bottle, to remember for a lifetime.
The Conejos River Drainage is a massive watershed full of some incredible fly fishing opportunities for every caliber of angler. You can really choose your own adventure. If backcountry lakes and streams are the goal, there is no end. Not so adventurous? Roads parallel almost every inch of the stem of this river. The Conejos runs for about 100 miles, but there are hundreds of more miles that make up the various tributaries. With this watershed being in the shadow of the Upper San Juan & Rio Grande River, it does not see a lot of traffic. It might be one of the best watersheds in Colorado for both size of fish and lack of pressure. Maybe thats why the fish get so dang big?? I can't be sure of that, but I do know I will be back very very soon.
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antflyfishing....
I hope, you continue to keep your love and enthusiasm for fly fishing. I’m 78 and still fish twice a week.
I hope to be in your shoes one day!
I’m 72. Been fly fishing since grade school.
This has to be my new fav angler. His vibes are immaculate
Easy to beat when 99.99999% of fly fisherman are the biggest douche canoes on the planet. They all act like they ain't been punched in the mouth.
Another great video!! Once again I’m very envious..
It’s only a hike away!
Dude, I haven't fished that stretch for almost 30 years. Great to see how well it has held up. Now Im inspired to go back
Get back while the getting is good!!
@@FLYALLSZNyou don't know shitt those are not big trout
@@FLYALLSZNOne More Les Mass clickbait video
Amazing thanks! Spent a lot of years up there but never thought about fishing those grassy fields!!! Maybe I'll get back someday!!!
Your enthusiasm is absolutely contagious son!
Thank you William!! Just enjoying it all!
Great day. Thanks for sharing. Awesome spot and beautiful fish.
Thank you so much!
You DEFINITELY could make a great living as a fly fishing and backpacking guide. Your videos are also the most informative I have seen. I would absolutely pay $$ to go on a guide / camping trip etc.
Thank you so much!! Oh man I don't know if I have what it takes to run an outfit like that!! I am a total goon hahaha
Nice. That would and should be one for the memory bank. You speak word of age of wisdom. Enjoy I think you do get it
All of it, from the gorgeous fish, to the beautiful location, to the GREAT storytelling, everything was stunning!! Keep up the great work Mike and tight lines!
Thank you so much!!
Nice Browns. You do a great job, thanks for the video.
Thank you so much!!
What a day! Thanks for taking us with you! Love the triple decker pb&j. Cheers my friend
YES!! I am so glad you appreciated the triple decker!! Tight lines Justin!
Perfect, what a day my friend... you've had a great summer, congratulations!
Thank you so much! This summer has been incredible!
Colorado never disappoints.
She has been treating me very well recently!
Perfect day! Great fishing and cinematography. This was like watching Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It, only more passion and more fish!
Love your videos! Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much!
Great fishing day, love your enthusiasm for it.
Thank you so much Jon! One of the best!
The Conejos and its tribs are ALWAYS on my list of rivers and streams to fish on my annual summer trips to Colorado since 2006.. Except didn't make it this year. Thanks for all the great scenery and reminding me of what I'm missing this year. Recognized the area you highlighted. And your enthusiasm and excitement is fun to watch. Reminds me of how I feel every time I visit the Conejos watershed.
The Conejos is an amazing place! But there are many many many more just like it all over the west! Nostalgia is a strong feeling, but finding new adventures can be just as exciting!
I know this may seem like not a big deal because these are trout, but managing your line and getting the fish on the reel without the excess is and can be very beneficial for landing fish without distractions.
Anyway, what a video, amazing commentary, and enthusiasm for days.this video is awesome
Totally enjoyed this video! Beautiful footage beautiful fish and love your enthusiasm brother I'm envious!!
It was one of the best days!! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Love all of your videos! I’ve managed to fish a few of the streams you have in the past out in the Driftless. Next week I’m heading to Durango for 7 days and boy I hope I can get to this beautiful stream!! I’ll make sure to have plenty of hoppers! Thank you
Awesome videos !!!! I just moved to Fort Collins!!! You are my inspiration!! I'm from MN and I'm used to walleye and canoeing for my fish, now I just want to go into the mountains and hike and find gems like u do !!!! Tight lines!!! Maybe our paths will cross!! Thanks
Now is the time to get it Nathan! August and September are the best fishing in the backcountry!! (imo) Get out and get bent brother! Tight lines
great day! thanks that was fun.
Thank you so much!
Amazing fish!
It was incredible!
Another great Colorado adventure. So awesome that you are having such a great time in my now home state. This is a place that I'm going to have to check out. Everywhere I fish in CO there is such beauty. What is truely unique about your videos is you show plant life, animal life, the gorgeous scenery. You also video from a stable platform so the I can watch your videos all day. Some others have great fishing but the cameral moves so much I get dizzy after watching two minutes and am done for the day. Kudos to your filming and editing. I'll be watching more today. Tight lines.
Thank you so much! Love to hear it! CO is so full of adventure its hard to even know where to start!
Dude! I'll be there in 2 weeks! This vid got me sooo pumped! Cant wait! Looks like they're hitting terrestrials fairly well. Ants, hoppers, etc... thanks for the content!🤤
You bet Aaron! Be safe and have fun!
Nice video! Found your fasadd video and that setup is everything I’ve been missing in life. Thanks for the great content!
Of course Kevin!!
Wow! I've lived in Colorado for about 8 months now and I've had the opportunity to get into fly fishing! Been doing it since the day I've gotten here! Fished 11 mile and dream stream mainly but this one is definitely a trip I'm looking forward to taking! I want to get off the beaten path most people go and find these sanctuaries! This is just awesome man! Started watching your videos yesterday and have been hooked since!!! Gonna definitely tie that dry dropper rig!!! Keep posting and keep doing what you love! Maybe I'll run across you on the water!!! God bless man and safe travels!
Thank you so much Matthew!! I am so glad you found the channel! Colorado has so much to see and do it can be a bit overwhelming at times! Good luck and be safe!
New subscriber here from Australia. Great video, love the enthusiasm too! Keep up the good work, cheers mate.
Much appreciated Max! I hope to make it down under one day!
2nd Meadow... 😜 Epic vid, man! Such an incredible spot
Incredible!
Thank you so much!
So happy for you! This place looked beautiful. You deserved it my man🤙🏼
Thank you so much Hayden!!
Hey Mike, I’m a Driftless tenkara guy from IA who originally binge watched all of your local adventures but got hooked on your channel, which has become one of my favs no matter the location or the type of gear. Your enthusiasm is infectious and clearly genuine. When I land a nice catch these days I find myself shouting “Let’s GO baby!” Thanks, and keep up the awesome content!
LETS GO BABY!! Thank you so much for your support! Catch a cheeky IA brown for me!!
@@FLYALLSZN Done. The upper third of French Creek was wild with big, hungry browns this morning.
I am New to the channel . After four operations on my right shoulder (and i cast right handed ) I am going to start again . Between you and Wild Fly i am getting psyched up to hit the water . Thanks for the great videos . Good stuff
Howdy! So glad you like the videos!! Thank you for the support
Beautiful Mike! Always loved your videos. The photography and editing are terrific. I find myself watching for the fishing but thinking about the landscape and scenery after it’s over. Another A+ presentation.
Thank you so much Timothy!! It was an incredible day!
Im glad that section has stayed productive. Judging from the comments, you did a good job of not giving much away. So respectable you gave other folk their space, but bummer cause as I'm sure you know it gets so nice 30min-1.5hrs up from there.
That is just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes! Plus I found more than my fair share of unforgettable fish
I was just there, special place! It is getting some serious traffic now though. Hopefully it holds up!!! Impressive trek for a day trip!!!
Hard to gauge a place is getting "more traffic" if you are only seeing it for a few days. BUT maybe more folks are finding the blog post from 10 years ago listing the exact location of this valley! (that is how I found it)
My family and I have fished the Conejos for a long time, since my Grandfather was young and he passed on this past June. He loved those mountains. I learned to fly fish up there, we don’t get a lot of opportunities for trout here in Texas. My last trip up there was in 2011; the water was kinda low that year and I was exhausted from overwork - all I really caught was a sunburn. But it was worth it. I have to go back now for my Grandfather, an un-fished pond that we tried to get to behind the Platoro Reservoir. On a forest service road we found that looked more like a goat trail in the middle of a pine forest, our truck would not clear the trees and the rocks in the middle of the road were treacherous. But if we had gotten out and walked the pond was not much more than 50 feet away. I know that now because of a satellite picture I have on my iPad. No such technology 30 years ago. All we had was a paper map. Thank you for sharing your adventures and my your future adventures be safe and Blessed !!!
Awesome video! Just found your page today! Epic spot you're fishing, I live in Colorado springs, I'm gonna make a 3 or 4 day trip and head down there! Very nice bro! Thar cutty at the end was the cherry on top man!
Now you've done it. I'm going to have to spend a week or two next summer figuring out where that is.
It is well worth the walk!
Gained a sub brotha! Just getting in on the fly action and your vids are sweet! Love the enthusiasm and passion in all the vids!
I’m loving the great videos and stellar vibes, bro. Subscribing!
Thank you so much!
Those were some tanks!
I know! It was an incredible day!
Living in Colorado the size of the trout just blow me away, and that’s coming from someone who lived in Alaska for many years 😅
Magical spot! We backpacked in and stayed a couple of days, tough hike (had a bit slower pace, need to train a bit more this year 😂), but well worth it!
It really is amazing!
Dude I love your content
Thank you so much!
I was going to mention the name of the creek, but didn't remember you naming it in the video and decided not to put it on blast... I have spent 10 years vacationing in the Conejos River valley. It is my favorite place on earth. Since you are up for a good hike, check out some of the higher streams in the mountains further up the river valley that exclusively have restored Rio Grande Cutthroat populations. Some of the higher altitude lakes have Rio Grande/Yellowstone cutthroat hybrids that are astonishingly big. I'm not a good enough fly fisher to justify taking up space on these streams, but I give it a go anyways!
I have heard great things about the upper portions!!
So sick
Mike this is gorgeous! What an amazing day!! Can't beat some cutthroat!!
That's what I'm sayin! I think the further up you go the more you find too!
Is creeping up presenting not a big deal you’re killing it
Watch for the wind disturbance on the water. That was my cover to get so close.
Sweet freaking fish, all around man. Just searched best fly fishing rivers in CO and watched. Wanna head out west to see the hype for myself. Im from Cherokee NC and catch some beauties here. Let me know if you are ever in the area. PLUS I think at 16:22 that is a cuttie! Such a beautiful fish! Keep this up man!
Mike. Please do a beginner fly fishing video! Maybe how to rig up? Or maybe what are some good beginner combos to use. Then possibly a giveaway?
I guess I could! There are a ton of great videos out there already!
Once again, Bravo. Well done sir. Are you heading back to New Mexico? Love this channel 😎
The game plan is to follow the weather South!! So as the backcountry in the higher elevation begins to shut down I am going to be fishing a lot more in NM! I'll be back in the Gila by March haha
Man, those were tanks....I've fished a lot in Southern Colorado, but the Conejos/South San Juan Wilderness area is one I haven't gotten to yet...there's just never enough time to hit all the places you want to go - at least it seems that way to me. BTW - nice technique at the beginning - making "backwards" false casts ...good method to avoid putting fish down.
Thank you so much! Felt so good to get into some big fish!
@@FLYALLSZN BTW - you mentioned that if you removed the mountains in the background, it would seem like your "home" waters in Wisconsin....well, if you did the same, replace the sand/gravel with gumbo mud, and the grass with spartina grass, and perhaps throw in a few gators - you would have a typical South Louisiana marsh scene; of course, the browns would be replaced by shoulder-joint-breaking redfish, and you would be casting a spoonfly or crab pattern.
I'm Fishing a lot in Wyoming last few years but looks like I'll be planning a Conejos River trip next year in Aug, I like solitude and big trout, it looks like you found it, hard to do in Colorado, love my home state but it sure has gotten populated. Thanks for sharing, Mike. 👊 how do you pick out what section of river you choose to fish?
It is worth the hike! There is not much of a method to my madness, it is a lot of trial and error!
That stream reminds me of a river in Wisconsin... except for the mountains lol
LOL! The stream fr looked like something right out of the Drifltess... Minus the big ass mountains..
Hello Mike,
Again a perfect vid with beautiful fish and a lot of nature.
A new backpack?
Witch model is it from kuiu?
Waterproof or water-resistant?
Greetings from The Netherlands
and tight lines my friend.
Yes! It is the VENTURE 2300! Water resistant not proof! I LOVE it so much
Another well done video. Our family had a cabin for 30 years on the Conejos and I have no clue where you are fishing. Don't need to know, but I'm assuming well above Platoro. Also your 'perfect storm' is all weather related. High pressure builds over the west causing westerly winds and a rising barometer. (a rising barometer plays a very important part in fishing success) As you mentioned, winds blow a lot of terrestrials onto the water...and much smoke as well. That smoke you saw was being pushed into the intermountain west from California. No threat to you...except air quality.
Thank you so much! I had no clue where the smoke was coming from at the time so I was not going to risk anything!
Not above Platoro.
I fish the creeks above Strawberry reservoir in Utah. Good size cutthroat that get spooked super easy. You have to sneak up.
Hi Mike, great video and thanks for sharing your Adjustable Dropper, I became an instant subscriber. I'm going to So Colorado in July and will be staying mostly in the South Fork area, I've talked to a couple of fly shops and nobody seems to be able to give me any specifics as to where to go to wade fish on the Conejos. Can you give me any ideas ? Thanks much and please keep up the good work !
That sounds about right! I wouldn't either if I were them! But it's a good thing I'm not. Shoot me a DM on Instagram and we can start looking at the watershed and I can give you my best advice!
@@FLYALLSZN Hi Mike, I'm going to So Colorado for the first time in July. Creede on the 17th and Platoro on the 23rd, both for a week. Can you please share any ideas you have for some day excursions. Love the Dropper System, I'm using it all the time now. Thanks very much, please keep up the good work !
Beautiful cutty
Might have been my fav fish of the day!
@@FLYALLSZN those browns are hard to beat but the cutty always has a special spot in every anglers heart. I know it was my favorite fish of the day.
Great vid!
What time of the year did you head over?
Thank you!! Mid July!
When you’re hiking into a spot are you wearing a versatile pair of wading boots or a pair of hiking boots the switch up when you get to the river?
I pack sandals always but I hike in and wade with the same boots! Especially in the summer!
Mike, love the content man! I am from Colorado and moved to Missouri recently (been loving the recent Ozark videos)!! Any chance you share where this is? Side note, looking to hit Meramec below the spring next week, would love any winter tips in this water if you have any :) tight lines man, would love to link up if you are in the Ozarks region again!
Of course! Hmu on ig and I’ll give ya the rundown!
Your shirts are always on point . where do you shop for those ?
Any content on your adjustable dry? That looks like an awesome setup bro!
I’ve got a couple vids in my “tie all szn” playlist on TH-cam! (It is the best) th-cam.com/video/pMUZUZppAYA/w-d-xo.html
I've never tried fly fishing but it looks incredibly fun. Unfortunately I feel like I'd end up like Charlie Brown and his kite with all that line.
Practice makes perfect! I have been doing it for a long time and I still mess up all the time
WOW, I love those days. Were you on the Adam's fork?
Nope. Further down stream. Pause at 21:35
If you know the area, which it seems like you do, you’ll know... 😉
And then go back and delete this comment so nobody else reads it 😉
@@RandallW20 can you remove this comment please, Randall? Thx
Lol. Most likely too late!!!
Great video. Just wish you wouldn't name where you are at. People are trashing Colorado.
Where is this in Colorado? Looks amazing!
What camera lense do you use?
Its a 150 zoom for the Canon I run!
Did you camp or just hike in for the day what’s the river or is it hush hush?
Be up in this spot end of this month, is your MR Drifter a 5 wt? That’s what I’m planning on using. Thanks Mike, tight lines.
Howdy Elliott!! If you had a stiffer rod.. It might be a good idea.. these fish are big.. Could you bring a 6 or 7? If not I would suggest using heavy tippet so you can horse em around a bit easier.
@@FLYALLSZN I see, thanks for the response, I’ll definitely beef up the tippet. Love catching tanks on a rod that’s a size too small though 💪🏼
@@702blackberry4901 It may be fun for you but it can be tough on the fish!
@@FLYALLSZN We’ll be a two man team so fingers crossed we should be able to get them in the net quickly. Have you considered trying to complete the western trout challenge? Could be a lot of great content.
I've been there as well and the fishing is as good as the video. The problem I had was with the grazing cattle. They have destroyed much of the trail and they are well on their way to destroying the stream side habitat. It is criminal.
Am i the only one tripping about his adjustable dry dropper? Please drop a link
How does one know when the conditions are right to wet wade?
Above or below Platoro? If you are ok with answering. Thank you in advance
Excellent video sir! I noticed it on your first brown, but are you willing to share your thoughts on your gps/satellite messenger that you are wearing? I've been very interested in getting one for these sorts of adventures. Could literally be a life saver!
I really like mine! It is the Garmin InReach mini and it connects right to my phone. So I can send full texts out to folks when I am way out of range. Plus the peace of mind having an automatic SOS if and when I'm in trouble.
whered you get the driftless hat? i grew up fishing black earth over in wisconsin
Where do I find the adjustable dropper?
You could ask some folk on the discord to tie them up for you!
What kinda of reel do you use and weight
Just standard 5wt line! I like rio!
CHONKS
Found em hehe
Was that trail 716?? Great video
what kind of backpack is that?
Kuiu 2300! It’s a hunting pack! The fly fishing industry really drops the ball with day packs.
Yea 2nd meadows is awesome, probably at 9500 ft or so....6 miles from the trailhead at Elk creek campground....haven't been there in many years, but as a youngster would camp out with a few of my cousins who lived in the area....at 1st was loaded with cutbows, some giants that would break your line.....would never hit if in they sawr you....but in 85 the government stocked the meadow with 10,000 fingerling German Browns. A mistake imo...Browns are carnivores and eat a tree mendous amount of native fry...I believe the cutbows still exists, but not sure.....Colorado kinda broke the rules at some point pre 1980 stocking rainbows up there...which cross bred with native cutt throats....creating giant trout....fyi
I was there camping in the summer of 85 and spoke to and sawr the Ranger who had aerated saddlebags containing the 10 000 German Brown fingerlings..
Boy I hope to make it back there again.
On foot or horseback only way to git in.....but well worth it
Where is this place I go to a lot of cool places would like to know some of them if u wouldn’t mind telling me a few places in co and nm I live in the chama area
You almost said “welcome to cali’colorado”…..🤔didn’t u
This is a few years old.. but that might be the right thing to say now!
Where is that?
Great video, great energy great guy! Just sad that you have to resort to using three flies to catch a fish. You’re better than that.
Howdy! Do you have a gear list??
😛
Would you be down to take a new fisherman with you sometime
Howdy Garrett! I love helping new anglers out! Unfortunately these days I am fairly busy!
Where were you fishing in co
Love your videos!! Keep up the great work!!
Thank you so much!!