The Best Parts of Summer Fly Fishing

Why is fly fishing so great in summer? There’s the many reasons listed above, but there are a few key reasons I think people have such a love for fly fishing in the summer months. First, it’s the easiest time to catch a fish most days. Trout are at their most active and so are the insects in the river, making it a good chance to find active, feeding trout (something you have to hunt for in the winter months). Having the odds stacked in your favor here never hurts. Secondly, people love warm weather. Instead of 10 below with guides freezing up or torrential rain that is screwing up the rivers, summer has pretty consistent weather in most places trout are found and it’s the best chance to enjoy your day even if the fishing sucks. Lastly, summer fly fishing is great because of the increased access. Winter freezes most rivers except tailwater fisheries, but summer opens up everything from the major rivers to the high mountain streams and everything in between. 

In Colorado, for example, I’ve estimated there are over 850 places to fish (sections and rivers in combination) in the summertime. During the winter there is only around 10 percent of that open to anglers and only a dozen or so that remain consistently good fishing. Summer is the pinnacle of exploration opportunities and for someone like me creating a massive database of Colorado Rivers to fish on the River Explorer, there is nothing more enjoyable than chasing new waters.

The Biggest Challenges of Fly Fishing in Summer

Though summer is full of action, exploration and fair weather opportunities, it comes with some significant challenges as well. The first challenge is the weather. I know I know, I just said how great the weather is, but that heat comes at a cost. Low flows and high temps make for difficult fishing and even dangerous fishing for the trout. If water temps get above 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the fish will begin to struggle to breathe and they will go into a survival mode making them harder to catch. The dog days of summer (mid-July to August) can be slow fishing during the mid-day and the early mornings after the night has cooled the waters is your best chance. It’s important to pay attention to the heat and water temps as it affects your success and the trout’s safety.

The crowds is your next biggest concern. Every Tom, Dick and Harry is out on the river during summer because of all the reasons mentioned above. This means more pressure on the trout and can result in a tougher day on the water in pressured waters. Luckily, with a little bit of effort you can often avoid crowds by either driving further, or hiking a bit to get away. I’ve found 95 percent of the crowds go away after only one mile off the beaten path. It’s not really that tough, but it’s great no one goes very far because it gives you a chance to find uncrowded waters with some effort.

Lastly and likely the most difficult part of summer fly fishing is the wealth of bugs. It’s a full menu for trout during summer. In our entomology course, we cover the 23 insect/stage combos trout eat at any given time. EVERY SINGLE option of those 23 combos are available to trout throughout summer. If that isn’t enough, there are also half a dozen or more different mayfly species that make that number even higher that are available. This means having the ability to master your fly selection is critical.

Don’t worry! This is the primary reason we made this guide. We want you to know the bugs to expect out there on the river before you go so you can be prepared and bring the right flies and learn the right info on how to identify bugs in the river so you can catch the most fish.  

So without any more delay, let’s get into the bug guide portion of this guide to really help you understand the insects. We provide a list for you to work from as well as some suggestions on assortments you can buy from us that help with these hatches. Make sure to check out the flies in those assortments so you can see how the insects mentioned below match the fly patterns in the assortments. Learning this will help you see gaps in your fly box so you can fill them before you get out on the water. Nothing is worse than getting out on the river and being immersed in a massive hatch with rising trout only to find out you don’t have the right imitation for the hatch. Plan ahead and your days will be epic.