Arctic Grayling on the Fly

Joe Wright Reservoir

RMF Chapter Fishing Trip, Friday, June 26th

Joe Wright Reservoir

This is a DIY trip. There will be NO formal HOST. A chance to meet up with some fellow anglers.

If you have never caught an Arctic Grayling, this is your chance! This one-day trip to Joe Wright, way up Poudre Canyon, near Cameron Pass. About 1 ½ Hours’ drive from north Fort Collins.

Grayling will be getting ready to run up Joe Wright Creek to spawn. Fishing the creek or inlet area is closed due to the spawn, so we will be fishing the cove where the creek enters the lake on the far west end of the lake.

The best fly-fishing method is usually a small bead-head fly under an indicator. Usually, a shiny pattern gets their attention. The grayling are not large – nothing like Alaska – but still can run about 10-13” long. It’s very special to be able to fish for grayling so close to home. And when you lift that great big dorsal fin so the sun lights it up . . . ya, doesn’t get much better than that!

Logistics: Let’s meet at the west end of the lake about 9am. It’s about 1 ½ Hours’ drive from north Fort Collins. Most people just wade fish, although you can use your float tube also.

Grayling are rather small, so your 2-5 wt rods will be good. 4x-5x tippet will suffice, and most bead-head nymphs in sizes 12-16 should work just fine.

We hope you can make it – we’ll have a blast!