Catch and Release on the St Vrain!

On Monday evening, May 4, the Lyons Town Board of Trustees unanimously passed an ordinance that mandates fishing with flies and lures only, with catch and release regulations, on the St Vrain River through the Town. Town Staff worked closely with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to ensure that the regulations outlined in the Town Ordinance are consistent with CDOW catch and release regs.

In addition to this good news, CDOW has also announced its intention to stock up to 50,000 three inch Hofer rainbows into the river this fall. The Hofer strain is a fast growing, whirling disease-resistant rainbow. This should give us a nice population of catchable rainbows next year, and a mix of browns and 'bows similar to pre-whirling disease days.

Finally, the North and Sout St Vrains are flowing at typical spring levels, but still quite fishable. Try a two nymph rig with a Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, or Copper John trailing a pink or purple San Juan Worm, or, if fish are rising (probably to a Blue Wing Olive Hatch), try a BWO dry with a Barr Emerger dropper, a Parachute Adams or an Elk Hair Caddis. Alternatively, fish an attractor dry fly (Lime Trude, Royal Coachman Trude or LA Ant) with a mymph or San Juan Worm dropper.

We'll be posting St Vrain fishing reports from time to time, so let us know about your fishing. See you on the river.