YAMPA’S ‘WONDERLAND’

FISH YAMPA’S ‘WONDERLAND’ WITH UNIQUE SNOWMOBILE ACCESS

The Yampa/Steamboat area can be a blast in the winter. No, I’m not talking about hitting the slopes or hanging out at a lodge fireplace with a cocktail at nearby Steamboat; I’m talking about fly fishing the Yampa tailwater after the roads close and riding snowmobiles to access a hard-to-get-to Winter Wonderland!

“Dress like you’re going skiing,” said Ryan Herbert at Yampa Valley Anglers. “We enjoy some phenomenal days on the Yampa, on the ice on Stagecoach, and when things warm up a bit, ice out can be a blast.”

I fished with Ryan years ago when he was just starting a family and planning this unique sled-in operation on the Yampa (2011). Well, he’s come a long way with his business, family and has put a lot of smiles on angler’s faces over the past decade. He now has a wife and four handsome boys under the age of seven, and five guides on the team this winter! Because it’s winter, let’s highlight his unique snowmobile guided fly-fishing excursions—a fun way to access hard-to-get-to water that few touch during the colder months.

“We offer half-days, full days, and we’ll take you to water few anglers see this time of year,” added Herbert. “One look at our website (https://yampavalleyanglers. com/winter-fly-fishing-trips) and you’ll see epic shots in some amazing, post-card like settings; and guess what, nobody else is around.”

“Access to Stagecoach tailwaters and Sarvis by snowmobile typically starts getting good when they close the road into the tailwaters,” continued Herbert. “Road closures begin Jan. 1 and run until April 1. They do the closure because of the elk migration. But it also keeps out of a lot of traffic, therefore way better fishing opportunities.

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“If you’re walking or biking, it’s about two miles from the front parking lot location to the river and it’s definitely beautiful and scenic,” added Ryan. “But that means it’s four miles round-trip, as well. We bring our snowmobiles up through the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Trail. It definitely has a call of the wild factor as far as a winter fly fishing adventure goes.

“Back there, we’ll enjoy great opportunities for big rainbows, brookies, and the occasional brown trout,” says Ryan. “Some of our favorite flies in the winter months are going to be ruby red midges and zebra midges in sizes of 20 to 22. One of my favorite patterns, year-round too, is going to be the gray CDC RS2. Rigging up with 5X & 6X Fluorocarbon tippet is a must when nymphing. We’ll bring the hot chocolate, too!”

By February, Herbert says you can count on more snow and cold, but fishing continues to be hot. On some calm, warmer days, you can get into the middle of epic BWO hatches.

“March and April are fishy months for sure,” added Ryan. “The weather starts getting nicer and more water starts melting so the river starts coming up. I generally like to see the 50 or 60 cfs range. Also, there are some extremely large rainbows moving up from Catamount. Use more egg patterns, leeches and worms.

“Action and flies will depend on water clarity and levels,” said Herbert. “If the water is lower, I’m gonna use smaller things like the Barr’s Emerger and soft hackles. Just depends on what is happening as far as bugs around me at that time. I love to throw small Baettis as well—sizes 18 to 20.”

So, besides this unique sled-in opportunity, why does Herbert feel the Yampa is a must fish in winter?

“Fishing the Yampa River in winter is definitely more intimate than some of the other Colorado waters,” said Ryan. “You get the feeling of being in a secluded wilderness within a magical trout wonderland. The light traffic alone when the roads are closed means if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort or think outside the box, makes it all worth it. This adventure leaves a lot of people out of the picture. I’m definitely very grateful, lucky, and blessed to be able

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to guide people in this beautiful area this time of year. I describe it as the wow factor in a winter guided flyfishing experience.”

We rarely cover ice fishing in High Country Angler, but that’s another opportunity with Ryan and his team.

“March and April on the reservoir is also on fire,” said Ryan. “Lots of big fish start to come closer to the inlets. We’re typically fishing 8 to 12 feet of water while using 5/16 chartreuse head jigs with white squirmy tails, along with some egg patterns. That usually does the trick. We don’t get too scientific out there.

Okay, enough about ice fishing; one of the few times a year I’ll fish reservoirs is at ice out or soon after. You know, that time the ice recedes and exposes some open water. There’s always excitement casting a nymph or a San Juan and watching it sink in 4 to 10 feet of water on the edge of the ice. The trout often swim the edges of the ice as bugs thaw and fresh bugs land on the surface. A slow-sinking rig is the way to go. As your offerings sink, your leader will

slowly sink and when you see the sink rate of the line quickly increase, you know a passing swimmer has made a grab. It’s a very visual form of fly fishing and sometimes you might even see that 25-inch brown swimming the shallows on the way to your flies. Just don’t move, and hope for the best. Ryan and the team at Yampa Valley Anglers also offer destination fishing trip planning and can help you score in Belize, Alaska and even places like Arkansas and Florida. Check out his unique guided snowmobile trips this winter and see what he can arrange to get you on fish in other great flyfishing destinations, and tell ‘em Brian sent you! About The Author High Country Angler contributor Brian La Rue enjoys giving fly fishers ideas of where to go for an adventure. Feel free to reach out to Brian at Brian@hcamagazine.com if you want your lodge or guide service featured in an upcoming promotional marketing plan.