Anyone have any suggestions on size, color, type of flie for the Poudre River? I fished it a few times and managed to catch 1 trout using a size 10 black dubbed body with hackle at the front, but have not had much luck other than that? It appears in the evening the trout are "sipping" or hitting size 22 or 24 insect but unsure of what? Any ideas?

Don't know about the Poudre, but on the Arkansas a couple weeks ago, the guys at the fly shop recommended size 18 Copper Johns. I used a similar one of my own with moderate success.

Well, try a # 22 griffiths gnat!

Hoppers were my favorite on the Poudre, though you're likely a few weeks past that time it may be worth a try. Big hoppers don't scare fish.

Fall I would try an attractor with a small nymph dropper. #20 or so prince/hares ear/pheasant tail.

Couple good fly shops around Ft Collins. Call them up and ask the folks that spend time on the river!

Little cut throats up high in the tributaries will it any damn thing and are a blast!

Good luck!

Thanks guys, going back after em this week and next! Hopefully get a couple for the freezer?

How far down do you put the "dropper"? I would think 10-12 inches? Never did the Hopper/dropper combo?

That will work fine. In slow water further. If they are up in the surface sipping consider a very small emerger pattern especially with a CDC wing. It will sit in the film and I often do much better with emergers than traditional dries.

cant beat a zebra midge or a griffiths gnat

I tie a soft hackle gnat pattern in 18 and left it swing just below the surface or dress it with floatant. I use moose mane for segmentation in the body. I think it makes a difference in pressured water

strikes are typically very explosive

Thanks guys for the help. Really looking forward to getting more experience stream fishing.

I hit the Poudre yesterday, only one hit on a size 22 gray hackle, black body flie. My buddy had several hits on a black flie #22/24. The fish are 6-8inches from what I observed. I saw one bigger fish "sipping" with his head coming up out of the water. Fun nonetheless. I heard that there was a lake below the Big Thompson or below Estes, that was stocked? Any idea what that is?

This was the local shop in Ft Collins that always new what was going on:

http://www.stpetes.com/poudreriverfishingreport.html

Big T was a great river to fish as well!

Thanks I will check it out.