[smokingfrog]

Thanks in advance.

[Onelifetogive]

(Is there anything in Denver that would be considered a must see?)

I highly recommend that you see the Denver City Limits sign...in your rear-view mirror.

[lysie]

Ping!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Having done a goodly amount of fly fishing in my day, I can only say that if you've;

A. Never done it...
B. Not picked up a rod in years...

You will have a possibly agonizing time at it. There is a LOT of practice that goes with the sport. Not the way to spend time on your vacation. Just sayin'.

[diefree]

Does your wife call you “the husband”?

[Dinah Lord]

You might want to contact the people at Blue Quill Angler in Evergreen and see about booking a guide - they will know what is running and where. Have a good trip!

http://www.bluequillangler.com/

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Why not move out here and then worry about it?

Just saying...

Considering Relocating? Think about Colorado Springs…
If you or a CONSERVATIVE person is considering relocating, I’d invite you to tell them about this family values oasis. I’d personally suggest Northern Colorado Springs as being the best and the most conservative.

And just to lay my cards on the table, I am not in the Real Estate business and make nothing off anyone moving here. I just know that Soros and others have dumped millions into Colorado and have succeeding in taking over the state government for the first time in decades recently.

The Springs loses out to Denver and Boulder in the state elections but it is still close enough to make a difference.
Pass this along.

18. El Paso County, Colo.
Largest city: Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is the right-wing stronghold of Colorado. The Air Force Academy and NORAD are based in the county. About 19 percent of the population are civilian veterans, one of the highest rates in the nation. The other conservative influences are social: Focus on the Family is located in Colorado Springs, as are many other parachurch organizations. Colorado Springs was named by Money Magazine as the best big city to live in 2006.
http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/19/americas-top-20-conservative-friendly-counties/

Outside Magazine just ranking Colorado Springs as the best place to live.

http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200908/best-towns-america-colorado-springs.html

Outside Magazine lists as a drawback that it might be get this TOO CONSERVATIVE for some people.

As you know, Money Magazine consistently usually ranks it number 1 as well.

http://www.ownyourownmountain.com/artman/publish/Gazette_Telegraph_Article.html

Take America back starting at the center...

[Jeff Chandler]

Whether you decide on night crawlers or red worms, make sure they’re fresh.

[RedRiver]

Concur on bluequillangler for fly fishing. You can have a good time fly fishing even if you don't catch a thing or have any idea what you are doing. Very relaxing.

For Estes, check out Valhalla Resort. Right now the East side of Rocky Mountain National Park is great. Not a fan for the West side (Fraser, Granby, etc). Too much beetle kill going on.

In Colorado Springs the drive to the top of Pike's Peak is worth it as is Garden of the Gods. Breckenridge is a quaint ski town at most 2 hour drive from Denver. Lots of mountains along the way.

[Two Thirds Vote Aye]

Hey smokin. I see you have gotten lots of good advice already. I can talk about anything from restaurants in downtown Denver to off-roading in the mountains to fishing. Fly fishing definitely takes a significant amount of training to be successful. Like they say, though, even if you don't catch a thing, it's still so very relaxing and the scenery can be breathtaking.

It also requires some investment in gear to do it right. I do more bank fishing than fly. It's much easier for a beginner with not much time on their hands. All you need is a rod and reel, hook, line and sinker (no pun intended) and some bait. Also have to know how to cast it out as far as possible. But if you want to fly fish, you must commit more than just a half day and you must start with a fly fishing shop to get set up. I will let them take it from there. There are several in Denver. You can do a google to find one. Not sure about where they are in the mountain towns, unless one of the previous posters mentioned one.

BTW, almost ALL fly fishing in Colorado is 'catch and release' so if you were looking for catching dinner, you best bank/bait fish like I usually do.

Anyway, good luck if you do go.

[KC Burke]

Stay in Grand Lake just north of Winter Park. Use it to do day runs North to the west gate area of Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park which you might visit with warm clothes. Grand Lake is a nice little town on a stunning lake.

To the south within 40 minutes is Winter Park, Fraser and Granby in reverse order. Nice ski towns. You can go west of Fraser and drop small top water spinners and flys in the small rivers in the research forest area 20 minutes from Fraser.

Between Grand Lake and Granby you have Shadow Mtn lake and Granby Lake.

Like much of the Rockys there is a lot of evergreen killed by cyclic insect kill. I think its at the peak of a 70 year die back from beatles.

[Uri’el-2012]

There is great fly fishing on the upper Arkansas river in Chaffee county.

click here

Help keep Colorado green, bring money.