K-T Ranch Colorado Fly-Fishing

"To go fishing is the chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men - for all men are equal before fish."
-Herbert Hoover

Spring Break on the White

Spring-cleaning can wait, run-off can’t. Log some time when the water levels are perfect and the trout are shaking off their winter chill. Early spring is a terrific time to fish the White River. The water temperatures begin to warm, and caddis, beetles, crickets and ants hatch along with the midges, Baetis and stoneflies. Our trout are hungry, and they know instinctively that the snow will melt soon and they’ll move out of their feeding lanes and against the bank. Until then, the browns and rainbows feed regularly and aggressively. Good fishing conditions extend from the first day of spring through the middle of May.

Winter on the White

To some anglers, nothing beats a winter’s day on the water. The air is crisp against your cheeks, the snow sticks to your felt soles and then melts off when you hit the water, and the trout rise to midges, Baetis, and stoneflies that hatch all winter long. Winter provides a different view of the White River, one that reflects a quiet hibernation, and the snow-covered fields have a way of offering an unparalleled solitude. You’ll forget your troubles as you savor the solid tug of a trout. A winter’s day spent on the White might not be a long day, but there is no question that it will be a great day. Your satisfaction will be measured in moments not minutes.

The key ingredients for a winter fishing getaway are all here at the K-T Ranch. Start with a day of world-class fishing. The air is dry out here and you can fish to your heart’s content. When you’ve had enough, come back to the recently remodeled ranch house. Sip a glass of wine while you warm up by the fire. Enjoy a heartwarming and delicious bowl of beef barley soup, followed by a grilled rib eye and homemade bread. Leave room for dessert and don’t worry if you have to loosen your belt a little bit.

A recent guest of the K-T Ranch took time out from his meetings in Meeker and spent an afternoon fishing the White. Air temperatures hovered in the lower-40s, the skies were bright and sunny, and a dusting of snow covered the ground. He headed to the Washing Machine Hole, tossed a streamer against the bank, and hooked and landed a 22-inch, 6-pound brown. That wasn’t the only fish of the day, there were a half a dozen more. The browns and rainbows were in the 15-18 inch class and weighed a solid two to three pounds.

"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn."
-Chuck Clark

Spring Break on the White

Spring-cleaning can wait, run-off can’t. Log some time when the water levels are perfect and the trout are shaking off their winter chill. Early spring is a terrific time to fish the White River. The water temperatures begin to warm, and caddis, beetles, crickets and ants hatch along with the midges, Baetis and stoneflies. Our trout are hungry, and they know instinctively that the snow will melt soon and they’ll move out of their feeding lanes and against the bank. Until then, the browns and rainbows feed regularly and aggressively. Good fishing conditions extend from the first day of spring through the middle of May.

After a day of fishing, dusk settles in the White River Valley and anglers retreat to the ranch house. And there’s no mistaking the dining room, just follow your nose. The aroma of X, Y, Z floats along the spring breeze.

"If fishing interferes with your business, give up your business. The fish do not rise in Greenwood Cemetery."
-Sparse Gray Hackle

The White Kind of Summer

Trout fishermen know that the West is the Best. And most anglers agree that the best part of the year on the White River is the post-run off summer. Water levels are perfect. Water temperatures are perfect. Hatches are strong. You can wear waders or you can wet wade. There are PMD’s, Red Quills, Damsels, and Mahogany Duns that hatch all summer long. Nymph fishermen like pre-hatch times in July, and when the hatch is on, dry fly anglers simply smile when a trout rises to their fly. A variety of dropper rigs tied by the expert guides at K-T Ranch are sure to hook‘em up. With 7 miles and three spring creeks to fish, anglers do their best to leave no stones unturned. At the day’s end, return to the porch to swap fishing stories and take in the stars. Let us treat you like one, too. Round out the day with Southern Fried Chicken, BBQ ribs, fresh corn on the cob and Blueberry Pie.

"Only an extraordinary person would purposely risk being outsmarted by a creature often less than twelve inches long, over and over again."
- Janna Bialek

Fall Fishing's Finest

The autumn brings magnificent color, and, like the leaves, the trout are brilliantly colored, too. There are browns and rainbows, both in vibrant colors, and cutthroats and cutt-bows, too. In Colorado, many sportsmen take to the fields for big game hunting or for wing shooting. That means one of two things: you can have the river to yourself, or you can get the best of both worlds by combining a hunting trip with a fishing trip. The trout know that Old Man Winter is rapidly approaching. Ask your guide to fish near one of the K-T’s hayfields. The regular gusts of wind deposit hoppers in the river and the water boils with trout. Pack some heavier tippets to keep the big ones from breaking off.

There is the adage that “nothing grows faster than a fish from when it bites until it gets away.” Most discussions over dinner cover that topic in great detail. On Indian Summer evenings you can sit outside, and when the temperatures start to drop you’ll enjoy the leather couch inside and the first fires of the season. Fall harvest is in full swing, and your tastebuds will be abundantly surprised.

The White River is a freestone river, with headwaters in the Flat Top Mountains and a range all the way to the Green River in Utah. Kick off the new decade with an angling adventure at the K-T. We feel the best part of the river runs through our ranch, but we’d prefer that you be the judge.