President's Hatch Pikes Peak Fly Fishers – Fall 2026
As summer begins to give way to fall, I think most of us are ready for cooler mornings, changing aspens, cooler water, and some of the best fishing Colorado has to offer. The summer of 2026 certainly tested both our fisheries and our fishermen. An abnormally dry summer, low stream flows, warm water temperatures, and stretches of hot weather forced us to adjust some of our fishing plans and reminded us just how dependent our trout fisheries are on adequate water and healthy flows.
There were days this summer when the best decision we could make as anglers was simply to leave the trout alone. I want to thank our members who watched water temperatures, respected voluntary closures, changed destinations, and found alternatives when conditions weren't favorable. That kind of stewardship is an important part of what Pikes Peak Fly Fishers represents.
Now we can turn our attention to fall—one of my favorite times of the year to be a fly fisherman in Colorado. Cooler temperatures, changing colors, active trout, and fewer crowds give us plenty to look forward to over the next several months.A reminder that there will be no September PPF monthly meeting due to the Labor Day holiday. Take the opportunity to enjoy the holiday and spend some time with family and friends. We will get everyone back together for our October meeting, when we will also have quite a few new members to welcome.
Looking Ahead to Winter
After such a dry summer, many of us are already wondering what Mother Nature has in store for the mountains this winter. There has been considerable discussion about the possibility of a strong El Niño pattern developing and what that could mean for Colorado.
A strong El Niño can influence the winter storm track and potentially increase the opportunity for wetter and colder weather across portions of the Southwest. Colorado's weather is notoriously difficult to predict, however, and even a strong El Niño doesn't guarantee a big snow year for the Front Range or our mountain watersheds.
After what we experienced this summer, we can certainly hope the coming winter helps replenish the moisture we've been missing. I like to think of our mountain snowpack as the savings account for the next fishing season. Every good snowstorm puts a little more into that account—helping reservoir levels, spring runoff, summer stream flows, water temperatures, and ultimately the health of our trout fisheries.
Hopefully we'll be making plenty of deposits this winter.
Fall Fishing – One of Colorado’s Best Seasons
Before we start thinking too much about snow, we have a lot of good fishing ahead of us.
Fall can be one of the most enjoyable seasons on Colorado waters. As water temperatures cool, trout that were stressed by summer conditions become more active. Brown trout begin preparing for the spawn, streamer fishing can pick up, and blue-winged olives, midges, terrestrials, and smaller nymphs can all produce fish.
As we begin chasing those beautiful fall browns, please remember to watch for spawning fish and redds. Give actively spawning trout some room and avoid walking through redds. A little care on our part helps protect the next generation of trout.
Upcoming PPF Fall Trips
We have some fun opportunities coming up this fall. Our September 23 Jefferson Lake Fall Color Fishing Trip will kick things off, and we are working on a special destination fishing trip for October. November currently has no scheduled trip, although we'll continue watching fishing conditions and the fall runs at the Dream Stream.
Please see the club trip schedule below for dates, meeting locations, times, and additional details.
Most importantly, come fish with us. Club trips are a great opportunity to try a different piece of water, learn something from another member, and spend a day fishing with friends.
Fall Is a Great Time to Get Involved
Fall isn't only about fishing. It's also a great time to become more involved with Pikes Peak Fly Fishers.
Our participation in Landon Mayer's Clean the Dream is a good example of what we can accomplish when members get involved. Conservation, education, community service, and protecting the waters we fish are important parts of our club's mission.
I'd like us to continue looking for practical opportunities where PPF can make a difference—whether that's helping with a conservation project, introducing someone new to fly fishing, sharing knowledge with another member, or simply setting a good example on the water.
Building on Our Momentum
One of the most exciting developments this summer has been the growth of our club. Through our participation at The Peak Fly Shop Grand Re-Opening and Landon Mayer's Clean the Dream, we added over 30 new PPF memberships.
That's a terrific boost for our organization and brings new anglers, new ideas, and new energy into the club.
I would like to personally welcome all of our new members and encourage them to attend our October meeting. For our longtime members, please make an extra effort to introduce yourself when you see someone new. Invite them to sit with you, talk fishing, and encourage them to join us on a club trip.
Over the coming months, let's build on that momentum by increasing participation in meetings and trips, continuing to grow our membership, supporting conservation and community-service projects, bringing in quality speakers and educational programs, and creating more opportunities for members to fish together.
We have members with decades of fly-fishing experience and others who are just beginning. That's one of PPF's greatest strengths. If you're an experienced angler, take a newer member fishing. Share a fly, demonstrate a knot, explain a rig, or help someone read a piece of water. Sometimes a few minutes of help from another fisherman can make all the difference.
Most of all, let's make this a fall where we fish together, welcome our new members, and enjoy being part of the Colorado fly-fishing community.
See You on the Water
After a challenging summer, I'm looking forward to what fall has to offer. The aspens will soon be changing, the mornings will be getting cooler, and hopefully the trout will be looking up again.
So get outside. Fish somewhere new. Take another member along. Throw a streamer at that bank you've always wondered about. Stop for a minute and enjoy the changing colors. And remember that some of the best parts of fly fishing have very little to do with the number of fish we catch.
As John Buchan wrote:
“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
That's a pretty good reason to keep making that next cast. Kevin Thomason
President |
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