Gore Creek’s Gold Medal Waters
Running right through Vail, the Gold Medal section starts where the Red Sandstone Creek enters the Gore and ends when it meets up with the Eagle River. This river is no slouch though. The trout can be spooky so be sure to use light lines and good technique. Sighting the fish and then casting just a little upstream will be your best bet to hook one of the Gore’s gorgeous trout.
Preparing to fish Gold Medal Waters
You will need some preparation to plan your fly fishing Gold Medal water experience. Be sure to check local regulations and permissions required to fish on private lands. Regulations often vary along stretches of the same Gold Medal water. For example, some areas may be fly and lure only, and others catch and release for specified species. Online information can provide regulations, descriptions of the waters, and maps and directions to reach the area. Access points are typically included in this information.
More about Gold Medal Waters in Colorado
Here in the Rocky Mountains of Central Colorado we are lucky to have several nearby Gold Medal trout fisheries that offer fantastic fly fishing. The Gold Medal designation is the highest ranking for top quality fishing for wild trout that a fishery can achieve in Colorado. These fishing areas have been designated by the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife as providing the necessary water quality and habitat to support healthy populations of large trout. These waters are defined as being able to produce 60 pounds of trout per acre, and at least twelve trout over 14 inches long per acre. Only 322 miles of Colorado’s 9000 miles of trout streams, and three lakes, carry the “Gold Medal” signature. These Gold Medal fisheries are protected with special regulations limiting harvest numbers and size of fish allowed to be kept in order to ensure quality fly fishing in the future.