Salomone: Places to test your stillwater skills.

There is a short list of stillwaters in our area and the locations are not secrets. A high percentage exist within view of Interstate 70. Those places not along the I-70 corridor are only a short distance off, making all easy-to-access sites. The effects of warming temperatures in rivers means stillwaters — especially those maintaining favorable trout conditions — are increasingly attractive. Now is a good time to explore new places.

Two weeks ago, I covered a short line up of stillwater flies to help guide fly fishers. Last week, I discussed how to access stillwaters with fly-fishing gear, no motor required. Application is the next step. Select a location and go test your stillwater skills.

Starting on the east side of our valley, up on the top of Vail Pass, are two hidden lakes. The Black Lakes seem unimpressive when viewed from the interstate, but experiencing them with a fly rod in hand provides a new perspective. The larger of the two is the upper lake. You can drive along one side of the lake to the parking lot near the dam. This is not a lake for big boats; small watercraft will suffice. I have used both a float tube and a small, one-man pontoon with short oars.

Size 12 Parachute Madame-X (PMX) leaves a broad footprint on the surface that tempts healthy rainbow trout up to the top. A small, size 18, caddis dry fly fished in tandem with the PMX creates an enticing double that has yielded repeated results for me.

The lower lake is smaller and a short walk down the bike path. On one outing, another guide and I hiked down with our float tubes. While prepping to put in on the upper, shallow side, another fly fisher approached us to ask if we had any black woolly buggers. Of course we did. We walked our float tubes down to the dam to join him.

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It turned out he was stripping unweighted, black woolly buggers with astonishing results. We quickly set afloat and began casting. We spent the rest of the afternoon catching football-shaped rainbows that were competing for our flies, charging and pushing each other away. The aggression and smashing strikes are something I remember to this day.

North of Vail is Piney Lake. When visitors envision picturesque Rocky Mountain views, this awe-inspiring location is what comes to mind. The lake reflects the Gore Range on its surface with a postcard-perfect image. The abundant rainbow trout are willing to eat a variety of dry flies and nymphs. Canoes are a great way to access the lake for fly fishing. Your own kayak or SUP can get you around the lake, too.

Fly fishers willing to hike above the lake to fish the water flowing in will find brook trout nirvana. Dry flies, small streamers and swimming nymph patterns will catch fish. Sadly, it appears the cabins and business at the lake will soon be dismantled, so get your photos in while you can.

Nottingham Lake in the middle of Avon is a location perfect for practicing stillwater skills. Ample parking, a paved path all the way around and a sandy beach to launch your own kayak are a few amenities that make Nottingham a favorite. Paddle boats for rent mean you don’t need to have your own boat. From the bank or a small watercraft, Nottingham Lake is an easy-to-access, well-manicured stillwater with guaranteed numbers of fish.

A little farther west and situated beside I-70 in Gypsum is a sweet little location to apply your stillwater skills. Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife Area has a couple ponds but the largest pond by the parking lot has received a lot of attention in recent years. A new watergate and a floating dock for increased handicapped access are a couple of the recent projects meant to improve the fishing. This is a small body of water that can be covered from the bank, but I have done well from a float tube and one-man pontoon as well.

Stillwaters are found all across the Eagle River valley. With knowledge of what flies to use, how to access and where to go, fly fishers should feel prepared to go test their stillwater skills.

Michael Salomone has lived in the Eagle River valley since 1992. He started his professional guiding career in 2002 and currently guides for Vail Valley Anglers. He lives on the bank of the Eagle River with his wife, Lori and his youngest daughter, Ella. His published writing has appeared in Southwest Fly Fishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, On the Fly, FlyLords, the Pointing Dog Journal, Upland Almanac, TROUT, American Fly Fishing, USA Today Hunt & Fish and Fly Fisherman magazines.