Irrigation practices began holding water back by flooding meadows which slowly released water back into the system. There was not enough water left in the streams and rivers by the late summer to harbor any trout. There were not any known native trout in North Park and until ranchers started growing hay with the use of flood irrigation. The Browns are ferocious, hearty, and get big, but it was not always this way.

North Park is known for big, wild Brown Trout. The Park is rimmed by 5 mountain ranges and it is those mountains that collect snow each winter and flood the valley with nutrient rich water providing the perfect ingredient for a trout fishing paradise. The North Platte River system is freestone, meaning there are no dams blocking the waters natural flow, and is completely dependent on winter’s snowpack as to how much water will be in the system every year. This pristine fishing destination is North Park, one of 4 major parks in Colorado, and is home to the headwaters of the famed North Platte River. Anglers that are familiar with this place generally keep it to themselves and for good reason. Off the beaten path in a quiet valley along the Continental Divide in northern Colorado lies one of the fishiest destinations in the west.

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