Fly anglers reading through magazines or turning pages in books run across the terms freestone and tailwater often. But what exactly do anglers mean when using these terms? Breaking down the differences and how anglers approach fly fishing the two types of water for success is a new paradigm for most anglers.
Tailwaters
Across the United States are reservoirs created by dams. Below the dams, where the discharge continues the course of the river are Tailwaters. The discussion about dams and dam removal is another topic altogether. However, the difficult equation these waters present is one that anglers strive to solve everywhere.
Tailwaters are controlled by many factors, water level, food availability and predictable conditions. The conditions that create a controlled environment are conducive to producing massive fish. Water temperature is a key factor tailwaters maintain consistently. As a result food is constantly present and prevalent. The size of the fish found in tailwaters is indicative of an abundant food source.
Tailwaters produce opportunities for anglers to test their skills against the largest most educated fish around. Anglers travel around the world to wade fabled waters across Colorado and Wyoming. Names like Fryingpan, Taylor and the Blue river in Colorado and Miracle Mile, Grey’s Reef and Seedskadee in Wyoming cause anglers to make reservations a year in advance.
The abundance of insect life held in the early stages of development, the larva and pupa stages, is extremely high in tailwaters. Midge larvae become the go to fly in most tailwater situations. The water coming out of dams is crystal clear necessitating the use of Fluorocarbon when nymphing with midges.
Some reservoirs hold a tremendously important food source called a Mysis Shrimp. A failed attempt at creating a food source in reservoirs the shrimp are washed through dams into tailwaters. The fish in tailwaters that hold mysis shrimp like the Fryingpan river have a high protein food source that results in overly large fish. Bold colored cheeks and bright lateral line colors are enhanced from the abundant, unnatural food source.
Freestone
Snow melt is the primary water source for freestone rivers and streams. The accumulation of snow over a long winter in mountainous areas releases slowly over a summer. Supplying the watershed with a constant flow, in theory. Freestone streams because of their nature have a highwater season and flow gradually reduces as mountain snow melt diminishes.
Watersheds that are freestones receive supplemental water from summer precipitation. The mountains funnel rainwater into watersheds. Runoff can cloudy up the water but only certain areas of Colorado have alluvial runoff that would ruin the water for an extended amount of time.
Freestone rivers and streams have a short float fishing opportunity due to the fluctuating nature of their water supply. Late summer freestone rivers may only hold enough water for wade fishing opportunities. By winter freestone waters can freeze over with current flowing underneath a sheet of ice. Sections of river will open and stretches in the sun will flow freely but cold weather affects freestone waters dramatically. Whereas tailwaters will maintain a constant temperature all year long. Summertime water will be the same temperature as winter water for the first half mile to mile below the dam.
Freestone rivers have an abundance of food with a wide variety of insects. Freestone waters have seasonal hatch charts that fly shops keep and post for anglers. Tailwaters support a smaller but very predictable variety of insects. Both types of water across Colorado and Wyoming are well known with fly shops stocking a collection of flies for each location. Anglers looking to fill their boxes need only mention the name of the watershed, freestone or tailwater, and knowledgeable fly shops will steer you in the right direction.
Freestone vs tailwater is a matter of fly fishing preference, influenced by time of year and the seasonal nature some watersheds possess. Arming yourself with a known selection of flies for either type of water in Wyoming or Colorado is easily achieved weeks before your arrival.
Tailwaters provide a fly fishing opportunity that is well known and the variety of flies necessary for success fall into a narrow category. Freestone waters are seasonally influenced but with well known hatch charts. Anglers need to carry numerous flies covering a vast array of insects to achieve success.
