If you ask most Colorado fly anglers where they fish stillwaters, you'll hear the same three answers: Antero, Spinney, 11 Mile. And those are all great fisheries. But serious stillwater hunters know that when the pressure builds and crowds form on South Park's famous reservoirs, the answer is to head north — to Delaney Buttes and Lake John in North Park, Colorado's high plains country.
Delaney Buttes is actually three lakes — North, South, and East Butte — each with distinct characteristics and fish populations. The fishery is managed specifically for trophy trout, with special regulations that protect large fish. The result is one of the most consistent big-fish stillwaters in the region, with rainbow, brown, and lake trout all exceeding 20 inches regularly. The chironomid hatches here are prolific and the crowds are a fraction of what you'll find at Antero on a spring weekend.
Lake John, in North Park, Colorado near the Wyoming border, is a plains reservoir with extraordinary food production. Fed by the North Platte River drainage, the water is rich in chironomids, damsels, and leeches. The rainbows and browns here grow exceptionally fat and fight harder than almost any stillwater fish in the region. Early spring and late fall are peak seasons, with fish consistently pushing 18–22 inches.
Both Delaney Buttes and Lake John respond exceptionally well to chironomid fishing under indicators. Standard South Park patterns work — black, red/brown, and olive in #14–16 — but the fish here are generally less pressured and more willing to eat. A tungsten-beaded pattern like our Chocolate Gold or Burnt Wino is particularly effective in the deeper sections of Delaney's South Butte.
The drive from Denver to Delaney Buttes is about 3 hours — comparable to Antero. The difference is what you find when you arrive: uncrowded banks, hungry fish, and scenery that feels genuinely remote. We guide Delaney Buttes and Lake John throughout the season. If you want less competition and more fish, this is your trip.
Recommended reading: the best chironomid fly patterns, our balanced leech guide for Colorado stillwater, and our trophy trout playbook.
Every fly mentioned in this guide is hand-tied fresh to order by Thomas Frank. Proven on Colorado's best stillwaters — tied on 2x heavy wire hooks with tungsten beads.
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