The Best Lake Hikes in Colorado. Throughout the post you’ll find: Descriptions of the best alpine lake hikes in Colorado including distance, difficulty and elevation gain. Pack in a float tube or rubber raft to get away from the bank. This amazing backdrop provides incredible mountain scenery for your Colorado fly fishing guide trip. North Delaney Butte Lake. Right after ice out is normally excellent. I was lucky enough to have a few days off last week so fellow guide Reid Eakins and myself hit the road in search of high mountain cutthroats. Heaven among anglers, the high-desert valley of Alamosa is home to an enormous web of more than 1,400 rivers, streams, reservoirs and lakes, including the beloved Rio Grande River, which is fed by the surrounding snow-capped peaks. This 3,400 acre reservoir is open for ice fishing 365 days a year. Posted on August 17, 2018 by Mike Sherer. Home to 322 miles of “Gold Medal” waters, these designated fishing areas offer top locations for large trout fishing. 10 of the best spots to fish in Colorado Tip up, rod bent and lines tight. Here at Colorado Mountain Fishing it is our goal to become your number one source for providing information for fishing, camping, hiking, four wheeling, and photography while out in the Colorado Mountains. Colorado Fly Fishing Adventures Location: Pine, CO Waters: South Platte River, Blue River, Boxwood Gulch, Long Meadow, Farmers Union Fish: Trout Website. High Colorado lakes, These lakes usually sit at the bottom of a talus slope and offer very little cover for fish. Also, if you are fishing light tippet on a high mountain lake; you are absolutely going to want something with a solid drag system as big fish tend to run hard in these lakes. Nice rainbow trout from this private high mountain lake. Finally, after switching several flies, Reid started picking fish up on a thin mint fly; they took the fly on a very slow retrieve. Due to its brevity, once the seasonal change hits I am quick to dust off my 3wt rod and head up into the high country. 700 East 24th Avenue A small creek (full of brook trout) also runs through the property. Jul 6, Its many rivers, lakes, and mountain stream teem with cutthroats, rainbows, and browns. Rocky Mountain National Park offers some of the best high alpine lake fishing I have ever experienced. Colorado Mountain Fishing: The number one spot for information on fishing the Colorado Mountains and backcountry for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, and golden trout. An Angler's Guide to the Best Fishing Near Alamosa. Hike to Lower and Upper Chicago Lakes. As the snow melts out and the lakes ice off, the fly-fishing lights up. There are also many small streams that flow freely through the mountains and also hold good numbers of fish. Located just 30-minutes north of Steamboat Springs, the lake is best fished where the many feeder creeks come in along the west bank. Surrounded by skyscraper mountains iconic to the Rocky Mountains, it sits just east of the continental divide. One of Colorado’s gold medal stillwater fisheries, North Delaney is known for producing huge rainbow, brown, and cutthroat/rainbow hybrid trout. This location is perfect for anglers wanting a truly beautiful setting to fish, or for trout bums looking for beautiful brook trout, bows, and solitude. Along with the amazing scenery there are several lakes (7 acres, 3.5 acres, and several smaller lakes). Many of Colorado’s high lakes are found in roadless or wilderness areas. It's possible to be fishing less than an hour after leaving home. For the small fly rod enthusiast, you can enjoy never seeing another fisherman … All of the backpack inventory for the high country can be obtained from the author. Lakes, ponds and reservoirs hold a lot of big trout and choosing the best stillwater fly patterns can be a challenge for many anglers who normally fish moving water. At an elevation of 12,800 feet, the lake is often not open until late-July. The Rio Grande River in Alamosa. The plan was to spend 3 days in the backcountry fishing. Hoards of mosquitos can exist depending the time of year. Your Colorado High Mountain Lake stock images are ready. In the summer, you can rent a boat, bring your own or simply enjoy the gentle lapping of the waves from the sandy shore. Photo: Kyle Frost. The Mount Evans Wilderness Area (WA) is only a few miles from Denver. Grand Lake connects with Shadow Mountain Lake via a canal, and just … Colorado Fly Fishing Reports The 6.3-mile hike takes 2.5-3 hours, and the elevation gain is very gradual for the most part. Colorado has a vast number of high alpine lakes loaded with trout. Leland Warning of … Come July and August, Lawn Lake is arguably the best lake for fishing in the park. The first day we hiked 4.5 miles to our first destination. They are all full of beautiful brook trout from 5-15 inches and rainbow trout from 12-22 inches with beautiful fish being the norm. Office  303-861-0240 FISHING REPORT: COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY OVERVIEW. Tying on a fly at one of the lower lakes on the 4th of July. Denver, CO 80205 It is nestled in the Rocky Mountains under the snowcaps of the Continental Divide. Too much gear can often be worse than not enough gear. One of the few but beautiful brown trout that inhabit the lakes. High Mountain Lakes Fly Fishing. There are many Colorado High Country locations that hold trout. A few feet north of Summit Lake lies a glacially carved valley drained by Chicago … Those who want to get away from it all and hike into the wild have more lakes and creeks than they’ll know what to do with. Eleven Mile Reservoir is known for its large rainbow trout that can range from 14-20 inches long. For the best alpine fishing, head to high mountain lakes and streams that are filled with brown, brook, rainbow and cutthroat. It is advised to bring along a mosquito net for the face in your backpack inventory. Colorado Mountain Fishing Reports [Updated] The most updated backcountry fishing reports for the Colorado high Coutnry on the internet. 1. This season is fairly short as most of the lakes sit near 10,000 feet above sea level. contact us sitemap home Lake Info Articles Forum Gallery Store. Mt. If just wetting a line in the Crested Butte area’s wilderness isn’t enough, add in some of the best trout fishing in the world, incredible mountain valleys, and Colorado sunshine. Reservations  800-882-4314, © 1971 - 2020 The Flyfisher Group, LLC. Surrounded by. Colorado Trout Hunters Location: Morrison, CO Waters: South Platte River, Rocky Mountain … Fish were rising but it was a challenge to figure out what they were eating. Colorado has a vast number of high alpine lakes loaded with trout. Alpine Lake Fishing. You’d never believe that Colorado Springs real estate would actually put you close to some of the best fishing spots in Colorado. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. A great guide trip option for a trip in late May and June is during the runoff season in Colorado — this lake will fish well through the summer and into October. With our packs loaded with fishing gear and the backpacking essentials (whiskey, of course), we hit the trails. By Patricia Cameron, Special to The Denver Post Jun 22, 2019, 8:00 am. Local tips for hiking in Colorado; Dog-friendly hikes; 1., 2., 3. This is a great place to go for the ice fishing and a great place to stay for the camping. I recently traveled to Colorado for 9 days and stayed in Keystone Colorado. Backpacking and fishing go great together; it is a great opportunity to get away from the hustle of city life and explore what the Colorado mountains have to offer. The best time to fish the lake is early and late in the season. All Rights Reserved. We found fish to be eating scuds just below the surface on a very fast retrieve. Fly Fishing Colorado's Gore Range Day Two Arlo spots one of the locals, a mountain goat. Hike to Chasm Lake. Princeton Hot Springs Resort is surrounded by the greatest concentration of high elevation lakes in the state. Give your local creeks or rivers a break and explore some high mountain lakes! Steamboat Lake, a gold medal fishery, offers excellent ice-off fishing for big rainbows in early to mid-May. Best high mountain lake fishing colorado, colorados best kept fly fishing secrets At nearly 11, ft., Betty Lake is an excellent high mountain lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Most of the trails that lead into the high country go to high mountain lakes. Fed by high mountain runoff, the lake is clear and pristine. We set up camp in the early evening and fished well into the evening hours. Obviously lighter is better for the lighter rod (and if you are a weight snob like some of us when it comes to packing in). This spring brook trout has beautiful color and a big appetite to match. Morning on one of the Colorado High Mountain Lakes. In this video I am in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado fly fishing for greenback cutthroat trout. Chaffee County’s high alpine lakes feature spin or fly fishing along with incredible mountain views. Anglers fishing here should be sure to bring a camera for the fish and the scenery. High-altitude goats are extremely curious creatures. They are all full of beautiful brook trout from 5-15 inches and rainbow trout from 12-22 inches with beautiful fish being the norm. Summer is a fantastic time to fish rivers and creeks but it also is the perfect time to strap on a backpack and explore some high mountain lakes. Hooked up guided fly fishing on lakes in Colorado. Solitude at Conejos … 2. This series of high mountain lakes is located about an hour and a half from Denver. What we have found is that the more remote you get, the better the fishing will be;  with this in mind, we ventured South down to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Eleven Mile Reservoir . Colorado Fly Fishing Guides Location: Leadville, CO Waters: South Platte River, Arkansas River, Turquoise Lake Fish: Trout Website. “ Central Colorado Alpine Lakes“. When it comes to the best lake hikes in Colorado, this post has it all. Steamboat Lake, Bear Lake and Dumont Lake headline the high mountain lake action around Steamboat Springs. Along with the amazing scenery there are several lakes (7 acres, 3.5 acres, and several smaller lakes). We’ve put together a list of the 8 best lakes for ice fishing in Colorado. 1. 3. Betty Lake – High Mountain Cutthroats At nearly 11,500 ft., Betty Lake is an excellent high mountain lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. When it comes to fishing Colorado’s high altitude lakes there is no better place than the Arkansas River Valley and the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. The next day, we hiked up to another lake looking for bigger cutthroats. by Vail Valley Anglers Admin | Published May 13, 2015. Summer is a fantastic time to fish rivers and creeks but it also is the perfect time to strap on a backpack and explore some high mountain lakes. Throughout the state, these picturesque fishing areas teem with Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, and Brook trout. If you were to fly there, it’s just west of Boulder and East of Winterpark near the Moffat Tunnel. Since these lakes are nutrient-poor compared to their lower neighbors, food is scarce and they tend to have fewer trout fishing Colorado lakes. 695 Shares. Nearby mountain streams, rivers, and lakes offer great catches in the spring, summer, and fall with Rainbow, Brown, Brook, and Cutthroat trout taking up the waters. Updated: September 12, 2019. Rigging for Mountain Trout. Ice-off at the big lake; hungry trout cruise the banks. Named for the late, great Denver Post outdoor writer’s old stomping grounds, Charlie Meyers State Wildlife Area is also known as the “dream stream.” The hot spot is located on the South Platte River between Spinney Mountain State Park and Eleven Mile State Park east of Hartsel. This small but deep lake has rainbows. A lot of these lakes are timbered right to the water's edge and many are not wadeable; best fished from a boat. PRIVATE HIGH LAKE FLY FISHING IN PARK COUNTY COLORADO. From short day hikes close to the city to multi-day backpacking trips deep in Rocky Mountain National Park, these adventures will take you to some of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park At the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake is the deepest natural lake in Colorado, dipping to 265 feet. Hike to Hanging Lake. Watch the surface, the bugs and the trout for cues. | Powered by. Listed within the pages of this website are several lake reviews with directions and GPS coordinates so as a beginner you can get out and find some spectacular lakes to fish. The truth be known, I could do about 80 percent of the fishing I do in Colorado with a very limited selection of gear. Alamosa. Best Colorado Lake Flies for Trout. After a long day of fishing and hiking we relaxed at our campsite sipping whiskey and sharing fish stories. Photo: Ryan Mckinney. Between Pikeview Reservoir and Prospect Lake, the city of 400,000 has made a name for itself as the hiking and fishing capital of Colorado. It takes a certain flexibility to unlock a backcountry lake's secrets. Summit Lake sits in a cirque beside the paved road leading to the top of Evans. Once you get to the lake, focus on the right shoreline, where there is a great drop off for fish to hang out around. How Many Species of Fish have you Caught on the Fly. Another thing to consider is using a reel that will balance your light creek rod well. This was the first of many we encountered. copyright © 2020 Colorado Trout Hunters LLC. A great day to be fishing to fishing trout. From pristine mountain streams and rivers to breathtaking lakes, Colorado offers some of the best trout fishing in the world. The best area to fish is the North and West shoreline with hopper patterns or small black ant patterns size 20-22. 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