Thursday, July 19, 2012

Still Water, Colorado Style

There's not much lake fishing for trout in Connecticut. In fact, aside from a few stocked ponds on opening day of the trout season I don't think there are any lakes that allow for trout fly fishing straight through the season. Generally lakes around here get too warm in the summer. Any trout go deep and the quarry are warm water species; bass and such.

Arriving in Estes Park, Colorado and locating a trout lake I found myself in an alien landscape. Standing knee deep in cool water I saw trout cruising and rising all about me; the antithesis of a trout stream. I had been cautioned not to chase trout but instead to watch the patterns of their wanderings and cast to where I hoped a trout would come by. So I did just that.

And it worked.

The particular lake that I was fishing was full of Greenback Cutthroats. I'm a big native species angler so I was excited to come and fish for this threatened species.

The existence of the Greenback is somewhat of a miracle. It's the most eastern variety of cutthroats and exists solely in the South Platte and Arkansas River basins. Between water diversions, mining pollutants, and other human activity it resides in less than 1% of its historic range. In fact, before the 1930s it was thought to be extinct. Fortunately, a remnant population was found in the Big Thompson River and subsequent efforts have repopulated it to other areas including the lake I fished.

At the finish.
This particular lake is chock full of bugs. Weed beds covered about 20% of its surface and seemed to be bug factories. I saw caddis, small mayflies, scuds, and damsel flies. One angler I spoke to said that the fish were longer and fatter this year due to the low snowpack and the longer feeding season. That all sounded good to me.
Cruising the edge of the weed beds
The catching was not epic, but it was good. It took me a while to figure out the technique, figure out where the fish were cruising and then what they were eating. I had a variety of local patterns on me but to my surprise the most effective pattern was an Adams Rabbits Foot Emerger; a pattern I use often on my home waters.

The Greenback
Not only was the fishing good but the location was spectacular. Located in a basin between several large peaks one couldn't ask for a more inspiring locale. Every evening a sunset wedged itself between two spires providing a golden light by which to fish.


Rises in the Sunset


I didn't get to fish any rivers while I was in Colorado which if you asked me before the trip would have been a huge disappointment. But discovering the joys for fishing for trout in still waters was more than compensation for standing in a stream casting to all the usual places.

Best fishing; end of day.

First cast, fish on.

15 comments:

  1. Nicely done Steve. A lot of people forget the many lakes and ponds here. They are really overlooking some terrific fishing.

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    1. Thx Howard. Yeah, I was surprised how much fun it was. A whole different aspect of the sport that I'm eager to repeat.

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  2. Glad you were able to come tight to a few greenbacks, they are an amazing fish for sure. Not a bad location either...

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    1. A pretty spot for sure. I was tempted to head to some nearby streams but it was a 5 min drive from the inn and the fishing was good. Why go elsewhere?

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  3. Very glad she treated you well! And flies and where and how and why they work...more voodoo than science, as Gierach wrote.

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    1. It's sort ironic that I've tied up a mess of flies for the Yellowstone trip. I'll probably tie on an Adams and do just fine.

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  4. Fishing for trout in the western lakes was a truly unique experience for this eastern boy, too. Thanks for the reminder. And have a GREAT time in Yellowstone!

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    1. You're quite welcome. I am pumped for the trip!

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  5. Seems your trip is going quite well.
    Still water trouting is a bit different from those moving waters.

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    1. A while different thing that was quite enjoyable.

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  6. Admire the fact that you took upon yourself the challenge to fish Colorado's beautiful stillwaters. Great to see you had success and worthwhile memories to take back east with you when you head back after the Yellowstone trip.

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  7. Steve, would be interested in borrowing one of your pictures here for an upcoming post I am writing. Hope that is not a problem. Will certain link to your blog.

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  8. Hey Steve, glad you enjoyed your trip out to Colorado! I personally prefer lake fishing to river fishing most of the time! There's a GREAT trout lake just west of Fort Collins called Chambers Lake, if you ever find yourself back in the area. I'm linking to your post on my flyfishcolorado.co website; I think my readers will enjoy your adventure!

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