Entrepreneur Spencer Schar is a keen fly-fisher in his spare time. This article will take a closer look at the hobby of fly-fishing, exploring some of Colorado’s most coveted fly-fishing destinations.
Across the United States, some 38 million anglers participate in flyfishing annually, mostly on cold water lakes, rivers, and streams, with 38% of fly-fishers agreeing that fishing is an effective means of relaxing and relieving stress, according to research from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and the Outdoor Foundation.
Experts suggest that the origins of fly-fishing lie in Macedonia, with the technique described by the Roman author Claudius Aelianus in work dating back to the end of the second century. For millennia, humans have fished to break the train of everyday thinking and destress, according to Herbert Benson, M.D., director emeritus of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Benson-Henry Institute.
The Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most coveted fly-fishing destinations in the whole of the United States. Although there are better spots for those seeking an easily accessible location to land trophy-size trout, the Rockies’ stunning alpine lake scenery and gemlike greenback cutthroat trout make the park well worth a visit. Encompassing 150 lakes as well as an intricate network of streams covering some 450 miles, around 50 of Rocky Mountain National Park’s lakes and 150 miles of its streams are prime trout habitats.
Colorado receives more sun than any other state, with its picture-perfect scenery providing an exhilarating backdrop for exciting flyfishing adventures. On a warm summer’s day, flyfishing options are endless in this part of the world, with countless tailwaters, lakes, creeks, and freestones to explore. Many of Colorado’s waters are home to a wide range of insect life, enabling anglers to experiment with a variety of flies and techniques when trying to dupe the state’s four species of resident trout.
Rocky Mountain National Park’s peak fishing season runs from mid-June through mid-October. It is during this period that trout are at their most prolific, biting frequently, with brookies, rainbows, and browns patrolling the waters, as well as greenbacks and Colorado River cutthroats. According to the locals, the further the angler ventures inside the park, the greater the natural beauty of the setting, albeit with smaller-sized fish on offer. While specimens found in Moraine Park’s streams and creeks average between 6 and 10 inches, in high mountain lakes, trout measure anywhere between 12 and 16 inches. Nevertheless, even these are dwarfed by the 18 to 22-inch specimens snagged down in the valley.
For those prepared to put in the effort to reach isolated fishing locations, the tradeoff is worth it, according to local outdoorsmen. Although the specimens on offer may be smaller, the scenery is out of this world. In addition, fly-fishers trekking to these remote waters will observe far more wildlife, with moose, bear, and elk frequenting the area.
When fishing Colorado’s high lakes, visiting anglers should keep in mind that trout tend to stay close to the shoreline, feeding in plain sight. Their prey are typically insects that have fallen into the water from the shore or nearby trees and rocks. On hot, windy afternoons from June to September, updrafts along the Front Range carry beetles, ants, and other flying insects for miles, depositing them in high-altitude lakes.
Situated in the backcountry, the best lakes are those where trout cruise shoreline shallows during the day, feeding on hatches of aquatic insects like midges, mayflies, and damselflies, as well as terrestrial insects that have blown into the water such as errant ants and beetles. Some of the lakes require a significant trek to reach. Nevertheless, those willing to make the effort are rewarded with trout with voracious summertime appetites.
