by Aaron Berhow
When I first moved from California to the beautiful state of Colorado over 10 years ago, I had heard of fly-fishing, but had never tried it. Within days of arriving in my new paradise, I promptly headed down to the local fly shop to purchase my first rod and reel. The guy behind the counter set me up with a 9 foot 5 weight rod, a box of flies, and a good luck blessing in my new found hobby. I thanked him, smiled, and walked out ready to catch my first fish on a fly rod. After all, how different could it be from trout and bass fishing in my home state with spinners and crankbaits? Six months later when I landed my first rainbow trout on fly, I started to realize what fly fishing was all about. Yes, I was hooked.
Just like every other state, fishing in Colorado gets more and more crowded every year. The local rivers and streams are much more crowded with people learning this wonderful sport. I used to be able to drive to the South Platte through Deckers in about 45 minutes and fish all day, only seeing one or two other fisherman on the river. Now it’s hard to even find a place to drop a line without 6 other rods already in the water. For me, I enjoy fishing without the crowds. A few years ago I started researching high mountain lakes that are only accessible by foot, or a well-equipped 4x4. Owning a Jeep Cherokee already, I decided to put a lift, some bigger tires, and a winch on the front so I could get back and explore these backcountry lakes. Besides marrying my perfect wife, this was easily the best decision I have ever made.
Fly fishing high mountain lakes can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. The fish are more abundant, less pressured, and a lot hungrier! I’ve had numerous 30+ fish days and a few select days where I landed well over 100 fish. Dry flies are my choice, using mostly bigger bugs from sizes 14 through 18. Stimulators, Hoppers, Elk-hair caddis, and Humpys are the best producers for me. Some of the lakes are so overloaded with brookies that the fish’s growth gets stunted. I’ve caught many fish in the 12-14 inch range with heads twice the size of their bodies. Other lakes will seem like they are completely fishless, and then you’ll land a 24-inch pig! For me, that keeps the excitement flowing in my veins, always exploring new destinations in search of those special lakes that very few people know about.
Besides getting away from the crowds, there are few places that compare to the beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Around every corner are breathtaking views, beautiful valleys, and tons of wildlife. Many of these areas are only accessible a few months out of the year due to snow pack. The roads that lead to these lakes are usually old mining roads with lots of history and valor. Many of the roads still boast the old buildings and equipment that the miners used 50 years ago. Top it off with 14,000 peaks towering over you and somehow all your day to day challenges become insignificant. Take a breath, relax, and wait for your fly to get busted. Trust me, it won’t take long.
