12 Favorite Flies for Colorado's High Alpine Lakes

By Anglers All

12 Favorite Flies for Colorado's High Alpine Lakes

Ask twelve Anglers All crew members to name their favorite fly for high alpine lakes, and you'll probably get twelve different answers.

That said, there are a handful of patterns that consistently produce fish throughout Colorado's high country. No matter where your high alpine adventures take you, or what species of trout inhabit the lake you're fishing, these flies have earned permanent spots in our alpine fly boxes.

Chubby Chernobyl

  • Imitates: Attractor Dry / Terrestrial / Stonefly

  • Best Fished: As the dry fly in a hopper-dropper rig.

  • Notes: Few flies are more versatile in the high country. It floats forever, is easy to see, and imitates everything from hoppers and beetles to large stoneflies. Even when trout aren't actively feeding on large insects, they'll often investigate a Chubby. Its exceptional buoyancy also makes it the perfect dry fly to suspend heavier nymphs beneath. Shop this awesome pattern HERE--->

picture of missing link fly

Mercer's Missing Link Caddis

  • Imitates: Adult Caddis

  • Best Fished: As a single dry fly or as part of a double dry rig. Cast it to rising fish or through active caddis hatches.

  • Notes: Caddis are a major food source for trout in mountain lakes. Most high-elevation western caddis are relatively small and dark, making the Missing Link an excellent match. Its sparse profile and naturally buoyant deer hair help it ride low in the surface film, exactly how many adult caddis appear after emerging. The highly visible post also makes it much easier to track on choppy alpine water. Shop one of our favorite caddis patterns HERE---> 

Barr’s Uncased Caddis

  • Imitates: Caddis Larvae

  • Best Fished: Under a buoyant dry fly, under an indicator, or as the anchor fly on a deep nymph rig. 

  • Notes: Caddis larvae are one of the most common food sources in alpine lakes. John Barr's Uncased Caddis imitates a vulnerable larva emerging from its protective case—exactly the stage trout love to target. Shop this Caddis HERE--->

cool picture of beetle fly

Harkin's Sneaky Pete

  • Imitates: Beetle

  • Best Fished: As a single dry fly when delicate presentations are critical, or as part of a double-dry fly rig.

  • Notes: Designed by Scott Harkins, the Sneaky Pete lands softly on calm water, making it perfect for spooky trout in crystal-clear alpine lakes. It can be difficult to see on the water, so keep your eyes out for the rise, or pair it with a more visible dry fly. Shop the Sneaky Pete HERE--->

picture of ant in cutthroats mouth

Wilcox's GLO Ant

  • Imitates: Flying Ant

  • Best Fished: As a solo dry fly or drowned in the surface film as the dropper in a dry-dropper rig.

  • Notes: Flying ants are seriously underrated in the high country. During summer dispersals, strong alpine winds often blow them onto lakes where they become easy meals for trout. While they fish well when floating high on the surface, they can be even more effective when allowed to sit partially submerged. Check out this pattern HERE--->

picture of hopper in brook trouts mouth

Thunder Thighs Hopper

  • Imitates: Grasshopper

  • Best Fished: As the dry fly in a hopper-dropper rig or as the lead fly in a double dry setup.

  • Notes: The Thunder Thighs Hopper is a shop favorite. Its realistic profile, segmented foam body, and lifelike legs fool trout all summer long. Fish it confidently around grassy banks, cliff walls, shrubs, and overhanging vegetation, but don't hesitate to cast it over open water, too. Shop this killer hopper HERE—>

stimulator fly on vise

Kaufmann's Stimulator

  • Imitates: Attractor Dry / Caddis / Stonefly / Terrestrial

  • Best Fished: In a dry-dropper rig, or a double-dry rig.

  • Notes: A tried-and-true classic from Randall Kaufmann, the Stimulator is one of the most versatile attractor dries ever designed. Smaller versions imitate caddis, while larger patterns resemble stoneflies or even hoppers. It's an excellent searching fly whenever you're covering new water. Shop the Stimulator HERE--->

minnow fly in cutthroat trouts mouth

Baby Fat Minnow

  • Imitates: Baitfish

  • Best Fished: Suspended beneath an indicator or slowly retrieved around drop-offs and deeper water.

  • Notes: Not every trout in an alpine lake is looking up. Small streamers excel when fish are cruising deeper water or feeding below the surface. Black, olive, and white are all productive colors throughout the season. This Baby Fat combines all 3 colors in one with a great body profile. Shop this pattern HERE---> 

picture of hippy stomper fly

Hippie Stomper

  • Imitates: Ant, Beetle, or Small Hopper

  • Best Fished: As the dry fly in a dry-dropper rig or as a solo searching dry.

  • Notes: Grillos' Hippie Stomper is one of the best terrestrial patterns ever created. Dead drift it, twitch it across the surface, or slowly strip it back to imitate a struggling insect. Trout will eat this fly almost anywhere, from the shoreline to the middle of deep alpine lakes. Shop this buggy pattern HERE--->

picture of sparkle minnow

Sparkle Minnow

  • Imitates: Baitfish / Leech

  • Best Fished: Stripped along drop-offs or weed beds, with erratic strips and pauses, or crawled slowly along the lake bottom.

  • Notes: Coffey's Sparkle Minnow is one of the best all-around trout streamers available. Size #8 is perfect for most alpine lakes, while a larger #4 can entice aggressive brook trout in late summer and early fall. Buy this awesome streamer HERE--->

cdc pheasant tail fly

CDC Tungsten Pheasant Tail

  • Imitates: Mayfly Nymph

  • Best Fished: As the dropper in a dry-dropper rig OR beneath an indicator whenever trout aren't consistently rising.

  • Notes: Every alpine fly box should include a few Pheasant Tails. The CDC Tungsten version sinks quickly while maintaining a natural, buggy appearance that trout find difficult to resist. It's one of our favorite all-around searching nymphs. Buy this PT HERE--->

picture of psycho prince

Psycho Prince

  • Imitates: Attractor / Searching Nymph

  • Best Fished: As the dropper in a dry-dropper rig or as part of a deep nymph rig under an indicator.

  • Notes: If we could recommend only one nymph for a high mountain lake, this might be it. In any color variation, this fly has a great combination of flash, profile, and sink rate for fishing alpine lakes. Shop this killer prince nymph variation HERE--->

picture of female angler landing a fish

Build Your Alpine Fly Box at Anglers All

As you plan a visit to any of Colorado's countless alpine lakes, our staff can help you build the perfect high-country fly box. Stop by one of our fly shop locations in Littleton or Denver, and we'll help you with flies, leaders, tippet, and gear for your next alpine adventure. If you are planning a trip in advance, our Custom Fly Selections are a great way to get a hand selected dozen or more flies delivered right to you. Shop those selections HERE--->

Use us as a resource. We are happy to recommend lakes, streams and areas to explore. Our stuff loves sharing our knowledge with you. Another great resource are these two books tailored exactly for the High Country angler.

The Fly Fishing Guide To 800 High Lakes in Colorado by Ron Belak

Fly Fisher's Guide to Colorado's Easy Access Mountain Lakes by Phil Tereyla

 

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