There is a myriad of reasons for wandering up into the mountains during the summer, but fly fishing high alpine lakes between 10,000' and 13,000' is one of our favorites.

One thing about these high country waters is that the fishing can seem all too easy one day, and then impossible the next. We’ve had some of our best fishing days on these waters. But we’ve also been skunked.

Through trial and error, we’ve found a few keys that seem to help bring a little more consistency. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re fishing high alpine lakes this summer…

1. The earlier you start, the better your day will be.

If you're hiking in to fish the high country, START EARLY. Here's why…

You may be the only angler on any given high mountain lake, but you certainly won't be the only other person. This is especially true at more popular lakes. At busy Colorado trailheads like those at Rocky Mountain National Park, Guanella Pass, and other well-known Front Range getaways, parking spots go fast. They go so fast, that if you aren't parked well before 6:00 a.m. (maybe earlier on weekends), you may not get a spot at all. Take that stress off yourself. Get to the trailhead before dawn.

⁠⁠Secondly, While the weather is cooler at higher elevations during the summer, it still gets warm. During late July and August, you can work up a serious sweat making your way up the trail. And when the sun is beating down on you mercilessly, it's easy to have all your energy zapped before even making it to the fishery. Start your hike in the dark, when the weather is mild and temps are brisk. This will help you conserve energy and better enjoy the hike.

⁠⁠Don't forget, there are few things more beautiful than watching a sunrise in the Rocky Mountains. Being out in nature to witness one is a feeling that's impossible to describe. But if we had to, it would be "pure magic."⁠⁠

Lastly, as the sun rises higher and higher, the more wary the trout become. As the day progresses and visibility improves, trout can more easily see your fly line and any drag your flies have. They'll still eat, but do so more cautiously; especially in highly pressured lakes. In the early morning, you can take advantage of shadows cast by trees and boulders to hide from the trout's vision. Plus, you can watch the bug activity evolve as the morning progresses - giving you even more insight into the fishery.

Speaking of sneaking up on fish. That brings us to tip number two…

2. If you want to avoid spooking trout, approach alpine lakes with caution.

If you've ever hiked in to fish a high elevation lake, you already know the feeling of relief that hits when you finally make it to the water. It's finally game time. At this point, a lot of folks make a major mistake: they walk directly to the lakeshore and start fishing. Which, on paper, does not exactly seem like a cardinal sin. But out in the field, it can be.

⁠⁠Unless there's been a recent rockslide, heavy snowmelt, or rain, the water in most high mountain lakes will be crystal clear. The clarity makes it easier to spot fish, but that cuts both ways - the better you can see them, the better they can see you.

⁠⁠If you barrel through the underbrush and make your way right up to the edge of the lake, you're going to spook trout 9 out of 10 times. During the summer, the lake's resident trout will cruise the shallows foraging for food. Some fish will even hold in places where they can watch the bank, waiting for ants, grasshoppers, or other insects to fall in. If they spot you and spook, all the other fish in the area are going to spook too.

⁠⁠Instead of putting flies on the water immediately upon arriving to a lake, stop and survey the water. Look for movement and shadows under the water, and ripples on the surface. When you see trout, watch their cruising patterns and the way they behave.

⁠⁠After figuring out where and how the trout are feeding, make your approach. Mind your shadows and keep a low profile. Be careful where you place your cast and try to avoid making your fly line visible to trout. Use the brush and boulders to hide your silhouette. And when fish are swimming directly towards you (or you're in their line of sight) try to stay as still as possible.

⁠⁠This little extra effort goes a long way. You never know what might be watching the bank.

3. Be ready to adapt.

If you’re not willing to adapt to the situation on hand, it may be difficult to catch fish. Be prepared to switch things up throughout the day, because these fisheries are ever changing throughout the day. We can’t expect to do the same thing all day and have consistent results. The trout eat different things at different hours. The food sources change with the weather and conditions. The fish will be in different parts of the lake at different hours. It evolves so quickly that you have to evolve with it.

Each lake you go to, take the time to study the water before you begin fishing. At many high alpine lakes, you can climb up higher to get a bird’s eye view of the lake. Watch the water and see if you can figure out where the fish are holding. From there, you can begin to make a plan.

For example, if the fish are holding in shallow water within a few feet of shore, it may be a great time to fish a double dry fly rig, or a dry-dropper setup. But remain ready to change things up. If you notice fish coming up and snubbing your dry flies when you’re fishing a tandem rig, cut off that tag and remove the second fly. Try fishing the single dry and see what happens.

When watching trout behavior in these lakes, it might help to drop them into three different categories –cruisers, risers and sippers. It’s helpful to put trout in these categories when we’re trying to figure out what to feed them. For example, if you seeing cruising fish, you may want to tie on a dry-dropper rig, with a dropper that gets right down into their face at the depth they are cruising.

If you see trout coming up and sipping near the surface, not breaking the water necessarily but creating swirls here and there, there is a good chance they are eating something in the surface film, like drowned ants or emerging mayflies. Either way, that’s a signal to fish something within an inch or so of the surface film.

Then we’ve got the risers. When you see splashy rises up on the surface and noses actually breaking the water, there’s a good chance they are eating things like caddis, or grasshoppers. In these situations, it may be advantageous to tie on a double dry fly rig. First, consider tying on a big terrestrial like a hopper. Then, follow it up with a smaller terrestrial or a caddis. Small ants, beetles, traditional elk hair caddis or Goddard Caddis could all be a good choice.

When the fish are holding in deeper water, the situation may call for a completely different set of tactics. Fishing a deep nymph rig with a slip indicator can be effective. Streamers and leech patterns can also be deadly on high country lakes. Some of our other favorite flies in the high country are leeches in an olive color. Consider flies like the Hell Razor Leech, Rowley’s Balanced Leech and Squirrel Leeches.

As you work on being adaptive, also pay attention to the size of the bugs. This will constantly change throughout the summer season. For example, grasshoppers begin the summer small and wingless. But by the time we get into August, we’ll see winged grasshoppers and we’ll notice those hoppers getting bigger and bigger. Keep a variety of dry flies in a range of sizes so that you can cover all your bases.

These are just examples – the real key is adapting to situations on the water as they unfold. As the day progresses, you’re going to be seeing different stuff and you have to be ready to adapt on the fly.

Contact Us With Questions

Getting ready to explore some high country lakes? Please let us know how we can help. You can visit us at the fly shop in Littleton. Or give us a call at 303-794-1104. From recommended flies to backpacks and other gear for the journey, we’d love to help. Take advantage of summertime in Colorado and enjoy fishing high alpine lakes this summer!