Fishing blog: Tales of angling adventures from around the world
Welcome to our fish blog! Here you can read more sage advice from anglers around the world. This is the place for news, tips and non-fiction fish tales from mountain lakes to distant beaches. Please feel free to comment and join in on the conversations and share some fish tales of your own!
After a 4 day road trip, we are back and glad to be here. This cool weather added to the great fishing makes us happy. Here is an image and a short video from our first trip to Lake Estes.
We recommend the inlet area this time of year for dry fly anglers. Les’ favorite pattern is a flying ant in a size 16. Kim caught and released the bigger brown in the video on a #18 parachute Adams. The hour before sunset [around 8:15] and until it’s too dark to see your fly is the best. So, eat dinner early and enjoy the great fishing afterwards.KBestesBrn072020IMG_0601 (1)
On a recent 3 day road trip to Glenwood Springs and Carbondale with a return over Independence Pass we found time to float flies in the Roaring Fork, Arkansas and Colorado Rivers. Visiting kids and Grandchildren was our main goal but we know this time of year, dry flies will fool a few trout even in the middle of the day.
We love this place. Catching big fish from the shore using terrestrial patterns or a Parachute Adams is a hoot. We camped at the South Lake but made a few casts in the other lakes too. The only disappointment was the water quality in the North Lake that was experiencing an algae bloom. It fouled our flies in the water and made it hard to breathe around the lake. Warm water and lots of sunshine will do that every time.
You’ll find this scenic lake at the end of a gentle 1.1 mile hike from the Bear Lake Parking Lot. Arrive early [before 7AM] to find a spot or ride the shuttle later. This easy hike is popular with visitors not yet acclimated to high elevations. Most hikers don’t bring fishing gear to target the greenback cutthroat trout that live here. This species, the Colorado State Fish, was thought to be extinct in 1937 and is on the threatened species list. Only barbless flies and lures are allowed here to insure a speedy, safe release.
We are lucky to live so close to such a great fishery. The power plant on the west end of Lake Estes provides clear water all year and never freezes in the winter. The water is comfortably cool now so wet wading is feasible. The brown trout that feed in the outflow range from small to trophy so take each strike seriously. My favorite fly this time of year is still the flying ant but a parachute Adams works too. Just skate or skitter the fly across the surface a few inches to get their attention. 
