The dog days of summer have taken hold in the Rockies, driving us to seek refuge from the heat at higher altitude. It’s at the cold alpine lakes lined with willows and krumholtz that we’ve been hunting our favorite summer species: cutthroat and brook trout.
It’s typically around mid-summer that cutthroat and brookies feed with reckless abandon. This opportunity to eat while lakes are ice free is a relatively short period, so they have to make the most of it. As you walk slowly around the edges of each lake, you’ll almost always find fish looking for an easy meal that’s fallen off overhanging grass or branches. Further out, where there is a noticeable change in the depth of the lake, more fish will be cruising the drop off.
The fishing has been hot lately with eager eats on Yakoda Micro Buggers, Weighted Leeches, Green Machines, Chironomids, and Chimeras. Take your pick of any of these staple flies and try them in multiple configurations and presentation styles—dry-dropper, under an indicator, or stripped.
Summer flies by and the high country season is already halfway over but there’s still plenty of time to put some color in your net. Make sure to pack your Solar Hoodie and a hat, as well as a rain jacket and an insulating layer or two. Most days in the mountains give you a full sampling of weather, from unrelenting sunshine to passing storms and quick temperature changes.
Soon enough we’ll all be bundled up, day dreaming of pounding trails in search of our finned friends. Get out there and make the most of it while you can. The mountains are good for the soul regardless of how many fish you catch. We’ll see you out there…
