When life hands you Colorado, might as well go fly fishing for protected species

Our family just spent a three day weekend up in Rocky Mountain National Park. On Thursday, the smoke from the High Park fire had me thinking of heading elsewhere, but the wind changed direction by Friday morning and there was no sign of smoke in Castle Rock, Denver, Boulder etc... so off we went up to Estes Park, and the National Park proper

We did a little sight seeing on our way up Trail Ridge road, and and did a short hike down the Cache la Poudre headwaters, in search of Greenback Cutthroat trout. These trout are only found in CO, and at one time were thought to be extinct. They need very high water quality, and in many cases have been pushed out by Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout. In the case of Rainbow, they may interbreed, producing cutbows. Greenbacks are a protected species, 100% catch and release, and in most areas there are additional  regulations (artificial lure/fly only, barbless single hooks)

As it turned out, I caught nothing but brookies. After later fishing "real" Greenback water, I can see why. I was fishing in the wrong type of geography.  We did see a bachelor group of elk, and had a good time all around. After about two hours though, the weather  though there was thunderstorm activity nearby, with it's associated rain and wind. Nothing too inclement where we were though.

Trail down Cache la Poudre


Elk (sorry for phone pic, left the real camera at home)


Due to the thunderstorm activity, and a less than Alpine start, we stayed in a cabin by the Big Thompson river in Estes Park Friday night. Saturday morning, I zipped into the Estes Angler, picked up some flies to replace the ones in the container that I dropped the day before, and got some better information on Greenbacks.

We drove on up the Fall River road to the Alluvial Falls area, pulled out the 4 wt fiberglass rod, and set to fishing some of the pools right there where hundreds of folks were walking by. I immediately hooked up with the most beautiful trout I've ever held in my hands. NO PICS!!! because Maggie didn't bring her camera/phone, the net was in the car, and I wanted to get the fish back in the water ASAP. It did look a lot like this, though the picture really doesn't do justice to how brilliant the colors are, nor does it capture the sparkle of the scales. A truly breathtakingly beautiful fish:

Greenback Cutthroat


James at Alluvial Falls, right before I started fishing.

I hooked up with a second fish, and this time James had my phone. Only, by the time he got to me, the fish had come off the barbless hook. Arghh.  I had a third take, but that one only stuck for a second.

The weather turned wet yet again, so off we went up the old Fall River road. Gravel, narrow, one way (uphill only) and a total blast. I would sooo like to bike this some time. Preferably before the official road opening, and downhill I'm not sure if this portion of the Fall River holds Greenbacks, but because it's a classic plunge/pool river, I'd not be surprised if it did.

Monday was our last shot to get Maggie on to a Greenback, and to get pictures. The Roaring River was our destination. The first 3/4 of a mile of the trail climbed 800 feet, and getting James and Jonathon up the slope was a bit of fun. James kept asking to take a break, Jonathon needed to be carried a bit. However, overall I'd say we've got two pretty darn good hikers, what with this being at fairly high altitude (starting at 8500 ft). The trail eventually levels off, and again we're presented with a fairly typical plunge/pool creek (rivers in CO are pretty darn small, all things considered).  I get Maggie using an attractor/nymph rig, and she hooks up in the very first pool.




There was a fish in her hands when I pushed the shutter button on my phone two seconds before:


I headed upstream, had a near miss by another very nice fish and spent the next half hour trying all sorts of other patterns, but to no avail. The fish would sometimes be within 6 feet of me, and was obviously feeding. Just not on anything I'd show it...

Back to CA in less than two weeks. I am going to miss the Rockies.

Scott

beautiful greenback, love the fly in its lip, thanks again for a great report from my old stomping grounds, there is a little high elevation lake that they started to do the recovery program in, when i was still living in colorado, which was above all bounderies of rainbows, so they could keep the strain pure, so glad to see them making a small come back and hopefully a greater one, i miss the rockies, cameron

Cameron,

There were other lakes that were recommended, but we just ran out of time. I'd really like to spend a week hitting a lot of them, hopefully backpacking with the boys.

Also - in a "doh!!" moment not that long ago, I figured out what bwodun really meant.

We should get together and do some fly swatting when I get back. Lower Sac, maybe? I've got a drift boat, add a couple kayaks and hilarity should ensue...

Scott

definately would love to get together and throw some flies scott, made a promise to my self to get the long rod out more this year, been doing too much of this conventional stuff on the kayak , cameron

What a beautiful specie!  Thanks for sharing the family trip with us Scott.