Alpine Lake Fly Fishing in the San Juans: A Primer

Within two hours of Montrose there are dozens of alpine lakes holding cutthroats, brookies, and the occasional surprise rainbow — and from July through September they offer some of the most forgiving, scenic fishing in Colorado. Here's the primer.

Timing: ice-out sets the calendar

High lakes in the San Juans typically shed ice between late June and mid-July depending on elevation and snowpack. The two weeks after ice-out can be phenomenal — hungry fish cruising shorelines after a long winter. By late September, afternoon storms turn to snow and the season winds down. Mid-July through early September is prime.

Keep the fly selection simple

Alpine trout live in a food-poor environment and mostly can't afford to be picky. A box with parachute Adams, elk hair caddis, black ant and beetle patterns, small Copper Johns, and a few leech or damsel patterns covers nearly every situation. Terrestrials matter more than hatches up high — wind blows ants and beetles onto the water all day.

Fish the edges, watch for cruisers

Lake trout aren't spread evenly — they patrol. Post up where you can see a shoreline shelf, drop-offs, or an inlet, watch for a cruising fish, and lead it by several feet. Sight-fishing to a cutthroat in gin-clear water at 11,000 feet is as visual as this sport gets. No rises? Strip a small leech along the drop-off — slow, with pauses.

Gear and mountain sense

A 4- or 5-weight with a floating line does it all up high. Pack a rain shell no matter the forecast — storms build over the San Juans most summer afternoons, and you want to be off the ridgelines by 1 p.m. when lightning shows up. A hip or sling pack beats a vest for the hike in.

Stop by the shop before you head up — we're happy to mark a few proven lakes on your map and set you up with the right terrestrial box.