Need high-country lake trout advice

[Andy Backus]

I'll be doing some camping and hiking at 12,000 feet near Aspen, CO this late July with my wife and would like to fish a couple high-mountain lakes while we're there.

I've fly fished a few times over the years, but am not even close to knowing what I'm doing on my own, so I think I'll keep it simpler with a spinning rod.

How would you fish small high-country lakes with a light-weight spinning rod?

[lightflight]

Small black and gold panther martin lure. works every time for me. Had dinner provided within minutes. cast and retrieve.

Although the place i go is a good 8 miles hike in...the fish were begging to be caught.

[szeitner]

Originally Posted by lightflight

Small black and gold panther martin lure. works every time for me. Had dinner provided within minutes. cast and retrieve.

Although the place i go is a good 8 miles hike in...the fish were begging to be caught.

+1 on the Panther Martin, also try the yellow body with red dots. I've had decent luck with Rooster Tails as well, and I also have very good luck with a small Rapala (2") in black/silver.

Have fun!!

[kc0pph]

I mainly fish in the lakes near West Cliff like the Sand Creek Lakes and Commanche Lake to name a few. I have the best luck with Orange Panther Martins (the small ones) and Orange Kast Masters (The samall ones). I find that if a panther martin does not catch anything a kast master will.

If it is a place fished by a lot of lures and flys worms work great When I was younger Id fish the Taylor River with Worms never waited more than 10 seconds to catch a Monster fish.

I fish from a Krill (Purse) with an assortmant of lures (Panther Martin, Rooster Tails, Rappala, Kast Master) a bunch of hooks, worms, salmon eggs, power bait and of course the hardware to use it all, swivels, weights bobbs and such. Wearing it like a purse you are very adjile and can move to the fish...

Always laughed at the guys with the HUGE tackle boxes trying to carry them around.

Remember Small Bait Catches Big Fish, Go Small! Use the smallest lures you can find (within reason).

In my findings Brown Trout are smart and old wise ones will know how to avoid your lures. To get them i pull out the fly rod.

So you are going to Aspen Where are you From? I am in Pueblo, CO (Nm Just realiezed who you were Silly Question)

[dogdinger]

Small misquito like flys with a casting bubble. The bubble gets you way out into the lake with minimum effort and the fish in those lakes mainly feed on flys. right after daylight and into the evening are best times.

Dont know if that is where you are planning your archery elk hunt, but you could do lots worse. there are some great hunting spots within a long bowshot of aspen ....(a little insider info there, dont let it get out)AJ

[Andy Backus]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll try all your ideas on the trout.

[kc0pph]

Andy I am a 20 year old kid who loves fishing in the high mountain lakes more than anything around. Just remember its not about the fish you catch its about the experience you have. Nothing is more serene than being miles away from your vehicle next to a body of water...

But on that note fishing in high mountain areas is usually pretty easy, not many fisherman educating the fish on how not to fish If you are going to head a little south anytime drop me a PM and ill have to show you some of the best lakes to go fishing in the area near West Cliff Colorado.