Fly Fishing in Estes Park (at High Peak)
While there are few greater pastimes than fishing, not all kinds of fishing are created equal. For the ultimate fishing experience, fly fishing takes the cake. While other styles of fishing take patience and utilize some technical application, fly fishing is all about the art and beauty of the cast.
Quick Facts About Fly Fishing
Fly fishing has been around since the 2nd century in Rome and was perfected by the British several hundred years later. In fact, during the 16th century, the English developed sturdy rods with hand-crafted lines, and the art of casting began to take shape.
In the 1800s, much of the technology behind modern fly fishing was beginning to take shape. Tools such as the free spooling reel, as well as reels with drag systems, were growing in popularity, giving fly fishing a huge boost that would later make its way west.
Fur trappers and mountain men commonly carried fly reels and rods along with their other tools. These mountain men were likely the first people to fly fish in the Rocky Mountains and possibly taught Indigenous people the early art of fly tying and fishing.
In the modern era of fly fishing, it has taken shape to be a huge pastime for people of all ages and backgrounds. Everyone from President Jimmy Carter to literary giant Ernest Hemmingway has given it a shot.
Tips for Fly Fishing In Estes Park
Estes Park is a great base camp to start your next fly fishing expedition. There are plenty of incredible fishing guides and pristine mountain rivers, lakes, and streams; teaming with wild trout. For some, fly fishing in the Rocky Mountains is at the top of their list of places to go. Estes park offers plenty of fishing for anyone from beginners to seasoned veterans.
However, before you pull up your waders, we do have a few tips for fly fishing in and around Estes Park.
Hire a Guide Service
Beginners and veterans alike can benefit from hiring a professional LOCAL guide service to take you out for the day. Fly fishing guides are passionate and have a deep knowledge of where to fish, what flies attract fish, and can help you master the basics of the sport.
While it may seem like the easy way out, hiring a guide service can arm you with a better understanding of the art of fly fishing. When going out with a guide, you can expect to learn the ins and outs of fly fishing as well as:
- Improve skills
- Access to unique locations
- Search for new species
- Catch more fish
Carry the Right Gear
The right gear makes all the difference when it comes to any outdoor sport, especially fly fishing. Consider waders. Cheap, low-quality waders will not only leave you more uncomfortable than when you started but also may have poor seals or are not high enough for the rivers that you are fishing.
In addition to quality waders, you will also need proper boots, a wading jacket, a vest or pack to carry your flies, leaders, tippet, split-shot, hemostats, a rod and reel, and the proper flies for your area.
Location Location Location.
What is all the gear, knowledge, and desire for adventure without a great place to go fly fishing? Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are located in some of the most pristine fly fishing in the country. There is over 265,000 acres of land to check out with a variety of lakes, streams, rivers, and pond full of fish waiting to be caught.
Lake Estes
If you are looking for a stocked waterway with a diverse offering of rainbow trout, brown trout, yellow perch, and more, Lake Estes is the place to be. It is also one of the few places where you can keep the fish you catch and is easily accessible from town.
Big Thompson River
Flowing from Estes Park to Loveland, there is a 10-mile stretch of catch and release fishing that offers some of the best fishing in Colorado. Almost all of the trout here are wild as the river itself hasn't been stocked since the mid-1990s
High Peak Camp
High Peak Camp is located 9 miles south of Estes park. Don’t let the camp vibes fool you; High Peak Camp is a gem of a fly fishing destination in the Estes Park area. With views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, and Twin Sisters, High Peak is perfect for your scenic fly fishing retreat.
Within the camp, there are several small fishing ponds and creeks to explore. High Peak camp boasts many unique and beautiful facilities, and can feed up to 300 people. If you are looking for a great place for a retreat, we have you covered: with ropes courses, a climbing wall, disc golf, and most importantly, fishing, your group will be afforded the best experience that the Rocky Mountains have to offer.