One of the biggest challenges of fly fishing in the Flat Tops Wilderness or any of Colorado’s high alpine environments, is casting to trout in very clear and often shallow waters. Whether a crystalline stream, a beaver pond or a shallow lake in a high alpine basin, it can be difficult to conceal your movements from skittish trout and adjust your casting technique to these transparent bodies of water.
The trout that live in these environments are extremely wary and sensitive to outside movements. They have very little protection when feeding and are easily seen by raptors and other predators. They survive by being extremely vigilant in spotting intruders from the banks or from the air.
Techniques for fishing these waters begin with a careful approach. Simply walking up to the water’s edge will send trout-shaped shadows darting for the far side. First, study the water from a distance and decide where you intend to make your first cast. Then, imagine a 20-degree angle coming from the surface of the water. Keep your head below that imaginary line as you approach. The closer to the water you get, the lower to the ground you’ll have to go.
If fishing a stream, always start on the downstream side and work your way upstream. Remember that the trout are facing upstream, intercepting insects as they arrive on the current. Positioning yourself below the trout and casting up to them gives an additional layer to your concealment.
Only approach as close as necessary in order to cast. Depending on the situation, you may be forced to crawl into position or cast from your knees several yards back from the bank. This is very true in open or grassy areas where your silhouette will stick out. Whatever you do, keep a low profile and resist any temptation to stand up and peer into the water. The trout will spot you first and they never look twice.
Keep in mind that trees or tall brush surrounding a body of water can work to your advantage. These will break up your outline and allow you to move more freely. A lake in the timber can be easy to move around, especially if it’s deep. But even with a backdrop, it’s best to keep your movements slow and limited.
Once in position, you must execute a delicate cast that won’t spook a cagey cutthroat. Around beaver ponds or open streams, where you’re most likely to be kneeling, casting can be difficult. Be sure and keep your elbow above shoulder level and your forearm at 12 o’clock. This will keep your line high and help you avoid snagging grass or brush behind you.
Then, on your last forward motion as you’re about to place the fly on the water, stop your casting motion abruptly and even draw back slightly instead of following through to the water’s surface. The abrupt stop in your motion and slight retraction will stop your fly in mid air. Your fly will then float the last couple of feet, straight down to the glassy surface as gently as a snowflake.
When you get a strike or hook a fish, the rules don’t change. Keep yourself low and fight the fish from the same position. Each spot can produce a number of fish as long as you don’t stand up and announce your presence to the rest. A grassy bank makes it easy to stay on your knees and slide the fish right up into your lap. If you’re releasing the trout, stay on your hands and knees and slowly reach out to place it back in the water. You can then continue fishing the same hole from your concealed position.
Fishing these waters has the potential to be frustrating as you watch fish evacuate each hole you approach. But with a low profile and a gentle cast, every spot has the potential to produce a surprising number of trout.
For information on Winterhawk Outfitter’s ORVIS endorsed, summer fly fishing expeditions, give us a call at 970-487-3011 or contact us online. You can also find information on our fishing page.
