Fishing
Picture yourself wading in a river, lake, creek or stream absorbed in the moment as you methodically toss your precise cast and fly into the distance in hopes of landing a Big One. Or maybe you’re enjoying the comforts of a drift boat swiftly floating down stream in search of a variety of hungry trout - not to mention the expansive wilderness setting that envelops you. Get your flies ready and don’t forget your rod because this is Snowmass and Aspen, Colorado fishing.
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Aspens’ Roaring Fork Valley is both home to and surrounded by better trout fishing than a majority of people realize. In addition to the two stretches of specially restricted Gold Medal streams, several other rivers and lakes in the Aspen area also offer noteworthy fishing locales for rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout, as well as hybrids.
The Roaring Fork River flows through the town of Aspen and down the valley to its confluence with the Colorado at Glenwood Springs. With a wide range of public access points along the popular river, anglers can rest assure that persevering through the sometimes big crowds can pay huge rewards. The Frying Pan River, northeast of Aspen, runs through Ruedi Reservoir to Basalt and is famous for its enormous fish and easy access. The stretch west of the reservoir is very good with a healthy amount of eight pound fish being caught on a regular basis. Other fun flyfishing streams worth checking out include Maroon Creek and Castle Creek. An important piece of information to remember is that stretches of both the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers are governed by special regulations with specific size limits, bait restrictions and catch-and-release rules. Pick up a copy of the regulations at local sporting goods shops or from the Colorado Division of Wildlife in Denver.
Several lakes in the area can also provide some excellent fishing. In addition to Ruedi Reservoir east of Basalt, several smaller and tougher-to-get-to-high-country lakes can take some time getting to but offer the chance for an adventure and rewarding results. The best sources of information on where to go and when are the local fishing shops in downtown Aspen; many of which offer guide services and top notch instruction and quality gear. To ensure a memorable outing make sure that you have the correct equipment and don’t forget to pack extra sunblock and water. For all the current fishing reports around the Aspen and Snowmass areas check with the Department of Wildlife.
45FOther pages you might find helpful:
Internet Angling Club
Check out what other anglers have to say about fishing hot spots and river reports.
