Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post Reply
User avatar
Texjbq85
Posts: 218
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:23 pm
Location: San Marcos, TX

Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by Texjbq85 »

I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Colorado this summer (sometime in July - August). My plan would be to backpack in, set up a base camp and then fish and do day hikes to fish from that point. I would prefer it be a designated wilderness area. I would like to fish small streams, where you would just walk/wade up stream fishing pool to pool maybe throw in some lake fishing (I find it abit risky to commit a whole day to hiking to a lake to fish and then find there are no fish, been burned a couple times). I'm in good shape and have backpacked extensively in Colorado.

I'd like it to be as scenic as possible, but I place the most importance on quality stream fishing. Not concerned about chasing any specific species or size, just preferably lots of action. I would like to find a place ideally 5-6 miles in from the trailhead where several streams converge, set camp there and then fish up those streams the following few days. I'm thinking the South Jan Juan Wilderness, maybe Uncompahgre may offer this, just not sure where to start.

If your hesitant about giving up a good spot, I practice strict CARE (Catch And Release Everything) and I land and release fish as gentle and quickly as possible as does the person who will be with me. Feel free to PM and thanks in advance for any suggestions.
User avatar
fisher of people
Posts: 722
Joined: Thu May 11, 2006 9:20 am
Location: Marble Falls

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by fisher of people »

I think the South San Juan would be a good bet. I haven't spent much time there, but it is a beautiful place, the Conejos is about as nice of a river as I've fished. I am planning an extended (around 2 week) backpacking/fishing trip for next year, and the SSJ is my plan B trip (Wind River Range is plan A). I think packing up to the second meadow on Elk Creek for a few days, then heading up to the Dipping Lakes, Red Lake, and other spots along the CDT, then heading back to the trailhead on the Valle Victoria trail would be awesome. I haven't fished Elk Creek, but it is pretty well known as a great Brown Trout stream.
User avatar
karstopo
TKF 5000 Club
TKF 5000 Club
Posts: 5632
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:30 am
Location: 77566

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by karstopo »

http://www.coloradoswildareas.com/colorado-wilderness/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sounds like a great trip to plan. The above is a list of wilderness areas in Colorado. Orvis has a couple of articles on the subject of wilderness fishing in Colorado.
User avatar
karstopo
TKF 5000 Club
TKF 5000 Club
Posts: 5632
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:30 am
Location: 77566

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by karstopo »

http://thecatchandthehatch.com/top-3-be ... -colorado/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Check out #2 on this list. The Indian peaks wilderness seems to have what you are looking for, beautiful scenery, interconnecting streams, and the article states the deeper you hike in the better the fishing gets.

Maybe someone on this site has fished the area and can give you an account of what they experienced there.
jimithing
Posts: 706
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:08 pm
Location: pasadena, tx

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by jimithing »

one place ive had fun going to doing what youve described is in the san juan national forrest. just park at the trail head in lime creek and hike several miles down stream and then for 2-3 days work slowly upstream. tons of action. as in you'll catch 10-15 fish in less than 100 meters. down stream you will find lots of brookies and rainbows, and as you get upstream youll find more browns and cut throats. nice little stream with some beautiful small fish. great place to burn a couple days in my opinion. perfect for a 3wt and tons of dry flies. if you look on google earth where im talking about, we usually start in the area with the pic icon labeled "river campsite". just an option for you to look at.
User avatar
Doug Poudre
TKF 2000 club
TKF 2000 club
Posts: 2054
Joined: Thu May 26, 2005 1:24 pm
Location: It is what it is. Support your local paddle shop.

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by Doug Poudre »

Look NE of Durango area. Could use the train as jump off point.
User avatar
RandallW20
TKF 9000 Club
TKF 9000 Club
Posts: 9740
Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:58 am
Location: Somewhere in the middle.

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by RandallW20 »

fisher of people wrote:I think the South San Juan would be a good bet. I haven't spent much time there, but it is a beautiful place, the Conejos is about as nice of a river as I've fished. I am planning an extended (around 2 week) backpacking/fishing trip for next year, and the SSJ is my plan B trip (Wind River Range is plan A). I think packing up to the second meadow on Elk Creek for a few days, then heading up to the Dipping Lakes, Red Lake, and other spots along the CDT, then heading back to the trailhead on the Valle Victoria trail would be awesome. I haven't fished Elk Creek, but it is pretty well known as a great Brown Trout stream.
Hush your filthy mouth... :wink:
Everyone knows that area is not worth going to for any reason

If anybody needs a sidekick or backpacking/fishing buddy for this area this year, feel free to contact me. Ive only been going to this same area about 20+ yrs. Heaven only knows why as the scenery is as poor as the fishing... :roll:
rayb
Posts: 890
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:25 am
Location: New Braunfels TX

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by rayb »

RandallW20 wrote:
fisher of people wrote:I think the South San Juan would be a good bet. I haven't spent much time there, but it is a beautiful place, the Conejos is about as nice of a river as I've fished. I am planning an extended (around 2 week) backpacking/fishing trip for next year, and the SSJ is my plan B trip (Wind River Range is plan A). I think packing up to the second meadow on Elk Creek for a few days, then heading up to the Dipping Lakes, Red Lake, and other spots along the CDT, then heading back to the trailhead on the Valle Victoria trail would be awesome. I haven't fished Elk Creek, but it is pretty well known as a great Brown Trout stream.
Hush your filthy mouth... :wink:
Everyone knows that area is not worth going to for any reason

If anybody needs a sidekick or backpacking/fishing buddy for this area this year, feel free to contact me. Ive only been going to this same area about 20+ yrs. Heaven only knows why as the scenery is as poor as the fishing... :roll:
Me thinks he duth protest too much :lol:
User avatar
fisher of people
Posts: 722
Joined: Thu May 11, 2006 9:20 am
Location: Marble Falls

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by fisher of people »

rayb wrote:
RandallW20 wrote:
fisher of people wrote:I think the South San Juan would be a good bet. I haven't spent much time there, but it is a beautiful place, the Conejos is about as nice of a river as I've fished. I am planning an extended (around 2 week) backpacking/fishing trip for next year, and the SSJ is my plan B trip (Wind River Range is plan A). I think packing up to the second meadow on Elk Creek for a few days, then heading up to the Dipping Lakes, Red Lake, and other spots along the CDT, then heading back to the trailhead on the Valle Victoria trail would be awesome. I haven't fished Elk Creek, but it is pretty well known as a great Brown Trout stream.
Hush your filthy mouth... :wink:
Everyone knows that area is not worth going to for any reason

If anybody needs a sidekick or backpacking/fishing buddy for this area this year, feel free to contact me. Ive only been going to this same area about 20+ yrs. Heaven only knows why as the scenery is as poor as the fishing... :roll:
Me thinks he duth protest too much :lol:
:lol: Not too bright, going back over and over for 20 years to the same ugly, fishless place! :wink:
vinny
Posts: 374
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:52 am

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by vinny »

Antero4-21 005.JPG
spinney 7-27 003.JPG
When you had you're high country fix come on down to Spinney Mtn. res. for some hot dryfly action.. These trout avg.20" and slurp the dry all summer for great site fishing opps.. Damsels, beetles, hoppers get there attention.. Spinney is a gold medal lake fly/lure only and C&R in south park at 9500 ft.... Cheers
Attachments
Spinney 8-4 005.JPG
User avatar
RandallW20
TKF 9000 Club
TKF 9000 Club
Posts: 9740
Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:58 am
Location: Somewhere in the middle.

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by RandallW20 »

fisher of people wrote:
rayb wrote: Me thinks he duth protest too much :lol:
:lol: Not too bright, going back over and over for 20 years to the same ugly, fishless place! :wink:
I dunno what ya'll are talking about. This place really is not all that great. I just go there because its the closest you can get into some mountains in Colorado and an area I was dragged to kicking and screaming as a kid. So I guess I know the area ok which makes it familiar to me. Other than that, I can say there are much better places in Colorado where the fishing and scenery is much better.
You know, like the Taylor and Gunnison Rivers.... Huge trout and salmon there, don't believe me, google it. :wink:
LUISJG
TKF 1000 Club
TKF 1000 Club
Posts: 1770
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2003 6:57 am
Location: Laredo,Texas

Re: Backcountry Colorado Trip Questions?

Post by LUISJG »

Keep us posted on your plans, I will be doing the same between the same dates but I will drive my jeep over there witch is ready rigged for expedition use and camping, ,will offroad to the fishing places
I bought a book that shows all the trails and pases.so I am planning from there. I would suggest you buy that book. just look up in amazon Colorado trails offroad
Post Reply