Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

Got here last evening and staying just outside of Estes. Went to town today and shopped... then stopped at a small lake called Lilly Lake just on the side of the road. The boys headed up to the tallest peak and I headed to the water. Lots of people walking around, lake is fairly shallow and not much in rises. But did find 2 trout cruising the bank and caught them on a #18 elk hair caddis. Green back Cutthroat. My first.

Tomorrow we're hiking to some remote lakes in the high country. Should be fun.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Sounds fun! I hope you've got pictures! Have a great trip.

Be safe . . .

John

[flyfshn]

Cool! If you have time, check out the Poudre River. A buddy of mine goes out there every couple of years and fishes it....he said it is pretty good. He also said hiking up in the mountains you will find many lakes that are very productive!

Have fun!

[Kayser]

Was lookin at a college in Ft. Collins last week, and managed a side trip up the Poudre River Canyon. Had to get way upriver to avoid rafters and tubers- the rubber hatch. Managed 6 browns total, all on #8 rubberleg stonefly nymphs in the rain, largest around 13 inches. Couldn't fish for long streches, as my running rain curse caught up with me. Yes, in the middle of a drought. Just had to keep running the road and pulling over at good looking spots. Big nymphs are a lot of fun.

Rob

[10pointer]

hey there lilley hope estes us still treatin ya well. we have a house up there on peakview drive. I love estes to death but unfortunately we couldnt get our family off all at the same time to make the trip this summer.

lilley lake is fantastic, one evening a couple years ago i could do no wrong and caught 18 greenbacks in a few hours during a crazy hatch between storms.. it was unbelievable! Last year wasnt so great at that lake but still caught a few.

if you are going to be up there for a few days try to hit morraine park just inside RMNP on the edge of estes. Its a great little stream that winds through the valley and you can get some amazing pics and you dont really see many people. The browns and brookies in there are very spooky so you have to sneak around. You can be dropped at one end and be picked up atthe other. Its at the headwaters of the big thompson. I always catch quite a few but you will find the size of the fish unlike those of taneycomo lol. The fish are small but alot of fun still. i keep nothing but variations and sizes of the elk hair caddis on as thats the most popular fly up in that reason because it works well!

lake of glass is a great hike and the fishing is well worth it. Loch vale is also on this hike and its also one of my favorite hikes to fishing lakes that sees very little pressure. check out a park map for the hike if you are interested.

bear lake is a neat spot to take family or anyone else you might have with you that isnt into fishing. There is no fishing allowed there but you can see quite a few nice ones swimming around!

theres alot more things i could tell you about but ill keep this post short. have fun up there and if you need any more good places to hit up there let me know! shoot me a pm if you need!

[Phil Lilley]

The people at one of the fly shops in town pointed out the Marrain, Glass and Loch and they're on our list... but there's 17 of us and I'm the only fly fisher but everyone wants to hike so I have a chance a one or two. I bought a map so I'm good.

I wasn't sure about Lilly Lake... wasn't sure if there was very many fish there but now I'll pay more attention. I didn't bring waders- thought I'd just wet wade everywhere- so I was on the bank today. When we hike, I'll take wading boots and wet wade the small streams anad beaver spillovers. I'm looking forward to that!

Hopefully we'll haave some great pics for everyone.

Thanks!

[TroutBum4wt]

Hey Lilley,

Sounds like you're having a really good time. That's a great part of the country. Looking forward to the pics.

[tippet7]

Here is a picture of my sisters cabin just outside Estes Park. I grew up just down the street in Longmont.

(By the way...she does rent out the cabin)

[Samkam1]

Good luck over there Lilley....I lived in Fort Collins for 7 years and fished every creek and lake I could find up there. There is nothing that compares to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains....We spent a lot of time up Poudre Canyon as well as hiking to desolate hidden lakes. Some awesome trout waters up there! We also spent a decent amount of time at Boyd and Horsetooth lakes catching walleye, whites, and bass...as well as trout in the inlets at Horsetooth. Saw a kid pull a 6 lb rainbow out of that inlet...the biggest I got was a 4 lber. The Rockies are great for a "different" type of fishing...but nothing compares to our water here in the Ozarks!!!

Sam

[flyfshn]

10pointer, we could just pretend that I am family and make a trip to your place and fish!!