EAGLES NEST WILDERNESS — There are likely more productive pursuits than attempting to tally the scores of ponds named “Lost Lake” in Colorado. For instance, going up into the mountains and actually discovering them for yourself.
Yet, the penchant for naming so many high- country lakes Lost in spite of compelling evidence to the contrary serves to illustrate their appeal. In a nutshell, you never know what you might find.
“I saw a guy pull a fish out of here as long as my arm once,” former Gorsuch Outfitters operator John Cochrane said as he and his wife hiked the perimeter of a pond at about 9,300 feet recently. “But today we’re looking for a moose.”
Among fishermen, it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish the literal from hyperbole. But having just encountered said moose on the dirt road leading up to the lake, I understood the unembellished attempt and pointed the pair in the proper direction. Their departure left an angler alone to count rise rings with the entire place to himself.
After a winter that could turn a simple fishing trip into the Alfred Packer expedition, just about all of Colorado’s more than 2,000 lakes are finally free of snow and are accessible either by truck or by trail. For fishermen seeking solitude, there’s no better place to find it. It just takes a little extra effort.
“This little lake I’ve been fishing in the Indian Peaks for over 20 years, to this day isn’t on any maps. . . . There’s 16-inch brook trout in there,” author John Gierach from Lyons said. “I’ve fished that lake three times this year. Twice I’ve had it to myself and once there were two guys there. But they were lost.”
Big trout aren’t always the rule in high-country lakes. And, this summer in particular, it isn’t unusual for the mosquitoes to be biting more than the fish. But along with the cool climate, spectacular scenery and escape from the maddening masses, chalk it up as part of the package. Fishing is only part of the whole experience.
The plan may be hatched via word of mouth or a bit of minor sleuthing. Since each lake offers its own experience, there’s not much point in naming names. Simply grab a Colorado Atlas and Gazatteer, look for the skinniest red lines on the page and follow them to the blue blobs. Just be sure to throw a rod in the truck, along with any other requisite outdoor essentials, possibly even a belly boat or canoe.
Timing is always a critical element in fishing, and especially in the high mountains. With the seasons so far out of proportion this year, the window is smaller than ever. But early August is a solid bet, essentially substituting for the lost July, when the fish emerge hungry after a long winter.
As usual, mornings and evenings tend to offer the most productive fishing, since bigger fish often prefer feeding in low light conditions. But up high, the fishing can be pretty good all day, as fish can’t afford to be as lazy about feeding during the short growing season.
The fish are often less educated, but twice as spooky, so even after a lengthy hike it’s best not to stomp blindly into the pond. Take some time to take in your surroundings, keeping an eye out for shelves where the lake drops into a deeper pool, inlets and outlets that create some current. Shallow water is where most of the food can be found, and the deep water off the shelf provides cover.
Otherwise, it can be difficult to dig up much data for mountain lakes. Information on what to fish with, when and where is essentially left up to the individual angler, simply because the lakes aren’t fished very often.
It’s all part of the discovery process. Just try not to get lost.
Scott Willoughby: 303-954-1993 or swilloughby@denverpost.com
