Top 5 Flies for High Alpine Lakes in Colorado

Headed for the high country? Before you hike into a crystal-clear lake above treeline, make sure your fly box is locked and loaded with the alpine essentials. In this episode, we break down the Top 5 Fly Patterns every angler should carry when targeting cutthroat, brookies, and rainbows in Colorado’s high alpine lakes. These aren’t just guesses—they’re the flies we actually fish at 10,000+ feet, based on years of trial, error, and unforgettable takes.

We’ll cover:

• The must-have dry fly that consistently pulls fish to the surface, even when it seems dead calm.

• The nymph that mimics high country food sources better than anything else—and how to fish it slow and deep.

• The streamer that gets big, angry cutthroat moving, plus how to strip it when water clarity is tight.

• A wild card pattern that surprises even seasoned backcountry anglers.

• And a tiny but deadly midge you’ll overlook until it saves your day.

This isn’t just a top 5 list—it’s a blueprint for alpine success. We’ll also share insights on rigging, retrieve style, water types to target, and how elevation affects trout feeding behavior.

Whether you’re planning your first overnight trek into the Flat Tops or looking to up your game on familiar alpine haunts like Lost Lake or Upper Mohawk, this episode will help you pack smarter, fish better, and land more trout where the air is thin and the takes are explosive.

Brought to you by Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, where modern anglers find honest, field-tested fly fishing reports, tips, and stories for Colorado’s most iconic waters.

Tight lines and high climbs.