Fly Fishing for Greenback Cutthroat Trout #3 (Colorado)

[poopis91]

Moving to colorado soon. I want to know some good fishing spots. go onto youtube and put in colorado fishing. I dont fly fish. EVERY SINGLE RESULT IS FLYFISHING!

[7dutch77]

Wow! misinformed and misdirected, Nice fish! this just started out bad and now you have a Matter! BAMB!!!!!! some people will just harass others no matter what for any reason thats why I don't post Pics on utube there out their just waiting for you.

[MeatPlowMcGill1]

That is a great lake to fish I always have great luck there.



[ReRaws7]

Sorry guys, these are Rio Grande Cuts not greenbacks. Legal to take and eat - good job!

[wolfslayer1990]

Cool lookin fish

[sowynsaralee]

what a bunch of cry baby's on here.

[iamsavedbygrace777]

sorry....trouttrek...i think you did a bad thing....i will not debate the legality of where you were taking the fish...i doubt that you would be stupid enough to post the evidence of your own crime on you tube, for all the world to see....HOWEVER...i don't think you should have posted this story on you tube.....i mean the Greenback is our state fish, and they are protected (evidently not everywhere...hmnn?). AND...i must say that the sight of that beautiful Greenback in the pan just hit me WRONG

[bu11tough]

what flys work best for these high mtn. lakes?i live in central wyoming and love packing in and fishing little mountain streams but never have much luck on the lakes??? any advice?

[bu11tough]

what flys work best for these high mtn. lakes?i live in central wyoming and love packing in and fishing little mountain streams but never have much luck on the lakes??? any advice?

[CJHobbs83]

Which drainage are these in?



[trouttrek]

@CJHobbs83 I won't go so far as to tell you specifics on line but can suggest that you call the DOW and ask for a fisheries biologist. Then ask for high mountain lakes where you can "harvest Greenbacks" pursuant to a limit. They will give you a list of numerous lakes where you can keep what they call a Greenback (not pure strain) for your campfire! There actually are comparatively few areas where pure strain fish exist and are protected. Sad, but true. Best of luck to you!

[CJHobbs83]

wildlife.state.co.us/Viewing/F­eatures/GreenbackCutthroat.htm sorry for being a pain but here is the exect link

[trouttrek]

@CJHobbs83 thanks for the info, but as I indicated, these fish are not "pure" Greenbacks but rather an "experimental population" reared for "put and take" fisheries. Short of giving the name of the lake (which would anger many) I can only suggest that you call the DOW and ask for a fisheries biologist. Ask him or her if there there are any high mountain lakes (outside of RMNP) where you can go to "catch & keep" a "Greenback" in their region. They will give you a number of lakes. Good luck!

[CJHobbs83]

There is a link but it wont post it so go to wildlife.state.co.us search greenback cutthroat read the second article titled observing the natives. And do you all know they are threatened anyway? And if you are catching greeny cutts in the st. vrain please tell the division of wildlife.

[CJHobbs83]

CDOW All greenback cutts can only be fished for on a catch and release basis

[BIGLOVE4TRUTH]

I used to fish for these trout high in the Indian peaks wilderness. The lakes at the top of the Hell's canyon drainage are full of them. Interesting to note the different range of color patterns of each.

[ymmiz]

im sorry but he has got you guys.. harvesting greenbacks is acceptable in some areas and highlakes throught several wilderness areas please call dow if you belive differently as long as those werent taken in rmnp or apache or in designated streams such as st. vrain north and middle and the boulder creeks, shepereds and cotton he is well within the regulations

[TroutColorado]

Nice job troutwrek!! Nothing better than seeing some out of state people coming in and killing a threatened species of native Colorado trout!! The Colorado Greenback Cutthroat is a highly sought after fish by many anglers and Colorado natives, legal or not, a little bit of appreciation for wild life goes a long way! Maybe go to Nebraska with your buddy and kill all the catfish you want!! Y'all can have one heck of a fish fry!!!

[trouttrek]

@TroutColorado - Sorry to see you take such offense to the legal harvest of a couple of trout at the recommendation of game biologists for the benefit of the lake. I am well aware of the value of the greenback to Colorado. I lived and donated money to the State for the propgation of this and other species since long before you were born. I agree that catch and release is the way to go, but when camping and where legal, I enjoy keeping a fish or two for shore lunch. I guess we just disagree.

[nerad1994]

@TroutColorado god wouldnt put these fish here on earth for us not to eat....wo you are naive...

[iamsavedbygrace777]

@TroutColorado

YEP...I agree 100%...go eat some catfish, better yet...go buy some trout...King Soopers has trout, right? I have no problem with taking a fish within legal limits ONLY from a LAKE (no rivers) where the DOW says that it is needed for the health of the population...and even then it just doesn't seem right to me.

BUT...the Greenback is our state fish...HAVE SOME RESPECT...legally taken or not, DON'T post it on youtube....please.

[trouttrek]

@iamsavedbygrace777 I appreciate and respect your opinion and comment. We just have to disagree. I catch and release 99% of the time, but fisheries biologists will tell you that failure to remove any fish from these high mountain, stocked, sterile lakes will stunt & eventually "crash" the fish population in the lake. They put a limit on the lakes for the health and balance of the lake. I don't and never will take a limit from any lake, but a couple legal fish over a campfire now and then-yes

[iamsavedbygrace777]

@trouttrek thank you for your thoughtful and respectful response. i am totally with you with respect to the facts that fisheries biologists have spent many hours, days, weeks, months, years to compile...fish need to be taken from stocked high mountain lakes (because they will eat themselves out of food, or because the biological load on the system will overly stress the population...etc...many other issues here). However...the main issue i have with your post is about respect.

[iamsavedbygrace777]

sorry, i want to show you the same respect you showed to me...and thusly, my words are too long for one post...anyway...i have no problem with taking fish when it is good for the propagation and the future of the species, but i think you should not have posted taking Greenbacks on you tube...sorry to be repetitive...i am sure you understood my main point from my initial posts, but i urge you to really think about the possible impact.

[germanchocolate1982]

What specie at 0:21 and where about the location? I'm an avid statewide fly fisherman and have never seen what I know is a cutthroat but in that color. Was just wondering where I might fish for one of "these".

[trouttrek]

@burgundy120 Thank you for your comment but you are not well informed on this (or many similar) lakes in Colorado. These are not pure Greenbacks. They are an "experimental population" which allows limited harvest according to regulations promulgated by the Divison. I have read the signs, I have talked with a game warden in the region and I HAVE CALLED the Division about this (and other) lakes in the region. Not only is limited harvest authorized, it is encouraged to benefit the population.

[Ashockenberry]

Great video and shots - thanks for sharing !!

[rmcrox]

Awesome pics and awesome lake. I will be taking a trip up there this summer. Those fish taste amazing and it is 100% LEGAL to keep and eat them. They are NOT 100% strain greenbacks and any game warden will tell you to eat your heart out.

[lousydoma]

Beautiful pics and fish, but it's a shame you violate regs and then lie about it. Harvesting of any greenbacks is ILLEGAL!!!!!!

[trouttrek]

Sorry - you are just wrong on this one. I reccomend you call the Colorado Division of Wildlife or any reputable fly-shop in Colorado for details. Glad you like the pictures though. Best wishes - trouttrek -

[joescout]

your videos are first class amazing fish after reading all these comments on your videos i only have one thought why are there so many dousche bags on you tube.

[muddybuddyCO]

Why would you kill such a fish?? It's an absolute shame... and you call yourself a flyfisherman...wow

[ericgust82]

greenbacks are colorados native trout brownrider56

[rasr10]

You are a trout catching machine my friend. What pound leaders are you using. Those golden trout and gren backs were some nice looking fish. Keep the videos coming. Good luck on future trips.

[ctufankjian]

I'm going to assume they're fishing in or in extremely close proximity to RMNP.

[trouttrek]

Not in RMNP, but not too far away. Nearby mountain lakes designated as sport fisheries by DOW. - trouttrek -

[ravenfork]

you obviously are gurus of the upper cold waters, so I only say this because I went fishing with some guys who own there own fly shops with thousands of caught and released under there belts and I had to inform them of the horrificly huge fact that unless you cool the 98 degree palm of your hand prior to handling cold water fish,even thought they swim away upon release they are belly up 10-20 minutes later.

[trouttrek]

Good point! Not to mention the fact that wetting the hands helps to protect the trout's natural slime layer from being scraped off before release! Thanks for the comment! - trouttrek -

[wildlifeed]

Awesome Video!! I hope my daughter sticks with fishing when she's your daughter's age. Thanks for the shore lunch section, I now have to catch some trout. (LOL). 5/5 As always!!!!!

ED

[mrsockeye]

I've been watching your videos and thoroughly enjoy them. I'm a cutthroat enthusiast. I live in Reno and fish for Lahontans in Pyramid and Heenan. My biggest is 30 inches 10 pounds 6 ounces. What lakes are these? It doesn't look like horses are required. I would love to catch a greenback. Are they like most high mountain trout, kind of into general fly patterns... parachute adams, hare's ear nymph, prince nymph?

[brownrider56]

im not the cut throat pro or anything but i fished in the high mtns of montana on the british colubia border for bull trout& cutthroat but in all the fishing books/regulations i read they called the

fish eaither west slope cutthroat or yellow stone cutthroat & there is like 2 other strains i was told but can you clear it up for me what is this green back stuff?

they look identical to pics of westslope cutthroat & to the westslope i caught

in montana? we caught the silver ones yellow stone

[kangoljuice]

when i brought my girl fishin she bitched the whole time.....

[Irelandrbi]

If this is the same lake, it took us about 4 hours to get to it up a long steep trail, including rivers, deep woods and some boulder fields. Does this sound about like the same place :) Tons of big fish, visible at times, below the surface. Awesome place. I hoping to add some video this week, as we will be there over the weekend. B

[Irelandrbi]

I am pretty sure that this type of trout is supposed to be caught and released. I myself have fished this spot many times, and ALWAYS release them back for other adventurers to enjoy. Just a thought, to there will be monster Cutthroats for years to come.

[trouttrek]

Good comment and idea. Actually this area allows for a limit of 2 fish to be kept. The area biologist encourages this practice. I assure you, however, that though two were eaten, numerous fish were caught and released for you, me and others to enjoy in the future!

[flyfysher]

I thought it was illegal to harvest Greenback Cutthroats. The Colorado Division of Wildlife's regulations (on its web site) define Greenback Cutthroats as 'threatened' and 'non-game wildlife.' My reading of the fishing regulations is that harvesting of fish which fall in these categories, including the Greenback Cutthroats, is prohibited. Please check it out or call the DOW. What a wildlife biologist tells you won't stop a game warden from issuing a citation if you violate the regulations.

[trouttrek]

No regulations violated. In fact, there is a sign on the hike into the lake specifying 2 trout limit. Thanks for your comment!

[VooDooSam11]

those are stocked fish and are allowed to be harvested. There are several protected streams and rivers. There are sub species of the cutthroat and the DOW screwed up trying to protect the Greenback cutthroat trout streams streams as the introduced one species thinking it was another. They also used this bloodline to stock many of the alpine lakes today the mistake was only rcently discovered through DNA. true greenback cutthroats may be moving back to endangered from threatened

[andyvanderploug]

all good fish lets go.

[oldasnewjb]

WoW you have some amazing trout i would love to go to Canada some day all the best

[megametalshred]

Any chance of letting a fellow trout bum know which wilderness you are catching these awesome greenbacks? Possibly the quadrangle? Very jealous! Definitely the opportunity of a lifetime! I live in northern colorado.

[megametalshred]

Any chance of letting another trout bum like myself know of the wilderness you are catching these awesome greenbacks? Possibly the quadrangle? Looks like it could be the rawah wilderness. Live in northern colorado. Very jealous. Definitely fishing of a lifetime!