Backpacked into Missouri lakes in the Holy Cross wilderness area last weekend. That place is awesome. I could just sit there and stare at the scenery all day, it is right at timberline at 11500'. We didn't catch any fish in the middle lake but slayed them at the bigger lake up above. between 2 of us we got 28 brookies in the afternoon on Panthers (yellow, green,black). Cooked 2 of them in tinfoil with butter and seasonings in the coals of our fire. Best fish I've had in a while the meat on those brookies are usually pink but these are red! Biggest one went 12" and I was surprised how hard those fish were fighting. Just got a dig. camera will try to post pictures.
Missouri Lakes
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Awesome!!!
What a great trip to see great scenary, catch alot of fish, and eat a couple of delicious brookies...How far of a hike from the trail head are these lakes?
TH
What a great trip to see great scenary, catch alot of fish, and eat a couple of delicious brookies...How far of a hike from the trail head are these lakes?
TH
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Did you catch any cutthroats?
TH
TH
The hike is only about 3 miles in to the first lakes and not all that difficult. The hike in is really cool too. There were alot of people up there but hardly anyone was fishing mostly backpackers and dayhikers. We fished 2 out of the 4 lakes and only caught brookies. Trouthunter or anybody have any suggestions on a good lake for cutthroats? Thanx in advance. SeeYa
I've fished the Missouri Lakes many years ago. The upper lake is the best, the lower lake has fish but the other two were winter killed the last time I was up there (about 2000). I remember camping near the lake, waking up and seeing brookies rising. It was one after the other to a dry fly! What a great morning. Coffee in hand and nothing else to do but catch fish! And around 10AM the switch went off, the fish stopped rising and the dayhikeers began showing up.
There is also a nice stream through the meadow about 1/2 way to the lakes that is just chock full of 6" browns. It's 8-10' at it's widest, grassy and bushy. I had one 6" brown come flying out of the water and swallowed my dry fly down into his gills! I had to cut off the fly and wish him well. I've never had another fish swallow a dry fly like that since.
Good report, good memories. Thanks.
There is also a nice stream through the meadow about 1/2 way to the lakes that is just chock full of 6" browns. It's 8-10' at it's widest, grassy and bushy. I had one 6" brown come flying out of the water and swallowed my dry fly down into his gills! I had to cut off the fly and wish him well. I've never had another fish swallow a dry fly like that since.
Good report, good memories. Thanks.
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Where's Missouri Lakes located? Sounds like a great place to get away, remindes me of lincoln lake up near mt. evans, what a great place that is, non-stop brookie action all day, but it's a good hike.
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I like Roxiann however I have not been up that way in about 7 years. About 12 mile hike from trailhead. Fun but rough hike. Worth it though we used to catch nothing under 14" inches and few over 18" and fat great fighters. Rainbows, Cutthroat, Goldens, Lakers(I've heard), Brookies (I've heard), and Cutbows. This lake is west of Lake John near walden. If you get a topo map you will see it. You can also reach this lake from the other side however I have never done so. I heard the farmer who used to lock his gate has opened it and the hike is only about 7 miles now. We used to have to park at the gate and walk up an extra 4 miles to the trailhead. I have not wanted to try this lake until I here a good report again to far a hike just to go for no fish.
Missouri lakes are in the Holy Cross wilderness area which is located south of Minturn(SW of Vail). It is about 2.5 hr. drive from Denver. Colorado it doesn't sound like it has changed to much since you were there we had no luck in that middle lake but did well on the upper. I was letting my pM sink pretty deep is how we caught them in the middle of the day. The couple we ate were hooked in the gills I think they were inhaling them on the drop. I think I know the meadow you are talking about I saw some brookies in there. There is water everywhere up there, the stream splits near the bottom and there is all kinds of side streams going through the woodsvery cool. I might have to do a day hike to lincoln lake, how far is the hike and how big are the brookies there? Oh some guy said he caught some brookies out of the lake above the big one. SeeYa
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Anyone been to lake Bighorn? I backbacked there about 10 years ago...need help finding it??
TroutHunter
Anyone been to lake Bighorn? I backbacked there about 10 years ago...need help finding it??
From Tom Kelley's Colorado Fishing Guide
I found a Bighorn Lake in North Park but no Lake Bighorn...there is only one...here is the verbiage...look for trail 1126 in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness...Lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness include Lake Katherine (9860 ft; 22 acres) Bighorn Lake (10,000 ft; 17 acres) at the headwaters of Lone Pine Creek, Ute Lake (9750 ft, 6 acres), Twin Lake (9800 ft; 37 acres) on Lake Creek and Peggy Lake and Blue Lake (11,165 ft; 10 acres and 10,000 ft; 6 acres, respectively). These lakes are in high, rugged country, often at or above timberline and are tough to reach. They offer brook and cutthroat, and some mackinaw in the larger, deeper waters.
Sound like the right spot?
Anyone been to lake Bighorn? I backbacked there about 10 years ago...need help finding it??
From Tom Kelley's Colorado Fishing Guide
I found a Bighorn Lake in North Park but no Lake Bighorn...there is only one...here is the verbiage...look for trail 1126 in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness...Lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness include Lake Katherine (9860 ft; 22 acres) Bighorn Lake (10,000 ft; 17 acres) at the headwaters of Lone Pine Creek, Ute Lake (9750 ft, 6 acres), Twin Lake (9800 ft; 37 acres) on Lake Creek and Peggy Lake and Blue Lake (11,165 ft; 10 acres and 10,000 ft; 6 acres, respectively). These lakes are in high, rugged country, often at or above timberline and are tough to reach. They offer brook and cutthroat, and some mackinaw in the larger, deeper waters.
Sound like the right spot?
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Jiggy
There is 2 different ways to hike into lincoln lake, you can hike in from echo lake and it's about 8-10 miles if i remember right but it's a pretty easy hike or you can drive up the road to mt evans and hike down, it's about 5-6 miles but it's a much harder hike, lots of rocks (boulders) you have to go over, around. It's been probably 7 or 8 years since i've been up there. The brookies range from 8-10' with some 12' mixed in. I don't know if the fishing is still like it was but i imagine it is, in all the times i was there i saw 1 other person throughout the whole valley. i've actually always done the best in the streams and beaver ponds below the lake.
There is 2 different ways to hike into lincoln lake, you can hike in from echo lake and it's about 8-10 miles if i remember right but it's a pretty easy hike or you can drive up the road to mt evans and hike down, it's about 5-6 miles but it's a much harder hike, lots of rocks (boulders) you have to go over, around. It's been probably 7 or 8 years since i've been up there. The brookies range from 8-10' with some 12' mixed in. I don't know if the fishing is still like it was but i imagine it is, in all the times i was there i saw 1 other person throughout the whole valley. i've actually always done the best in the streams and beaver ponds below the lake.
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I,ve always heard of Lakers in Lincoln lake.You know anything about that?
Thanx Brad sounds like a cool lake, close to Denver no people Brookies and possibly Lakers who wants to go for a hike? Have any of you guys heard of Bearpaw lake (I think its called ) in the same area someone was telling me that lake is supposed to have some good fishing as well. I'm still dying to catch some cuttys as well. SeeYas
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They're called the beartrack lakes,supposed to have decent brookys.There are good cuttys over the hill in the chicago lakes,but they can get real crowded.
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i'm not sure if there are lakers in lincoln, but i wouldn't doubt it. i've always wanted to take the belly boat down there so i can get in deeper water, i'm sure there's some nice fish in there, but that would be a hell of hike, especially coming back out.
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From Tom Kelley's Colorado Fishing Guide
I found a Bighorn Lake in North Park but no Lake Bighorn...there is only one...here is the verbiage...look for trail 1126 in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness...Lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness include Lake Katherine (9860 ft; 22 acres) Bighorn Lake (10,000 ft; 17 acres) at the headwaters of Lone Pine Creek, Ute Lake (9750 ft, 6 acres), Twin Lake (9800 ft; 37 acres) on Lake Creek and Peggy Lake and Blue Lake (11,165 ft; 10 acres and 10,000 ft; 6 acres, respectively). These lakes are in high, rugged country, often at or above timberline and are tough to reach. They offer brook and cutthroat, and some mackinaw in the larger, deeper waters.
Sound like the right spot?
Yes Zman I think thats the one. After reaching the summit you come to a fork a sign points to the right stating you have about 1.5 miles to go lake Katherine and another sign points to the left stating you have 2.0 miles to go to Bighorn....For us it was great fishing catching tons of brookies...Some cutts...and no lakers. However I heard they where in there from friends who went with us and had went several time before. We camped up there for a couple of nights...I am not sure if there still is camping...Great place...lots of choices...It was a deep lake from what I could remember. Also if you have a 4 wheel drive somewhere close to denver is Fall River Reservoir (exit just west of Idaho Springs) We had great sucess on big Cutthroats last time we went up there....in the feeder stream inlets. Only about 30 minutes to Idaho Springs from Denver and another 12 miles up to the reservoir on the 4 wheel drive road. There is also another lake above Fall River Reservoir dont know the name never fished it. Good Fishing to ya if you go up...Great Scenary as well.
I found a Bighorn Lake in North Park but no Lake Bighorn...there is only one...here is the verbiage...look for trail 1126 in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness...Lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness include Lake Katherine (9860 ft; 22 acres) Bighorn Lake (10,000 ft; 17 acres) at the headwaters of Lone Pine Creek, Ute Lake (9750 ft, 6 acres), Twin Lake (9800 ft; 37 acres) on Lake Creek and Peggy Lake and Blue Lake (11,165 ft; 10 acres and 10,000 ft; 6 acres, respectively). These lakes are in high, rugged country, often at or above timberline and are tough to reach. They offer brook and cutthroat, and some mackinaw in the larger, deeper waters.
Sound like the right spot?
Yes Zman I think thats the one. After reaching the summit you come to a fork a sign points to the right stating you have about 1.5 miles to go lake Katherine and another sign points to the left stating you have 2.0 miles to go to Bighorn....For us it was great fishing catching tons of brookies...Some cutts...and no lakers. However I heard they where in there from friends who went with us and had went several time before. We camped up there for a couple of nights...I am not sure if there still is camping...Great place...lots of choices...It was a deep lake from what I could remember. Also if you have a 4 wheel drive somewhere close to denver is Fall River Reservoir (exit just west of Idaho Springs) We had great sucess on big Cutthroats last time we went up there....in the feeder stream inlets. Only about 30 minutes to Idaho Springs from Denver and another 12 miles up to the reservoir on the 4 wheel drive road. There is also another lake above Fall River Reservoir dont know the name never fished it. Good Fishing to ya if you go up...Great Scenary as well.
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Roxy Ann LakesJiggy said:
Great Lake for Cutthroat, Lakers, Brook, Cutbows, Rainbows, and Goldens. All fish were 14+ some over 20 and fat...I have not been there recently...Semi tough Hike with Back Pack not a day trip lake unless you start out before dawn??? Great Scenary and being close to Lake John and Delaney Buttes Lakes is a plus....You must stop there on the way home... Hope this helps...Anyone else been up to Roxy Ann or nearby Rainbow Lake?
Wow that sounds like an awesome set of lakes with all those different types of trout how can you go wrong. Thanx for the info. hunter I am definately going to look into a backpack trip up there. Thanx again for the detailed info./maps.
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My MDX made it up there just fine and it's not as good a 4 wheeler as an Xterra. It's rough, but definitely not too bad. The road up there is mostly along private property, but there are little camping spots by Fall River Res. along the Fall River itself. I find the trout in the lake to be either on or off,depending on their mood. Good size though. To top it off, I get cellphone service up there!
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