Estes Park, CO, offers a little something for every nature lover. Visitors to this area can take to the trails for some incredible hiking, bring their bikes to explore the area or rent a kayak or canoe to get on the water. However, one of the most popular pastimes for guests in our Estes Park cabin rentals is fishing! The Estes Park area offers plenty of spots for new fishermen and experienced anglers, making this the perfect destination for a family fishing trip. Here’s everything you’ll need to know before you hit the water!
Fishing Spots
First things first: where can you go fishing near Estes Park, CO? There are quite a few picturesque fishing spots in this area of the Rockies, but here are a few of our favorites.
Lake Estes
We couldn’t create a local fishing guide without talking about Lake Estes itself. This lake sits right on the edge of Estes Park and is a water reservoir covering 185 acres. Not only do people come here for the incredible fishing opportunities, but picnicking and boating are popular as well.
The Colorado Department of Wildlife stocks this lake and always has plenty of rainbow and brown trout to catch. Lucky anglers might even be able to catch a tiger muskie! Those who come here are welcome to fish either from a boat or from on the shoreline.
Sprague Lake
If you’re looking for a smaller destination to explore, Sprague Lake is ideal. This reservoir covers just 13 acres but still has plenty to experience, especially for families with kids. The conditions here are pretty calm but are still great for catching tons of fish, especially the abundant rainbow trout that populate the area.
There’s virtually no more accessible lake than this one. First of all, the shoreline is wonderful for kids who don’t want to sit on a boat the entire time they’re fishing. Plus, there are multiple handicapped-accessible fishing spots so that everyone in your group can get in on the fun!
The Big Thompson Canyon
The Big Thompson Canyon is an excellent option for anglers of all kinds since the river offers everything from fly fishing to catch-and-release. As with many other fishing spots in this area, trout are abundant here (tiger, rainbow, and brown). Depending on where you’re fishing on the river, you also catch some longnose sucker, longnose dace, and white sucker.
Big Thompson Canyon got a significant improvement just recently, including adding almost 70,000 rainbow trout into the river in 2018. This effort was the most significant stream restoration project ever performed in Colorado! Since there are so many amazing spots to fish here, you can return again and again for a new experience every time.
Outfitters
If you plan to fish while you’re staying in one of our cabin rentals in Estes Park, CO, you don’t have to lug all your equipment with you from home. This area has quite a few convenient outfitters who can get you set up with everything you need for a fun day out on the water.
Kirks Flyshop and Mountain Adventures
Kirks Flyshop offers affordable and convenient gear rentals to ensure you’ve got all the equipment you might need for your fishing trip. You can rent a fly rod and reel for $15 per day or get a reel on its own for just $5 per day. Other rental equipment options include hip waders, Simms waders, boots, float tubes, spinning rods and reels, microspikes, and more. They even have a fine selection of hiking and backpacking gear!
Kirks Flyshop is located at 230 East Elkhorn Avenue.
Estes Angler
Since 1993, Estes Angler has been making a name for itself thanks to its top-quality gear and dedication to providing fun for your whole family. You can grab any merchandise you might need from trusted national brands like Orvis, Dynamic Lures, Scientific Anglers, TroutHunter, and more. From fishing gear and equipment to apparel, fishing licenses, bait and tackle, and everything in between, Estes Angler has it all! Not quite sure what you’re looking for? Their staff is more than happy to help point you in the right direction.
Estes Angler is located at 338 West Riverside Drive.
If you’re planning a trip to Estes Park, CO, to take advantage of the fantastic fishing opportunities here, you’re in for a treat. But you also won’t want to miss out on all the other fun things to do in the area like Rocky Mountain National Park! At the end of a long day exploring everything, Estes Park has to offer, head back to our Estes Park cabin rentals to relax and unwind with your loved ones. Rocky Mountain Property Services offers a wide range of cabin rentals, big and small, to suit the needs of all families. Contact us today to learn more!