Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain is a wonderful place to fish, especially for trout—German brown, brook, rainbow, cutthroat, and greenback cutthroat—but check at a visitor center about regulations and information on specific closures, catch-and-release areas, and limits on size and possession. No fishing is allowed at Bear Lake. Rangers recommend the more-remote backcountry lakes, since they are less crowded. To fish in the park, anyone 16 and older must have a valid Colorado fishing license, which you can obtain at local sporting-goods stores. See www.wildlife.state.co.us/fishing for details.

Outfitters and Expeditions

Estes Angler. Estes Angler. This popular fishing guide arranges four-, six-, and eight-hour fly-fishing trips—as well as full-day horseback excursions—into the park's quieter regions, year-round, with a maximum of three people per guide. The best times for fishing are generally from April to mid-November. Equipment is also available for rent. 338 W. Riverside Dr., Estes Park, CO, 80517. 970/586-2110 or 800/586-2110. www.estesangler.com. Daily 9-5.

Scot's Sporting Goods. This shop rents and sells fishing gear, and provides four-, six-, and eight-hour instruction trips daily from May through September. Clinics, geared toward first-timers, focus on casting, reading the water, identifying insects for flies, and properly presenting natural and artificial flies to the fish. Half-day excursions into the park are available for three or more people. A range of camping and hiking equipment is also for sale. 870 Moraine Ave., Estes Park, CO, 80517. 970/586-2877 May-Sept.; 970/443-4932 Oct.-Apr. www.scotssportinggoods.com. June-Aug., daily 8-8; May and Sept-mid-Oct., daily 9-5. 870 Moraine Ave., 80517. 970/586-2877. www.scotssportinggoods.com.

Kirks Fly Shop. Kirks Fly Shop. This Estes Park outfitter offers various guided fly-fishing trips, as well as backpacking, horseback, and llama pack trips. The store also carries fishing and backpacking gear. 230 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park, CO, 80517. 970/577-0790 or 877/669-1859. www.kirksflyshop.com. In summer, daily 7 am-8 pm; winter hrs vary.