robromo
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2025
- Messages
- 1
Hey all!
Been enjoying reading tons of posts on this board of trip reports! Many users here seem to have visited the Uintas. I am looking to plan a sort of dream solo trip completely focused on fly fishing.
I got into Tenkara this year in preparation for a trip to the Golden Trout Wilderness. I fished a ton as a kid, but nothing more than bass and sunfish in small ponds. I take a yearly backpacking trip with a group of friends, and we try to hit a national park or forest every year. We've done Yosemite, the Smokies, Shenandoah to name a few, and the most recent one of hitting up the Sierras (and Inyo) to backpack through the Golden Trout Wilderness. On all of those other trips, the kid in me begging me to look into fishing on these trips. Coincidentally enough, being somewhat of an ultralight nerd, I saw posts for Tenkara. Once we planned the GTW, I knew this was the time - I had to get a tenkara rod - it would be the perfect accompaniment for backpacking, I've fallen in love so much, I am now taking trips where I fish as the focus, and hiking/backpacking (or just campgrounds) are the secondary.
I've been spending pretty much any weekend hitting up streams in my home region of New England. However, from all my backpacking trips, as much as I love the northeast, ther is nothing like the scenery out west (and also the fishing).
I want to plan a trip for next year to try and have a tenkara/fly-fishing dream. (I fully understand that many of these spots don't like to be named, but I'm hoping I can still get some advice - furthermore, I think as you'll see I'm not going after trophies, so hopefully that makes it easier).
For this trip - I don't really have too many "must-haves". I have never been to Colorado, so that is probably the only must for me. Since Utah borders it, I figured I might as well take the time (1-1.5 weeks) and hit up Utah as well. In all my research, it seems like for Utah, the Uintas was by far the most suggested place.
For what I'm looking for in what I think would be an ideal trip that I'm hoping to get advice on:
- Since I fish tenkara, I love small streams. I see sometimes even when I watch videos of people fishing small streams, it's way bigger than I'm used to. I fish tiny mountain streams in creeks, usually only a few feet wide, and usually a good amount steep, where it's easy to hit a pool with a cascade, where its the easiest spot to see a dry fly take from a tiny brookie. (we're tallking 3-6 inches, but some streams I actually can do decent getting 5-7, and I've even had a few 8" this summer, including 10" that I couldn't believe was in such a small stream in the Whites of NH)
- I say that because I have no need to catch big fish. I feel actually some of my research is harder because when I see mentions of pan sized fish or tiny cutthroats, they are glossed over since obviously most people are after larger stuff. I just love the thrill of catching any fish on a tenkara rod, I am not going for size - I could catch 100 4inch fish and like that more than spending all day and getting 1 giant brook trout.
- I also have not really fished any lakes, and people that backpack seem to love alpine lakes - so I want to definitely do some of that on this trip. I am worried about the reach of Tenkara, but I have some longer rods (12-13'), and also some floating PVC line, 12-20' long. Hoping that is long enough. I don't know if there are still small enough ponds in either area to make Tenkara work from shore.
Hopefully I have been able to explain the kind of fishing I am looking for enough! I am worried about writing too much, I just love talking fishing, planning trips, that it's easy write a wall of text.
All that being said - which states would you guys focus on to plan a trip like that?
As per Colorado I was looking at:
- Indian Peaks wilderness (2-3 days)
streams/areas:
- Jasper Creek
- South St. Vrain Creek
- Coney Creek (I know I either need to either rent an OHV/atv or hike 5+ more miles to get to the TH) but it does seem like the perfect tiny creek for me.
Then head to Holy Cross Wildernes (1-2 days)
- Tributaries off of North Fork Frying Pan River (Last Chance Creek, the creek up to Savage Lakes)
- Possibly some mix of either Missouri Lakes and/or Fancy lake, and the creeks leading to them.
Then head to Flat Tops (1-2 days)
- still looking for tiny streams that fit what I'm looking for there, but I'm looking around Trappers Lake area
As per Utah, I'll drive there after and go to the Uintas:
- I definitely want to hike up to Amethyst Lake 1 night and camp there (or the lakes before it) - the stream on the way up seems perfect, and I've heard such great things about the stream in the meadow right before Amethsy Lake
- Other than that, I've been looking at Henry's Fork (also some small tribs off it like Joulious Creek)
I've been trying to find a couple more ponds to try out in the Uintas. If I had a group I would be down to do 10+ mile days, but since it's just me I'm looking to keep it short distance (even if I camp out). I know obviously that's counterintuitive, since I'm looking to hit the fastest action lakes, even if theyre tiny fish, but usually you have to hike as far as you can to get away from people.
That bein said, I'm looking at the Cuberant Lakes (and Cutthroat lake nearby), or Joan Lake and Gem lake area. I've researched that both aren't too much of a hike, but still don't get a lot of pressure.
If anyone is able to share some guidance or advice, I would be much appreciated. I would love to give out some NH and VT tenkara small stream advice to anyone looking for it!
Hopefully that wasn't too all over the place! If that was too long - I am looking to plan a trip for tenkara fishing, where I have no need for trophy sized fish, just looking to have the most memorable days catching countless amounts of fish in tiny creeks (and maybe some ponds if doable).
I picked Colorado and Uintas since they seemed like good choices, but if other spots like Idaho, or even Wyoming are better I am completely down to switch it up (I have tons of time - I am looking to go August ish since that usually seems to be the best time to miss all the bugs, miss high water from snow run off, but not be cold yet, and have dry flies still working well).
Thanks all!
Been enjoying reading tons of posts on this board of trip reports! Many users here seem to have visited the Uintas. I am looking to plan a sort of dream solo trip completely focused on fly fishing.
I got into Tenkara this year in preparation for a trip to the Golden Trout Wilderness. I fished a ton as a kid, but nothing more than bass and sunfish in small ponds. I take a yearly backpacking trip with a group of friends, and we try to hit a national park or forest every year. We've done Yosemite, the Smokies, Shenandoah to name a few, and the most recent one of hitting up the Sierras (and Inyo) to backpack through the Golden Trout Wilderness. On all of those other trips, the kid in me begging me to look into fishing on these trips. Coincidentally enough, being somewhat of an ultralight nerd, I saw posts for Tenkara. Once we planned the GTW, I knew this was the time - I had to get a tenkara rod - it would be the perfect accompaniment for backpacking, I've fallen in love so much, I am now taking trips where I fish as the focus, and hiking/backpacking (or just campgrounds) are the secondary.
I've been spending pretty much any weekend hitting up streams in my home region of New England. However, from all my backpacking trips, as much as I love the northeast, ther is nothing like the scenery out west (and also the fishing).
I want to plan a trip for next year to try and have a tenkara/fly-fishing dream. (I fully understand that many of these spots don't like to be named, but I'm hoping I can still get some advice - furthermore, I think as you'll see I'm not going after trophies, so hopefully that makes it easier).
For this trip - I don't really have too many "must-haves". I have never been to Colorado, so that is probably the only must for me. Since Utah borders it, I figured I might as well take the time (1-1.5 weeks) and hit up Utah as well. In all my research, it seems like for Utah, the Uintas was by far the most suggested place.
For what I'm looking for in what I think would be an ideal trip that I'm hoping to get advice on:
- Since I fish tenkara, I love small streams. I see sometimes even when I watch videos of people fishing small streams, it's way bigger than I'm used to. I fish tiny mountain streams in creeks, usually only a few feet wide, and usually a good amount steep, where it's easy to hit a pool with a cascade, where its the easiest spot to see a dry fly take from a tiny brookie. (we're tallking 3-6 inches, but some streams I actually can do decent getting 5-7, and I've even had a few 8" this summer, including 10" that I couldn't believe was in such a small stream in the Whites of NH)
- I say that because I have no need to catch big fish. I feel actually some of my research is harder because when I see mentions of pan sized fish or tiny cutthroats, they are glossed over since obviously most people are after larger stuff. I just love the thrill of catching any fish on a tenkara rod, I am not going for size - I could catch 100 4inch fish and like that more than spending all day and getting 1 giant brook trout.
- I also have not really fished any lakes, and people that backpack seem to love alpine lakes - so I want to definitely do some of that on this trip. I am worried about the reach of Tenkara, but I have some longer rods (12-13'), and also some floating PVC line, 12-20' long. Hoping that is long enough. I don't know if there are still small enough ponds in either area to make Tenkara work from shore.
Hopefully I have been able to explain the kind of fishing I am looking for enough! I am worried about writing too much, I just love talking fishing, planning trips, that it's easy write a wall of text.
All that being said - which states would you guys focus on to plan a trip like that?
As per Colorado I was looking at:
- Indian Peaks wilderness (2-3 days)
streams/areas:
- Jasper Creek
- South St. Vrain Creek
- Coney Creek (I know I either need to either rent an OHV/atv or hike 5+ more miles to get to the TH) but it does seem like the perfect tiny creek for me.
Then head to Holy Cross Wildernes (1-2 days)
- Tributaries off of North Fork Frying Pan River (Last Chance Creek, the creek up to Savage Lakes)
- Possibly some mix of either Missouri Lakes and/or Fancy lake, and the creeks leading to them.
Then head to Flat Tops (1-2 days)
- still looking for tiny streams that fit what I'm looking for there, but I'm looking around Trappers Lake area
As per Utah, I'll drive there after and go to the Uintas:
- I definitely want to hike up to Amethyst Lake 1 night and camp there (or the lakes before it) - the stream on the way up seems perfect, and I've heard such great things about the stream in the meadow right before Amethsy Lake
- Other than that, I've been looking at Henry's Fork (also some small tribs off it like Joulious Creek)
I've been trying to find a couple more ponds to try out in the Uintas. If I had a group I would be down to do 10+ mile days, but since it's just me I'm looking to keep it short distance (even if I camp out). I know obviously that's counterintuitive, since I'm looking to hit the fastest action lakes, even if theyre tiny fish, but usually you have to hike as far as you can to get away from people.
That bein said, I'm looking at the Cuberant Lakes (and Cutthroat lake nearby), or Joan Lake and Gem lake area. I've researched that both aren't too much of a hike, but still don't get a lot of pressure.
If anyone is able to share some guidance or advice, I would be much appreciated. I would love to give out some NH and VT tenkara small stream advice to anyone looking for it!
Hopefully that wasn't too all over the place! If that was too long - I am looking to plan a trip for tenkara fishing, where I have no need for trophy sized fish, just looking to have the most memorable days catching countless amounts of fish in tiny creeks (and maybe some ponds if doable).
I picked Colorado and Uintas since they seemed like good choices, but if other spots like Idaho, or even Wyoming are better I am completely down to switch it up (I have tons of time - I am looking to go August ish since that usually seems to be the best time to miss all the bugs, miss high water from snow run off, but not be cold yet, and have dry flies still working well).
Thanks all!