Spinning Rod for Alpine Fishing?

You will probably do as good or better with spinning gear.

I have found that fish in high alpine lakes often are not too choosy, since they have a limited amount of time to eat.  A lightweight or ultralight spinning rod/reel with 2-4 lb test line is ideal:  you can use lures or fish with flies and a cast-a-bubble.  Last year, I had a 50 fish day in a lake in Rocky Mountain National Park using ultralight spoons behind a bubble, and hopper-dropper combos sometimes resulted in two fish on at the same time.  The fish couldn’t resist, and nearly every cast caught a fish for a period of time.  It was amazing.

I carry a few Mepps spinners, some Rooster Tails, some small Daredevil spoons, and a couple of Thomas Bouyants.  The ultralight spoons were from Finesse Fishing; he imports things that you can’t find anywhere else in the U.S.  You can still use your favorite flies tied on some light leader behind the bubble.  Cast-a-bubbles can be filled with water to add weight and help you get the fly out to the fish.

Of course, sometimes the fish don’t bite at all.  But that won’t happen to you.  Have fun!

I like an ultralight spinner; I’ve caught more fish on 2-lb. spinning tackle than everything else put together.  The above lure/presentation suggestions are spot-on; I also usually have a few hooks and bits of cork and weight in case there’s a plethora of grubs or other edibles at the water’s edge.

Thanks for the feedback, y’all. Stoked to be getting out there!

Let us know what you carry and how it goes; best of luck.

I’ve had a number of days like the one Jenny described. I’m about 95% flies with a bubble. With the right setup you can cast pretty stunning distances. I’ve found that long, super clear leader is important. Those clean waters really allow the trout to see well. In fact, if you’re not having success try hiding yourself behind lakeside trees or bushes. I’m pretty confident they can see you at times.

Finding a lightweight, high quality telescoping rod has been an obsession of mine for almost 20 years. Keeping everything pre-rigged and ready to fish in less than a minute lets you fish lakes as you hike by instead of just at camping spots. Some of the best fishing I’ve ever had was “accidental” fishing as I passed by water I normally wouldn’t stop at.

Enjoy!!

Finding a lightweight, high quality telescoping rod has been an obsession of mine for almost 20 years.

Let me know if you ever come up with one that’s even halfway acceptable; I’ve never even gotten close.

If you decide to go with a spinning rod Mathew you might consider the Bass Pro Shops Micro-Lite spinning pack rod I have listed on Gear Swap. It’s like new, only used for a few hours. It’s 5′ 6″ long and breaks down to 23.5″ (3 piece). Weighs 3.5 oz without carrying case. It was just too light duty for the size fish I catch.

https://backpackinglight.com/gear-swaps/basspro-micro-lite-spinning-pack-rod-graphite-5-6-light-action/