Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/681153
aspenpeak-magazine.com 157 Striking gold: Aspen's bountiful waterways bear a Gold Medal Designation from the Colorado Wildlife Commission. A high honor: This exclusive title has been awarded to only three of the state's lakes and 322 of its 9,000 miles of streams. photography by seanfboggs/getty Images Carp-e DIEM seize the essence of fishing serenity on Aspen's gold medAl wAters. By Dorothy Atkins It's hard to imagine a place more idyllic: a pond of clear, cold water—fresh from recent mountain snowmelt—reflecting hues of verdant green and azure from aspens, pine trees, and the cloud- less Colorado sky. Only the soft sound of a silver fishing line whipping back and forth through the thin mountain air can be heard as pale bluebirds chirp among the junipers. The goal of the day? Catch a bright rainbow trout gliding inches beneath the water's crystalline surface. This scenic vision can be a reality with the help of fly-fishing specialists like Aspen Outfitting Company, which offers private pond fishing tours and float trips down the Roaring Fork River. Aspen's stocked ponds and bountiful rivers are so notable, in fact, they were honored with an exclusive Gold Medal Designation by the Colorado Wildlife Commission. Gold is a fitting label for places so remote that only select outfitters offer tours in the area, but if you have your own gear and a permit (or rent from one of Aspen's numerous shops), you can head to any of town's public catch-and-release waterways. So pull on your waders and get out there—the ultimate Aspen serenity awaits. Aspen Outfitting Company, 315 E. Dean St., 970-925-3406; aspenoutfitting.com . pl a y time, aspen-st yle! sport