This 8.5 by 11-inch book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date fishing guide for Colorado’s high-mountain lakes. Over 800 lakes are featured in the book, about 600 of which the author fished. The 190 pages of this guide contain detailed descriptions of trails and/or roads leading to the lakes, species present, sizes of trout and anticipated fishing conditions. The book is beautifully illustrated with over 300 of the author’s color photographs and 60 topographical maps.

This book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date fishing guide for Colorado’s high-mountain lakes, covering all of the major mountain ranges in Colorado containing significant numbers of high lakes. Originally published as articles in Colorado Outdoors magazine–the official publication of Colorado Parks and Wildlife–this compendium of 23 articles was updated in 2020 and 2021 with recent stocking data, gill-net surveys and info from additional fishing trips. Over 800 lakes are featured in the book, about 600 of which the author fished. The 190 pages of this 8.5 by 11-inch guide contain detailed descriptions of trails and/or roads leading to the lakes, species present, sizes of trout and anticipated fishing conditions. Entertaining and anecdotal stories make this book an easy read. The book is also beautifully illustrated with over 300 of the author’s color photographs of fish, lakes, surrounding scenery and wildlife. In addition, 60 topographical maps depict the proximity of lakes to each other and the surrounding terrain. While many of the lakes are accessible only by hikers, backpackers or equestrians, almost 200 of the lakes and small reservoirs can be accessed by ATVs, 4WD vehicles or passenger cars.

Ron Belak is an award-winning writer and photographer from Evergreen, Colorado. He is the author of the how-to book entitled Fly Fishing Colorado’s Backcountry and has been a frequent contributor to Colorado Outdoors magazine, the official publication of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, since 1994. He has fished about 600 high-mountain lakes in Colorado as well as high lakes in Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, British Colombia, Alberta, Alaska and Argentina. His writing and photography has also appeared in Fly Fisherman and American Angler magazines. Ron Belak is also a frequent presenter at chapter meetings of Trout Unlimited, other fly-fishing clubs and the Fly Fishing Show in Denver.