There’s something about hiking into trout water that changes the whole rhythm of a trip. You leave behind the road noise, the cell signal, the crowded pull-offs—and start tuning into the sound of the wind through lodgepoles and the hush of a river just over the next rise. That’s what drew me to the La Plata River, tucked into a quiet stretch of high country in Southwest Colorado. Part fishing trip, part photo expedition—this was a day I won’t forget.
Starting the Hike: Pines, Shade, and Altitude
The La Plata River trailhead isn’t flashy. It starts modestly with a dirt pull-off and quickly dips into shady pine groves. The trail follows the contour of the valley with occasional glimpses of the river down below. What makes this hike special isn’t just the destination, but the quiet, ever-changing terrain: groves of aspen, mossy boulders, and alpine meadows dotted with summer wildflowers.
With my K&F Concept camera backpack strapped tight and a 4wt fly rod rigged up and ready to go, I eased into a slow pace, letting my eyes adjust to the light and scanning the trail for photo moments—a glint of water through the trees, a mule deer in the brush, shafts of light through pine needles.
Wildflowers and Wildlife: Photography on the Move
Early summer in this part of Colorado is a photographer’s dream. Bright orange Indian paintbrush, purple columbines, and patches of lupine lit up the trail edges. I switched to my 24–70mm lens, using a low angle to capture the pop of color against the green pines.
Light is everything here. I used a circular polarizer to punch up the color and reduce glare when shooting near water. My Canon R5 handled the dynamic light shifts like a champ—especially when a young mule deer stepped out into a clearing, perfectly backlit, right as I crested a ridge.
First Glimpse of the River
About two miles in, I heard it before I saw it. The La Plata winds through tight canyons and then flattens into glassy, slow runs bordered by grassy banks. I dropped my pack, switched into my wading shoes, and tied on a #14 Yellow Stimulator with a Beadhead Pheasant Tail dropper.
The water was crystal clear—trout country through and through.
Stealth and Strategy: Small Water Fly Fishing
Fishing the La Plata is a finesse game. These are wild fish, likely never hooked, and they spook at shadows. I crouched low, casting upstream into shady runs and behind midstream boulders. Several small browns darted for the fly but refused last second. On a good drift, the dropper disappeared and I brought in my first fish of the trip—a buttery brown trout with fire-orange spots. I paused for a quick photo with the fish hovering just above the net, backlit by the sun.
I love these moments—the stillness, the soft light, the ripple of success after a quiet approach. The fish here aren’t big, but they’re beautiful and strong.
The Midday Light Shift
By midday, the lighting got harsh—tougher for photos, but perfect for exploring. I shot reflections along a wide bend of the river, switching to a 70–200mm lens to compress layers of pine ridges and storm clouds moving in.
Back at a mossy boulder overlooking a slow pool, I set up my tripod for a long exposure of the water sliding through rocks. These are the frames I love—where fly fishing meets fine art photography.
Safety First in the Backcountry
Clouds started to build, as they often do in Colorado’s high country. I kept my eye on the sky, wrapping up fishing and heading back toward the trailhead before the afternoon storms rolled in. That’s one lesson I’ve learned: no fish is worth getting caught in a lightning storm above 9,000 feet.
On the hike out, I paused one last time to shoot the fading light over the valley, grateful for a day that felt more like a retreat than a mission.
Tips for Fishing & Photographing the La Plata River
• Start early: For soft light and calm water, hit the trail before sunrise.
• Use a dry-dropper rig: Small dries like Stimulators or Elk Hair Caddis paired with beadhead nymphs are deadly.
• Pack light, but smart: The K&F backpack let me carry camera gear, fly gear, food, and a rain shell without overload.
• Bring a polarizer: It transforms mid-day shots and makes colors pop.
• Shoot with purpose: Capture the fish, but also the landscape, light, and journey—it tells the full story.
This hike into the La Plata River reminded me why I chase these moments—where the line between fishing and photography disappears. The sound of moving water, a trout rising to a dry, and the snap of the shutter are all part of the same rhythm.
Up Next: Part 3 — Chasing Trout and Light on the Pine River Trail
Beyond the Cast 