Fat High Mountain Trout

9,000 feet is the elevation of this little stream. It's a free stone river that flows from the San Juan mountains, which stretch to over 13,000. It's nearly impossible to enter this mountain range and not hear the sounds of water flowing from rock to rock.
I took advantage of the chance to fish up in the high country and managed to pull some fish that beat my record in size. Although I did not find that large September brown at 9,000 ft I did find one dink to prove that they are still there.

The rainbows were fat and full, hanging in fast water runs they are getting fatter by the minute...
The winters are very winter for these trout as there will be 8 ft of snow sitting on the river by mid winter and its not all that unlikely for it to snow a foot tonight up there.

I make a point to visit the high country at least once a year an usually in the fall season... This was my second outing up here this year and the weather says its probably the last.

The day was ended by the frustration of leaves on my lines and leaders on every drift. As the wind picked up it only got worse...

Seen an elk on the hill while walking back to the pickup...
Wondering how many saw me fishing?