Taking the Main Stream to 12,800 Feet

Some days remind you exactly why you build fly rods.

Yesterday I made the hard climb into an alpine lake above 12,800 feet with Keith Maples from The Sportsman Fly Shop in Lake City, Colorado. The hike was demanding, but what waited for us at the top made every step worthwhile.

I brought the Lake Fork Rods Main Stream 5-weight—the rod I reach for when I don't know what the conditions are going to throw at me. In the high country, that versatility matters. Wind, changing conditions, and good-sized trout can all be part of the same day.

The fishing was exceptional. We landed more than 15 cutthroat trout ranging from 14 to 18 inches, surrounded by the kind of high-country scenery that makes the hike almost as memorable as the fishing.

This is exactly what the Main Stream was built for: a handcrafted bamboo fly rod capable of going a long way into the backcountry and handling whatever you find when you get there.

Built for the Long Way In.