High Sierra Topix

Someone PM'd me for a great destination near Denver for backpacking and fishing.
His partner doesn't like the first pick of a trip due to mileage, but it would seem driving 3-5 hrs to get to a trailhead would be ok.
They want some larger fish (read not stunted.)

I've never fished CO waters, but someone here might have.

Thanks Russ.

3-4 hr drive would be preferred and 3-4 hr drive. My dad and brother are being pansies.

On my last visit to the Denver area I hit Waterton Canyon. (Northern terminus of the Colorado trail on the South Platte) It's not wilderness (follows a dirt road for like 9 miles) and there are a lot of people (mostly hikers/bikers) It was still a good time time and I caught plenty of fish. It was only about 40 minutes from my sister's house in the Denver suburbs.

Eleven Mile Reservoir by Lake George has some great trophy rainbow trout fishing. Try it. I have a 9lb one on my wall. Also the Platte River by there has some good brown trout fishing.

Texan