Golden Trout Heli-Fishing

The Holy Grail of freshwater fly fishing. These extremely rare and exotic trout are only available in a few select locations in all of Canada, and Alberta’s Rocky Mountains are home to all of them. Introduced to Alberta in 1959, Golden Trout reside in high elevation Mountain lakes where helicopters are the norm for access as some of these lakes would require hikes in excess of 20hrs and can even require climbing gear to reach. As an alternative to the long and difficult hikes helicopter trips offer to select lakes anglers a much less strenuous and time efficient option. A 12 minute helicopter ride instead of a 20 hr hike is a very appealing alternative. The helicopter flight will offer you photo opportunities that of scenery that will your breath away, but in a much more enjoyable manner than the hike would.

The brilliant golden sides and bright crimson stripe are unmatched in both uniqueness and beauty. While casting small wet and dry flies to these gorgeous trout you will find yourself literally in the heart of Alberta’s rugged Rocky Mountains. As you watch small pods of golden trout cruise the shoals and drop offs there is an air of excitement. Leading the fish as you deliver your cast and present them the fly you’ll find yourself holding your breath in anticipation of a take. The privilege of holding and releasing one of these cherished fish will have an impact unlike that of most freshwater experiences. Releasing and watching your first golden trout swim away you’ll stand in awe, and for a brief moment all the stress of work and the city will seem trivial. On average the heli-fishing lakes are home to the smaller yet more numerous populations of golden trout, compared to the hike in lakes.

Anyone interested in chasing golden trout needs to be prepared for what they can expect. You can expect to see a lot of fish activity, however unlike many trout in high mountain alpine lakes that are eager to eat anything they can feast their eyes on, golden trout can be very discerning and difficult to catch. With golden trout expect to get short strikes and fish that hit, yet somehow find a way to avoid being hooked far too often.

The prospect of catching these magnificent fish keeps fishermen coming back year after year. The season is a short one at these high elevations and helicopter availability can book up quickly so pre planning is very important for anglers who wish to heli-fish for these rare and exotic fish. The rate listed is for the cost of guiding only, helicopter charges are on top of this cost and depend on group size and gear weight. Contact us directly for pricing heligoldens@outflyfishingoutfitters.com

Price for Guiding: $700 (Helicopter Costs are additional)

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