Despite my best intentions, I never made it greenback fishing during my four years of school. Once thought to be extinct, the greenback cutthroat was one of the first salmonids protected by the Endangered Species Act. Since then, state and federal agencies and TUers have worked hard to protect this beautiful species and re-establish the fish wherever possible.

The biggest challenge facing greenbacks is competition from non-native trout. Historically, state agencies have introduced rainbow, brown, brook, and other non-native trout to attract anglers. Since both rainbows and cutthroat spawn in the springtime, they can interbreed. Hybridization dilutes the native species’ genetic purity. Brown and brook trout outcompete greenbacks for food and habitat. These challenges left the greenback on the brink of extinction by the early 1970s.

Removing non-native trout and constructing migration barriers in high mountain streams and lakes is a crucial step to protect the greenback cutthroat. Government agencies and TU chapters have been working towards this end for decades throughout the greenback’s native range. Historically, greenbacks were found in the Arkansas and South Platte drainages on the east side of the continental divide in Colorado.

I hiked into Zimmerman Lake, a medium-sized pond up the Poudre River Canyon, near Cameron Pass. Apparently, the Colorado Division of Wildlife harvests eggs from the Zimmerman greenback population to re-introduce the species into other waterways. The lake’s outlet has been outfitted with a fish barrier, protecting this important greenback stock.

Zimmerman Lake offers the classic alpine experience. The mountain vistas make angling here worthwhile, even if you aren’t catching anything. This is a good thing, because I was skunked and my quest to catch a greenback will continue for at least another year.

I saw fish rising, but they were well out of casting range, towards the middle of the pond. If I had it to do over again, I would have hoofed a float tube, or at least wading boots, up to the lake to facilitate access.

I’m glad that opportunities to see a greenback are increasing each season, thanks to the hard work of TUers and government officials. I look forward to returning to Colorado’s high country in search of these trout some time in the future.

For more information on Colorado’s state fish, check out the Spring 2006 issue of Trout magazine.

To see photos of Zimmerman Lake, click HERE