I am honored to be Elevation Outdoor Magazine’s 2019 “Best of the Rockies”, “Best Guide” covering 6 states Idaho to New Mexico, as well as being voted the “Local’s favorite guide” multiple times, and my prices are still the best in the valley. We have 2 rivers to float and fly fish in and around Glenwood Springs, and Aspen, Colorado: the Roaring Fork and the Colorado Rivers. They represent some of the best fly fishing the western United States has to offer. This is the trip most of our clients come back for time and time again.
The Roaring Fork starts high up on Independence Pass. The name comes from the Ute Indians that referred to it as Thunder River. This incredible freestone river starts high above Aspen, Colorado as a small creek and gradually picks up additional flows from all the tributaries. Once the Frying Pan River enters at Basalt, the thunder slows down, and flows increase to make it floatable, all the way down through the town of Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, where it joins the Colorado River. Through this section you will find a fish population of wild rainbow, cut throat, brown, an occasional Brook trout , and some mountain white fish. The population of these fish will number between 500 to 800 fish per acre that will be searching for your fly. With year-round hatches, you can float 11 months out of the year while your friends go skiing. We put up some amazing numbers of fish caught in December and February.
The Colorado River at Glenwood Springs is joined by the Roaring Fork River. The water flows will pick up to a minimum of about 1300 cubic feet per second. Bigger water, stronger currents, this is were the big boys live. All depending on water conditions, this is our #1 place to take our clients. Starting in Glenwood Springs, we float through the magnificent Red Canyon and out into the open area of New Castle, Silt, and all the way down to Rifle. It’s not uncommon to have fish that are consistently in the 16-20″ size.
