3/30/13 - Spring is here!  Ice-out has happened on our local rivers.  This can be some of the best fishing of the entire year!  The East, Taylor, and Gunnison Rivers are open and fishing well.  The ski area is also open until April 7th, so take advantage of spring deals.

The Bar ZX Ranch will open in Mid-May.  Come fish with us for exotic species and giant trout with the snowcapped peaks in the background.

Below : This monster brown was fooled in willow lake.  This trout is a good example of what is possible at this trophy fishery

1/31/10 Rainbow                                         1/31/10 28" cutbow

Flows- Below Dam-50cfs, Almont-80cfs

Techniques and Conditions- Winter conditions will persist well into the spring months at the C&R.  The low flows makes the fishing tough, but fish do move a lot in this fishery. Concentrate on the runs, holes, pockets, and transitions in the river.  On any given day you can see some rising fish, but most action is sub-surface.  The C&R is as popular as ever, with anglers testing their skill against some of biggest trout in the West.

Flies and Hatches-   Below the dam try egg, worms, mysis, rs2 18-24, wd 40 18-24, Baetis nymph #18-24, Black beauty #18-24, Poxy Midges red, black, ufo #18-24, Chocolate emerger, Poly and foam wing #18-24.

**We now have two pieces of private land to guide on the Taylor River.  We are lucky to have this fishery in our backyard.   Expect to see numbers and quality with many fish over 18". $50 half day rod fee and $100 full.

Below : John from Lakewood shows off one his many trout that he landed on that beautiful April day.  This rainbow was 23" and plump.  Our private Taylor access is on fire, come check it out!

Flows - Almont-140cfs , Gunnison-190cfs , Above Blue Mesa-250cfs?

Clarity - Super clear from Almont to Tomichi Creek.  A little off color from Tomichi to the Blue Mesa

Conditions and Techniques - Deep nymphing in the holes and dropp-offs.  Some dry fly action in the tail-outs of the runs.

Flies and Hatches-   Nymphs- Beatis  nymphs 18-20, , blm, Caddis nymphs # 14-16, Soft Hackles,  20 incher #6-16, BH PT's #10-18, BH Prince #6-18, BH Hare's ear #8-16, Brown Stone #8, Halfback #4-10, , BH Lightning Bug #12-16, BH NFS #10-14, BH DJ Juice, Olive #14-16, BH Baetis #14-18, Big dark streamers, Big light streamers, Midges, SJ Worms, and Pat's Rubberleg

Give a call for more details                970-209-6555

Below : 04/08 This 28" 10-12 pound bow ate a #6 olive/white double bunny and put up a 15 minute fight.  That's a real fish!

Flows - 50cfs

Techniques and Conditions -  Roaring Judy has open water

Flies and Hatches - daily midge hatch

Nymphs - BH Beatis, Small PT's, wd,  Midge larve, sj worms

Dries - Midges in the Hatchery ponds

Below: This brown was caught below the confluence of the East and Taylor River.  He was a glutton full of kokanee fry.  Like many trout during the fry release, his eyes were bigger than his stomach. 4/18/09

The Blue Mesa is frozen.  This spring, come fish the many tributaries that we are permitted to guide.  Our backcountry lake program is unique and offers anglers the opportunity to fish difficult to access water in a very secluded environment.  We access the feeder stream mouths by powerboat then step out and wade up the Lake Fork River, Cebolla Creek, and/or West Elk Creek.  Come with us and try something different!!

Flies - The current main food source is crayfish, baitfish, and midge larva with tributaries providing some insects being washed in.  Brown Buggers #4-8, Brown Krystal Bugger #4-8, Olive Buggers #4-8, Black Zonker #6-10, Crayfish, Clousers, muddlers, Perch Fly, and Trout Angels.  The creeks are currently offering excellent dry fly fishing.

Below :  4/28/09 A fat Blue Mesa rainbow caught up a tributary.  The moving water of the many feeders provides great habitat that is rarely hit by flyfishers and accessable only by boat.  This is a very unique experience, come fish with us and we will share it with you!