Summer Update/Colorado River Float

Summer is flying by once again, and as usual, it's been phenomenal. The rivers are in great shape, the fishing is good, and we have all been staying busy helping people catch fish.

Currently, the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers are fishing fantastic, top to bottom. We are transitioning out of our big summer bugs and into are fall baetis and midge cycles. Though there are Green Drakes and PMDs still to be found on the upper frying pan.

The Colorado is blown out from recent rains and will remain so for at least a few more days. This river has essentially been blown out for the last two weeks. When it clears, it will be like spring all over again. Hot, hungry fish, and lots of them.

Contact us about current conditions and to book some fall fishing. It is going to be an amazing September.

Though a bit delayed, here is a bunch of pictures I took on a Colorado Float about two and half weeks ago. Right before the mud showed up.
When it clears, it will be better than this.

Hope to see you this fall.

It's summer time again...

After a long and relatively cold spring we are finally into our summer season. The runoff took everyone by surprise this year, after the cold spring we got a stretch of really warm weather in early June and the Roaring fork unleashed its fury. We saw levels on the river that I doubt we will see again. The snowmelt has moved through for the most part and the Fork is now running clear and things are happening.

The float fishing on the lower river is

on fire right now, mostly nymphing throughout the day but the dry fly fishing is great from late afternoon through dark. An evening float will put you right in the middle of the green drake hatch for some of the best fishing you will see at any time here in the valley.

The wade fishing on the upper Fork is hitting it's stride, the water did stay cold longer than usual this year so things are happening a little later in the season. We are starting to see good caddis hatches as well as some PMDs and the sporadic Baetis hatch, nymphing in the mornings with a the fish starting to look up in the afternoons.

The Frying Pan has been super consistent the last couple of weeks. The water level just dropped opening up even more water to fish. You can put a bunch of fish in the net on nymphs in the morning and then fish dry flies during the afternoon PMD hatch.

Feel free to call us at the shop 970 920 6886 and we can give you up to the day reports - the fishing is only going to get better throughout the summer as all those bugs that are ready to hatch start popping.

February Fishing

Been out of the loop for a couple of weeks with a broken shoulder but things are feeling good now and have been guiding clients 5 of the last 6 days. The weather has been snowy but temps are staying in the upper 30's and low 40's. Big rainbows like warm snowy days. This is a fact.

Andrew, pictued above, landed 15 - 20 fish and 10 were over 16 inches.

Everyone else did fine too. The "little" midges are hatching every day from about noon to 4 and I am starting to see some of the "big" black midges that really draw fish to the surface. Consistent dry fly fishing is right around the corner.

Happy New Year!

Is there a better place to spend the first day of 2010 than on the banks of the Roaring Fork river?

The big rainbows were feeding today, most fish were fooled by a little black midge. The river is clear of ice and there is plenty of open water to fish. The total for the day was 13 fish in the net with another 8 or 10 that jumped off.

We also landed plenty of browns.

Winter fishing is in full swing, the fish were eating as soon as we got on the water a little after 11:00 and continued to feed until about 2:00 when things slowed down a bit. We did get this 17" rainbow on the last cast of the day as the sun was dropping below the ridge, nice to end on a high note.

We landed 12 fish for the day, mostly browns and two 17" rainbows.

Client Testimonial

Got this email from a client today and, with his permission, I thought I'd share it.

Aspen Flyfishing and Roger The Guide of All Guides-

So how about this for a perfect day of fishing; In Aspen for a wedding in late August. Meet Roger at noon on Friday afternoon- wife at the spa, got an afternoon to kill. Beautiful weather- warm but not hot. Gear all set up, we’re on the river in no time. First fish is a 17” wild brown trout with bright orange spots. Ultimately netted 20-25 fish. Another 5 to 10 LDRed. Only one trout out of all of them under 14”. Biggest was close competition between the original Brown and a Rainbow both in 17” – 18” class and both close to 3lbs. All native/wild fish with vibrant colors, broad shoulders and sweet spots. Huge runs downstream. Huge jumps 2’ to 3’ feet in the air. Caught fish on nymphs. Caught fish on dry flies. After 2.5 hours, we called “mercy”, feeling a wee bit gluttonous. Was back at the Little Nell, poolside with a cocktail, by 4:00… and that, Aspen Flyfishing, is no fish tail.


Thank you for one of the best fishing experiences in my life.


Any small exagerations aside, that sounds to me like a pretty good day of fishing and a good description of what fall fishing on the Roaring Fork can deliver.

July Photo Recap

Here are some of my favorite fish and some nice pictures from the last couple of weeks of July.

Enjoy.