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How to Choose the Right Guided Fly Fishing Trip

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Deciding on which guided fly fishing trip to book can be overwhelming and confusing.

RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service offers a diverse group of guided trips, from walk and wade fly fishing trips to float fly fishing trips. With half day trips, full day trips, and even multi-day overnight trips. So which guided fly fishing trip should you choose? Well, that all depends on you and what your expectations might be. Read on below to learn more about how to choose the right guided fly fishing trip.

Why book a guided fly fishing trip?

A fly fishing guide cannot only get you on some fish but is a wealth of knowledge to the local area. Going on a guided fly fishing trip is a great way to get familiar with the local waters as well as learn and refine your fly fishing techniques. The fly fishing guides at RIGS, are some of the most experienced and passionate guides in Colorado. The RIGS difference is simple, “It’s not just about the fishing, it’s about the people.” We cater your guided fly fishing experience to exactly what you and your group are hoping for in a guided fly fishing trip. With access to 6 different river systems all within an hour drive, our team is committed to finding the perfect fit for you. When you book a guided fly fishing trip at RIGS, we do our best to match you and your group with one of our fly fishing guides that will fit well with your personality and goals.

At RIGS your guided trip is all-inclusive, meaning that there are no up charges for gear, transportation, river shuttles, or flies. Our professional guides provide you with flies, terminal tackle, a rod & reel, waders & boots, and a locally sourced lunch (only on full-day guided trips). We also offer pick-ups in Telluride and other hotels in the area so you don’t have to worry about driving to us. A trip with RIGS is truly an all encompassing fly fishing experience, catered for anglers of all ability levels.
What to think about when booking a guided fly fishing trip?

When you are calling or emailing us to inquire about a guided fly fishing trip there are a few points you should consider.

  • First, how long do you want your guided trip to be? We offer half day, full day and overnight guided trips. Fly Fishing trips and clinics can range from 2 hours to 5 days So ask yourself and your group, “How much time do you want to be working with a guide?”.
  • Second, what is the makeup of your group, your skill set and your goals? A half day trip is great for beginner anglers, larger groups, anglers with mobility issues, and children (7 years old and up). A full day trip is great if you have the whole day, want to work on specific techniques or explore the greater region with a more adventurous spirit who is looking to jump all-in to the world of fly fishing. The full day trips include lunch while the half day trips do not. And if you were wondering, you cannot upgrade your half day trip to a full day trip while you are on the water. Multi-day trips involve camping and fishing to dive into the full outdoor experience.

Float fishing trip or Walk Wade fishing trip?

Another important aspect to think about when booking your guided fly fishing trip in Colorado is if you want to do a walk and wade fly fishing trip or a float fly fishing trip.

Walk Wade

The walk and wade trip is your “classic” fly fishing trip. Walk-Wade means wading and walking through the river trip that may include some hiking on high country trips and walking along the river’s edge on tail-water trips. Typically you will travel in the guide’s vehicle to the river, and stop to get out to fish. You may drive to a couple of choice fishing spots in the guide vehicle or just park at one location and spend your trip working this water up or down the river. The wade trip is popular for never-ever fly fishers, larger groups, and anglers looking to hike a little bit more. Walk Wade trips offer the opportunity to explore a diversity of water types like freestone rivers, unique tail-waters and high alpine settings – all very scenic. The half day wade trips can be a budget friendly way to see what a fly fishing guide trip is like.

Float Fishing

The float fishing trip entails floating in one of our fly fishing boats down the river with one of our professional guides. The guide will be rowing the boat, slowing it down directing you where to cast your fly. And at times anchoring the boat and having you get out to wade fish, if conditions allow. Our guides operate out of either hard-bottomed drift boats by Boulder Boat Works or white-water rafts with fishing frames depending on the trip. The boats have a seat up front and in the back with the guide rowing the boat in the middle. Rafts are used for Gunnison Gorge floats as they are able to float through some of the skinnier water and rapids while we use the drift boats for floating the Lower Gunnison River Canyon. The drift boats are very comfortable as you have more room and your feet won’t even get wet. While the rafts are a little more for the adventurous with “self-bailing” floors where water will be coming in and out. The float fishing trips are a fun experience as you get a scenic float trip, fly fishing on a world class gold medal water river. Fly fishing from the boat is a little bit more challenging than wade fishing, but our fly fishing guides are exceptionally good at catering to beginner anglers as well as experts.

Time of year?

Are you wanting to choose a guided trip based on when the fishing might be best? We fish and guide year-round at RIGS. If you want to learn more about our fishing seasons and when is the best time to fly fish in Colorado, check out the previous blog here. (Insert blog here: https://fishrigs.com/2021/05/27/planning-a-fly-fishing-trip-to-colorado-how-to-be-a-responsible-angler/)
Important Points to Communicate Prior to Booking Your Guided Fly Fishing Trip:

When booking your guided fly fishing trip, be sure to communicate your goals and expectations to our staff. Here are some points to consider and discuss with our booking staff.

  1. Are you looking for a scenic trip?
  2. Do you want your main focus to be on catching fish and you don’t care what the scenery looks like?
  3. Are you just interested in catching a big fish versus a lot of fish?
  4. Do you just want to throw dry flies? Are you wanting to throw streamers?
  5. Are you a beginner or never-ever angler looking to get into fly fishing?
  6. Do you want a more educational experience on your guided trip?
  7. Are you an experienced angler? Have you been out on a lot of guided fly fishing trips?

While we do our best to get to know who you are and what you are looking for, it can be helpful if you can let us know your expectations when booking your trip. It is also important to let your fly fishing guide know your expectations prior to the start of the trip. That way he/she can make sure to cater your trip to exactly what you are looking for.

Another important point to be sure to note is to let us know if there are any sort of medical conditions. Safety is our number one priority at RIGS and we want to be sure that our guides can accommodate your medical condition. Whether that means staying close to hospital services or limiting the amount of walking and wading.

What guided fly fishing trip should you choose?

Below you will find an in-depth guide to all the guided fly fishing trips that we offer at RIGS. As well as a curated list of some of our favorite trips based on what you’re looking for.

When choosing a guided fly fishing trip at RIGS, do keep in mind that rivers do fish better at certain times of year. Be sure to discuss with our team when you are planning to book and what rivers and trip options are available and what we might recommend.

Best guided fly fishing trip for kids: Ages 6 to 8 Half Day Paco at the ponds then river introduction; Ages 8 to 15 Half Day Cimarron High County or Half Day San Miguel River.
Best guided fly fishing trip for beginners: Full-Day – Cimarron River, San Miguel River, Tenkara.
Best guided fly fishing trip for advanced anglers: 3-Day DELUXE Gunnison Gorge, Full-Day Gunnison River Walk Wade or Drift Boat, Full-Day Uncompahgre River.
Best guided fly fishing trip for scenery: Full-Day Cimarron River, Gunnison River Walk Wade or Drift.
Best guided fly fishing trip for the adventurous: Full-Day – Lake Fork of the Gunnison or Cimarron River High Country.
Overnight Walk Wade Trips – Cimarron River High Country. Overnight Float Fishing Trips Drift Boat, 3-Day DELUXE Gunnison Gorge.
Best guided fly fishing trip for a trophy fish: Sight Fishing with Matt McCannel.
Best guided fly fishing trip for quantity of fish caught: Full-Day Cimarron River, Drift Boat Float Fishing, Guides Choice Tenkara Guided Trip.
Best guided fly fishing trip for dry fly fishing: San Miguel River (July-August), Gunnison River (June – August) and Uncompahgre River (July – September).
Best guided fly fishing trip for non-anglers: Full-Day or Half Day Cimarron River or San Miguel River.

Walk-Wade Trip Options:

Half Day or Full Day – Guided Fly Fishing – Uncompahgre River
Walk Wade the Uncompahgre River and its tributaries, below Ridgway Reservoir, in Ridgway State Park. One of Southern Colorado’s best tailwater fisheries, the Uncompahgre offers anglers a chance to discover an unparalleled fishing experience year-round.
Half Day or Full Day – Guided Fly Fishing – San Miguel River
Winding through the majestic San Juan Mountains in the shadows of 14,000 foot Mount Wilson, the San Miguel River is one of Colorado’s most spectacular and least known fly fishing destinations. Gin clear water, coupled with prolific insect hatches, provide even beginner anglers a rare opportunity to experience classic Colorado dry fly fishing, to eager rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.
Half Day or Full Day – Guided Fly Fishing – Cimarron River
High Alpine fishing at its best! The Cimarron River offers endless fishing for Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brook Trout. As one of the most beautiful settings in Colorado, the Cimarron High Country offers rare opportunities for solitude, native fish and remote access. If you’re looking for a real Colorado backcountry experience… it doesn’t get better than this.
Full Day – Guided Fly Fishing – Gunnison River
Experience classic big western river fly fishing in the heart of Colorado’s Gold Medal Trout Waters! Explore 10 miles of pristine Gold Medal Waters including a RIGS exclusive 2-mile stretch of Private Property on Angell Canyon Ranch (across from Pleasure Park & Gunnison Forks) within the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is included in the price of your trip!
Sight Fishing – Paco with RIGS Guide Matt McCannel
Our sight fishing trout trips are for the single angler with a singular mission; to catch the trout of a lifetime. This is not a trip for the beginner or even an intermediate angler; patient experienced anglers only.
2 Day Overnight Guided Fly Fishing Cimarron High Country
Dispersed or campground camping with high country fishing at its best! With their headwaters protected in the Uncompahgre Wilderness, the three different forks of the Cimarron River offer endless fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
Tenkara Walk Wade Trips
Tenkara fly fishing is a simplified approach; offering clients an easier hands-on transition to learning the sport of fly fishing with less moving parts while providing the seasoned angler an alternative method for smaller streams and creeks. Learn the techniques for close-up nymphing, soft-hackle wet and virtually drag-free dry fly fishing. We offer three different Guided Tenkara Fly Fishing Trips. Half Day – Guided TENKARA Fly Fishing – (Guides Choice), Full Day – TENKARA Fly Fishing – (Guides Choice), 2 Day Overnight Guided TENKARA Fly Fishing Cimarron High Country.

Guide Float Fly Fishing Trips:


Full Day – Drift Boat Float Fishing – Gunnison River (Pleasure Park)
Float the incredible Lower Gunnison River (Pleasure Park) and experience world-class fly fishing for massive Rainbow and Brown Trout. Explore miles of pristine trout laden waters with access to areas that you could not reach on foot. This section features incredible hatches, impressive desert canyon ecology, and almost year-round fishing for the discerning angler.
Overnight 2 Day Drift Boat Float Fishing – Lower Gunnison River (Pleasure Park)
RIGS now brings its unique blend of quality custom adventures to Guided Drift Boat fishing for the discerning angler. This Overnight trip is available through a surprisingly secluded section of river each season when “run-off” subsides on the North Fork of the Gunnison River (typically Mid June – November) as well as the region’s only winter float fishing option.

Float Fishing – Uncompahgre River – Single Angler Boats
Experienced anglers will appreciate this opportunity to explore the seldom fished waters of the lower Uncompahgre River via a custom, single passenger “Mini-Max” inflatable raft built for float fishing this unique river. Select months of availability – call the shop for more information.


Gunnison Gorge Float Trips:
3 Day “DELUXE” – Float Fishing – Gunnison River (Gunnison Gorge NCA “Wilderness”)
Experience Colorado’s top Wilderness Overnight Float Fishing Trip! This secluded 14 mile Gold Medal trout fishery is located in Southwest Colorado’s Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) and is commercially restricted to just two commercial launches per-day (max party size 12 people, including the guides!), making it one of the most highly restricted river sections in North America. Take gold medal water trout fishing, spectacular remote canyon ecology, geology, wildlife, challenging class II-III+ whitewater, and combine it with the finest quality amenities, equipment, cuisine, and guides on the river, and you truly have a “trip of a lifetime”!

Hopefully, this blog will help you narrow your decision down to what guided fly fishing trip you want to go on. Or it just may convince you that there are quite a few guided trips that you want to go on ;). Lucky for you we are open year-round and our fly fishing guides are happy to guide you multiple times a year. For more information on our guided fly fishing trips start here. If you would like to book a trip, give our reservations team a call at 970-626-4460 or email us at [email protected]

Planning a Fly Fishing Trip to Colorado – How to be a Responsible Angler

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It’s no secret that Colorado has good trout fishing, anglers from across the world travel here to experience a trout fishing trip of a lifetime. Colorado has the highest concentration of quality trout rivers and streams in the United States, an international airport, and a variety of different towns and services spread throughout to fit the needs of many different anglers. Not to mention, the trout populations have been thriving, in part due to well-regulated resource management including catch and release regulations in many of the rivers. But, in the past decade, the rivers in Colorado have been getting more crowded. It may be due to a rise in the popularity of fly fishing, a result of the COVID pandemic, or just overpopulation. The increase in angling pressure can make it challenging to navigate a river system, hard to find public water to fish, and hard to find public land to camp at. So how do you navigate these challenges to plan a successful fly fishing trip in Colorado?

If you are planning a DIY fly fishing trip in Colorado or planning on using a fly fishing guide in Colorado there are a few things to keep in mind, including what fly fishing gear to bring, the best time of year to visit, how to be a responsible angler/how to recreate responsibly, as well as understanding the Colorado fishing regulations. Read on below to learn more about these items to make your fly fishing trip to Colorado is a trip to remember.

What does it mean to be a responsible angler?

A responsible angler can be defined as someone who minimizes their impact on the water, to provide a healthy fishery for generations of anglers to come. A responsible angler also respects other anglers, recreationists, and landowners who are also enjoying the resource. So what are some tips to become a responsible angler?

Tips to being a responsible angler in Colorado:

1) Leave No Trace – Pack it in and pack it out. Be sure to pack out any trash that you bring onto the river. This also means the small pieces of tippet and leaders that may fly onto the ground when rigging up your fly rod. If you see trash when you are out fishing, be an example of good stewardship and pack it out. Try filling up your fly fishing net.
2) Understand the Fishing Regulations – When fishing in a new state, a new fishing license is mandatory. When you are getting this license be sure to check on the specific local fishing regulations of the area that you plan to fish. In Colorado, there are many catch and release areas, seasonal closures due to spawning, barbless fly regulations, and other specific regulations that need to be followed. Be sure to do your due diligence to check the local fishing regulations.
3) Don’t Trespass – The water laws in Colorado differ from other states, in that landowners often own the river bed. In many other states, the landowner does not own the river bed and you can access the water from the high watermark. But this is not the case in Colorado. Anglers cannot hike into a river that has private property. As well, you cannot anchor your boat on private land. Be sure to purchase proper maps or download a GPS app like OnX maps to ensure you are fishing public water.
4) Respect other anglers and recreationists on the water – Anglers are not the only ones that enjoy the rivers and streams in Colorado. The natural resources are managed for all recreationists including hikers, bikers, rafters, kayakers, etc. It is important to keep this in mind when out on the water and be respectful to everyone you encounter on the water. Communication is key, say hi, and be friendly to other people using the resource!
5) Follow good fishing handling and etiquette – Trout are fragile creatures, given that most of the fly fishing you may be doing is catch and release it is important to keep in mind proper fish handling and etiquette. Some basics to keep in mind are, debarb your flies, use a rubber net, keep the trout wet, wet your hands before touching the fish, keep fingers out of the gills, use the least amount of our hand to hold the fish, (stay away from the death grip or whole hand hold), don’t overplay the trout, and do your best to get the trout landed quickly and back in the water to be caught another day.

Backcountry Tenkara fishing

How to #recreatereponsibly – What does camping and traveling responsibly mean?

Being a responsible angler doesn’t stop when you’re off the water, in the past year a coalition of nonprofits, recreation businesses and agencies have come together with a campaign called #recreateresponsibly RecreateResponsibly.org. In short, it was introduced due to the spike in recreationists across the U.S. and a movement to educate people about being responsible recreationists. The Ridgway Chamber of Commerce has a great resource their plan your trip/responsible travel page. It states, “We invite travelers to visit Ouray County while considering ways to minimize visitor impacts and maximize local benefits. Traveling responsibly means educating yourself on outdoor recreation best practices, local ethics, and community expectations.” Some of the Chamber’s suggestions include know before you go, stick to the trail, trash the trash, leave it as you find it, be careful with fire, keep wildlife wild, share our parks and trails, do your research, hire a guide, and take a course. All of these are great points to understand to help minimize conflict and enhance your fly fishing trip to Colorado.

Due to the rise in popularity of camping in the past year it is very important to keep these points in mind when camping. Hatch Mag recently published a helpful article, “The dispersed camper’s guide to etiquette – A primer on good camping behavior.” The article outlines specific “Rules” that can be applied to campers everywhere.

Hire a fly fishing guide or visit a local fly shop:

When planning your fly fishing trip to Colorado or to a new area of Colorado, hiring a fly fishing guide or visiting a local fly shop can be of significant value in finding out important information regarding the fly fishing. The fly fishing guides at RIGS offer a variety of different guided fly fishing trips including float fishing, wade fishing, sight fishing, and even more remote hiking and fishing trips. The local retail store and fly shop staff is a wealth of resources, from fly selections to maps and gear tips, the shop staff can prepare you for success on the water as well as some local knowledge as to where to camp, eat, and sleep.

Understanding Colorado Fishing Regulations:

Anyone fishing in Colorado should be aware of all the fishing regulations and have a current license. You can purchase a fishing license online or visit one of the license dealers. The fly shop at RIGS is a State of Colorado fishing license dealer. The fishing regulations in Colorado change every year, be sure to follow the current year’s regulations. Most trout fishing rivers are open for year-round fishing, some rivers do have seasonal closures on certain parts of the river due to trout spawning.

Best time to visit Colorado for fly fishing:

What makes Colorado’s trout fishery unique from many other states across the west is that you can fish year-round, 365 days a year. The more or less winter season spans from November-February, where temperatures across the state are typically below freezing. The fly fishing is concentrated on many tailwater (dam-controlled rivers) systems across the state including the Uncompahgre, Blue, Taylor, South Platte, Yampa, Frying Pan Rivers. The fishing can be productive especially when fishing below the surface. This time of year is not for the fair-weather angler, but the adventurous one.

From March to April is considered spring or pre-runoff fly fishing conditions in Colorado. This time of year can be very underrated as the trout are hungry, active and the rivers are typically quieter. Depending on the snowpack, many of the rivers across Colorado experience a period of runoff, typically starting in May and sometimes lasting until late June. The water levels in the rivers rise due to the snowpack melting, making it at times challenging to fish. But, all the river systems are different and while some may be high and muddy others can be fishable. There are also numerous lakes and reservoirs that will be iced off and have productive fishing opportunities.

Once the river levels come down, the summer or peak season for fly fishing kicks off. This is typically from mid-June-September. This time of year can be considered the most productive time to fly fish in Colorado as all the bodies of water are at a fishable level, the bugs are hatching and the trout are extremely active. It is however the busiest time of year to be on the water.

Fall temperatures set in in late September and the rivers begin to become quieter and the fishing can be productive especially using nymphing and streamer fishing techniques. There is not a day out of the year in Colorado that you won’t be able to catch a trout on a fly rod. When in doubt seek out a fishing report!

SW Colorado's Full Service Fly Shop

Fly fishing gear to bring on your fly fishing trip to Colorado:

Bringing the correct fly fishing gear on your fly fishing trip to Colorado can make the world of a difference. Here are the basics we recommend. For a fly rod, the standard 9 foot 5 weight rod will best suit your needs. A 3 or 4 weight fly rod can be great for summer dry fly fishing. While a 6 or 7 weight can be great for streamer fishing or nymphing. A basic fly reel, with 100 yards of backing. A floating trout fly line to match the line weight of your fly rod is necessary. Tapered knotless leaders are preferred in a 9 foot, 5X size or something similar. For tippet, it is important to have a selection of 2X-6X tippet in both monofilament (for dry flies) and fluorocarbon (for nymphing and streamer fishing). Fly selection can vary based on the river systems you are fishing. The basic beadhead nymphs, dry flies, and streamers are essentials to have in your box. Be sure to stop into a local fly shop in Colorado to pick up the local fly patterns.

Waders and wading boots are essential in the colder months, in the summer you can get away with wet wading sandals or wading boots with a neoprene wading sock. The weather in Colorado can be very variable, so it is important to dress and pack different layers of clothing. Make sure to have a rain jacket packed as rainstorms can periodically happen, especially in late summer.

Hopefully, the details outlined above can better prepare you for a fly fishing trip to Colorado. Be sure to give us a call or stop in our retail shop located in Ridgway, Colorado. We are located near 6 quality trout streams providing anglers with a variety of different fly fishing options all within an hour or less. Ridgway, Ouray, or Telluride are all great fly fishing towns in Colorado to stay and experience a true Colorado fly fishing getaway.

Spring Fishing – Fly Fishing the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers

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Spring is a great time of year to fly fish in Southwest Colorado.

Our world-class tailwaters provide year-round fishing opportunities and offer some of the best fishing of the year during the early season from March through May. Anglers can enjoy good flows and water temperatures, consistent hatches, and low visitor numbers during spring. As the weather warms, water temperatures will get up above 40 degrees, which increases insect activity and gets the fish moving.

Spring Fly Fishing on the Uncompahgre River

The Uncompahgre River at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk (Paco) is the tailwater section below Ridgway Reservoir. This is a quality tailwater with trout pushing 10 pounds or more. The flow at Paco during this time of year typically ranges from about 100 CFS to 400 CFS, as the release from the reservoir is ramped up from early March through mid-May. These flows and conditions provide for easy access and the ability to sight fish for trophy trout. Hatches during this time include small midges and Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs), along with caddis as the weather warms. As flows increase, fish will spread out more and hold in the current as well as the slower, deeper runs. Trout will also be less spooky, providing anglers with an opportunity to get in close and more easily target fish. Nymphing is the most productive technique, and a longer fly rod in the 9’ to 10’ range allows for greater reach and easy mending for better drifts. Fishing small flies in size 20 to 26 with 5x and 6x fluorocarbon is the recommended approach. Matt McCannel, RIGS head fishing guide, says, “The top reasons to head to Paco in spring include consistent flows and excellent water clarity. There are also fewer anglers on the river.” For good fly patterns, Matt recommends Black Killer Mayflies size 24, CDC Emerger Baetis size 22-24, Barr BWO Emerger size 20, Dorsey’s Top Secret Midge size 20-22, Tailwater Tiny Olive size 20, Foam Back Emerger Chocolate size 22. For dry flies, Matt likes Eric’s Midge size 22 and Brooks Sprout Baetis size 20. In addition, Matt likes to throw leeches at Paco year-round. Good leech patterns include Mayer’s Mini Leech size 16 and Hot Head Squirrel Leech size 10 in both brown and natural.

Fly Fishing the Gunnison River above Pleasure Park

The section of the Gunnison River from Pleasure Park upriver about 4 miles to the confluence with the Smith Fork can really light up during the early season. It’s a beautiful stretch of river that twists its way through sandstone cliffs. Flows on this stretch range from about 600 CFS to 1,500 CFS from early March through mid-May, before flows are increased through the Black Canyon. These flows and conditions allow for easy walk-wade fishing the entire stretch of river. This is a great time of year to jump on some early season dry fly fishing. The major hatches include BWOs and caddis, with the peak of the BWO hatch occurring during April. Caddis will hatch from late April through May. These hatches typically occur during the afternoon from about 1 PM on. Nymphing will be most productive in the mornings before the hatch. A 9’ 6” 5-weight fly rod is a good choice for the Gunnison, along with 9’ 5x leaders for flies in size 14 to 20. Matt loves to fish the Gunnison this time of year, and says, “The April BWO hatch is something you don’t want to miss!” Matt’s recommended fly patterns for the hatch include Brooks Sprout Baetis size 20, Morrish’s May Day BWO size 18, Extended Body BWO size 20, Crime Scene Caddis size 16, Matthew’s X-Caddis Brown size 16, and Caddis Variant Ginger size 14.
Our area is arguably the most beautiful part of Colorado with some of the best tailwater fishing in the country. This is truly a great time of year to be here and chase big trout. Our top fly fishing trips during spring include walk-wade trips at Paco, and a special sight-fishing trip at Paco with Matt McCannel, and walk-wade trips on the Gunnison River at Pleasure Park. Contact the RIGS fly shop for the latest on fishing conditions and to book your spring fly fishing trip.

Top 5 Reasons to visit Ouray County in Spring and Early Summer

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Visit Ouray County this Spring or Early Summer!

The perfect family trip to enjoy the beauty of the area.
The perfect family trip to enjoy the beauty of the area.

As each day warms to greet the coming summer, more activities become available and some of them are at their best. If you haven’t experienced Ouray County on a shoulder season, you don’t know what you are missing. Perhaps it’s time to change that?
Need some inspiration? Check out some top reasons to come to the area in spring and early summer!
The majority of tourists head to Southwest Colorado’s Ouray County to adventure late June through August; that doesn’t mean there aren’t other amazing times of the year! In spring, the majestic San Juan and Cimarron Mountains still have a scenic blanket of snow over them as early runoff fills the Uncompahgre, San Miguel, and Gunnison Rivers.  Beat the crowds this year and experience a whole new Ouray County!

  1. Feel like a local- Beat the crowds and get to know what locals love about the area.  The early season offers an amazing way to miss the summer crowds but still experience some of the best Ouray County has to offer.
  2. Prices- In peak season the area’s lodges are heavily booked and nightly rates are at their height. However, if you come early in the season you can get better deals on rates.
  3. Small Town Flavor- Don’t be shocked when you find that area restaurants make you want to come back just to have that special something that no one else in Denver is making.
  4. Outdoor Activities– Ouray County has a gamut of fun ways to experience nature. Mountains, camping, rivers, canyons, lakes, hiking, biking, jeep/atv trails, and hot springs; all in one small region you’ll find the most diverse options in the shortest distance.
Ride spring wave trains on the San Miguel River
Ride spring wave trains on the San Miguel River
  1. Ideal water levels- Rafting late spring features early runoff from the San Juan and Cimarron
    mountains. What does this mean for you? Rafting Big Water! Though rafting lasts through September,
    big rapids are for late spring and early summer. Don’t miss the very best time for those exhilarating
    high mountain Class III-IV rapids. With higher water levels, bigger splashes and wave trains
    await!

Fishing doesn’t STOP just because runoff starts

Enjoy Blue Ribbon and Gold Medal Waters when fish are at their hungriest in Spring and Early Summer
Enjoy Blue Ribbon and Gold Medal Waters when fish are at their hungriest in Spring and Early Summer

There are so many great times to Fly Fish Southwest Colorado, however, late spring is often overlooked by many anglers because of runoff. Although some rivers are affected during Spring; the Gunnison Gorge (Gold Medal) and Uncompahgre River(Blue Ribbon) still offer tremendous fishing experiences in spring that should not be missed.

  1. Warming Water Temperatures- The fish are more active and so are the bugs. Trout metabolism is higher with warmer weather and the fish are hungry! Though we fish year-round in Ridgway, fishing in 60 degree days can be more comfortable.
  2. Hatches- Stone Fly and Caddis Hatches. Though the water clarity may not always be “perfect”, fish are consuming a significant portion of their diet this time of year. That means if you can suspend your idea that crystal clear waters are the only way to fish -you can have some of the best fishing of your life hunting fish early season!
  3. Fewer people. When you’re on the river it is always nice to have some space. Visiting early helps you avoid the crowds and focus on what’s really important; catching fish and your technique with the help of a guide or just plain relaxation; find your happy place before everyone else does.

Guides of the Lower Gunnison River

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There’s something about the Lower Gunnison River in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area; an almost out of this world feel to it.

Spend a day exploring the Lower Gunnison River on a RIGS Drift Boat Trip
It is both desolate and full of life, forcing us to question our senses. The history of the area alone is enough to overwhelm with archeological sites dating back before the Pyramids. It holds a special place in our hearts here at RIGS. The world-class Gold Medals Waters of the Gunnison act as the pulse of the area; home to thousands of trout. Not just trout, but big beautiful brown and rainbow trout, many of them well over 18 inches. While this incredible fishery may leave you aching to wet a line, the mastery of these waters requires deep knowledge and patience to understand. Our guides’ passion for the Gunnison River often borders on obsession, with guides eagerly anticipating when they will return to the river that only a special few get to experience.

Beautiful Brown trout abound on the Lower Gunnison

The best way to experience the Lower Gunnison and Gunnison Gorge is by boat, allowing our clients to access miles of secluded water teeming with fish. The Lower Gunnison River is fish-able and floatable year-round. The river fishes best April through October. Spring, Summer, and Fall is the time of the dry fly. Caddis, Stone, May Flies, and Hoppers dominate the river throughout the summer months. The River is best fished from a drift boat; this allows you to fish areas you don’t have a chance to get at from the bank. Our drift boats are the perfect way to experience comfort with their state of the art ultralight technology that gets our clients into the best locations with little to no noise to disturb the fish.

Overnight Drift Boat trips offer a great way to experience the real beauty of the Lower Gunnison River.

What makes the experience on the Lower Gunnison to the next level is our guides. RIGS guides are passionate, dedicated and a patient lot of true teachers. Their ability to get new anglers into fish as well as challenges experienced anglers is what we specialize in. Below is a glimpse of some of the best guides in the region and RIGS top guides.
Matt McCannel, RIGS Head Guide, has been guiding in the Gorge for 13 years. On average he spends 80 days out of each year guiding on the Gunnison River. He will do just about anything to get his clients into fish; his relentless enthusiasm is his driving force.
Chance Harris has been immersed in the outdoors from a very young age. Hunting and fishing are a part of who he is, his ability to adapt to changing conditions, his patience and his willingness to share his passion for fishing with others are some of the qualities that make him such a great guide.

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Uncompahgre, Gunnison, San Miguel, and Cimarron Rivers

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