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 to help you choose the best guided fly fishing trip for you. 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? 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 can’t guarantee fish but they give you the best possible chance. They know the water, the conditions, and the flies that are working, and they can read a river in real time in a way that takes years to develop on your own. 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. With access to six different river systems all within an hour’s 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 a guide who fits well with your personality and goals.
At RIGS your guided trip is all-inclusive, meaning there are no upcharges for gear, transportation, river shuttles, or flies. Our professional guides provide you with flies, terminal tackle, a rod and reel, waders and boots, and a locally sourced lunch on full day guided trips. Pickup options are also available depending on your trip location – ask our team when booking. A trip with RIGS is a truly 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.
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 two hours to five days. Ask yourself and your group: how much time do you want to be on the water with a guide?
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 considerations, and children. A full day trip is great if you have the whole day, want to work on specific techniques, or want to explore the greater region with a more adventurous spirit. Full day trips include lunch while 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 and Wade Fishing Trip?
Another important aspect to think about when booking your guided fly fishing trip in Colorado is whether you want to do a walk and wade trip or a float fishing trip.
Walk and Wade
The walk and wade trip is your classic fly fishing trip. Walk and wade means wading and walking through the river, which may include some hiking on high country trips and walking along the river’s edge on tailwater trips. Typically you will travel in the guide’s vehicle to the river and stop to fish. You may drive to a couple of choice spots throughout the day or park at one location and spend your trip working that water up or down the river. Walk and wade trips are popular for never-ever fly fishers, larger groups, and anglers who enjoy covering water on foot. They offer the opportunity to explore a diversity of water types — freestone rivers, unique tailwaters, and high alpine settings — all very scenic. Half day walk and wade trips can also be a budget-friendly way to experience what a guided fly fishing trip is like.
Float Fishing
The float fishing trip entails floating down the river in one of our fly fishing boats with one of our professional guides. The guide rows the boat, slows it down, and directs you where to cast. At times the guide will anchor the boat and have you get out to wade fish, conditions allowing. Our guides operate out of either hard-bottomed drift boats by Boulder Boat Works or whitewater rafts with fishing frames, depending on the trip. The boats have a seat up front and in the back with the guide rowing in the middle. Rafts are used for Gunnison Gorge floats, as they are able to navigate some of the skinnier water and rapids, while drift boats are used for floating the Lower Gunnison River Canyon. The drift boats are very comfortable — you have more room and your feet won’t even get wet. The rafts are a little more adventurous, with self-bailing floors where water comes in and out. Float fishing trips are a fun experience that combine a scenic float with fly fishing on world class Gold Medal water. Fly fishing from a moving boat is a little more challenging than wade fishing, but our guides are exceptionally good at catering to beginner anglers as well as experts.
Fishing With Kids
Fly fishing with kids is one of our favorite things to guide, and getting the setting right makes all the difference. Every child is different — age is only part of the equation. Dexterity, attention span, and genuine interest in fishing all factor into which trip makes the most sense.
For very young kids, pond fishing at Ridgway State Park is the ideal starting point. There’s no current to manage, the mechanics are simpler, and the focus can stay on the experience of catching a fish rather than the complexity of reading moving water.
For kids roughly ages 6 to 8 on their first fly fishing trip, the Ridgway State Park area – which offers both pond and river fishing and various sections of the Uncompahgre River are great options. These settings give young anglers a chance to progress from still to moving water in a manageable way.
For kids ages 8 to 15, half day trips on the Cimarron High Country or San Miguel River open up well, particularly as casting confidence and wading ability develop.
When in doubt, call us and talk through your child’s experience level and what they’re hoping to get out of the day. We’ll help you find the right fit.
Stillwater Trips
RIGS offers guided stillwater trips for anglers who want to explore lakes and reservoirs rather than rivers. These trips are available in both walk and wade and float formats and are a great option for anglers looking to fish a different kind of water or expand their skill set. Stillwater fishing is its own discipline — different presentations, slower pace, and a unique way of reading the water that rewards patience and observation. Note that stillwater float trips are best suited for older kids and adults; younger children do best in the pond and river settings described above.
Time of Year
We fish and guide year-round at RIGS. Different rivers fish better at different times of year, so it’s always worth discussing timing with our team when you’re planning to book. For a deeper look at Colorado’s fly fishing seasons and what to expect throughout the year, check out our fly fishing planning guide.
Important Points to Communicate Before Booking
When booking your guided fly fishing trip, be sure to communicate your goals and expectations to our staff. It’s worth keeping in mind that it’s called fishing, not catching — but sharing what you’re hoping for helps your guide put you in the best position possible. Here are some points to consider:
- What does a great day on the water look like for you?
- Are you looking for a scenic trip, or is time spent actively fishing the priority?
- Are you hoping to chase one big fish or simply have consistent opportunities on the water?
- Do you want to throw dry flies, streamers, or are you open to whatever the conditions call for?
- Are you a beginner or never-ever angler getting into fly fishing for the first time?
- Do you want a more educational experience on your guided trip?
- Are you an experienced angler who has been on a lot of guided trips?
The more you can share upfront, the better we can tailor the day. It’s also important to let your guide know your expectations at the start of the trip so they can make sure the day reflects as close as they can get to what you’re looking for.
Please also let us know about any medical conditions. Safety is our number one priority, and we want to make sure our guides can accommodate your needs – whether that means staying closer to services or limiting the amount of walking and wading involved.
What guided fly fishing trip should you choose?
Below you will find an in-depth guide to most of 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.
Keep in mind that rivers fish better at certain times of year, be sure to discuss timing with our team when booking so we can point you toward the best options available.
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 (three sections to explore depending on time of year), Full Day River Drift Boat, Full Day Float and Wade Stillwater.
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 Gunnison Walk Wade or Cimarron River High Country.
Overnight Walk Wade Trips – Cimarron River High Country. Overnight Float Fishing Trips River or Stillwater, 3-Day DELUXE Gunnison Gorge.
Best for consistent opportunities on the water: 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.
Best beginner Stillwater Trip: 3/4 day Stillwater near Ridgway
Best intermediate to advanced Stillwater Trip: Full-Day walk wade and float high country Stillwater.
Walk and Wade Trip Options
Year- Round fly fishing is found on the Uncompahgre River above and below Ridgway State Park Reservoir, from the town of Ridgway through the town of Montrose Colorado
Half Day or Full Day – San Miguel River
Winding through the majestic San Juan Mountains in the shadow 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 provides even beginner anglers a rare opportunity to experience classic Colorado dry fly fishing for eager rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout.
Half Day or Full Day – High Country Rivers
High alpine fishing at its best. The High Country offers endless fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, and brook trout. As one of the most beautiful settings in Colorado, the Cimarron section of the San Juan range 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 – Gunnison River Walk Wade
Experience classic big western river fly fishing on multiple sections of the Gunnison River in the heart of Colorado’s Gold Medal Trout Waters. This trip includes access to a RIGS-exclusive two-mile stretch of private water on Angell Canyon Ranch within the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, water that isn’t available to the general public and that consistently holds large rainbow and brown trout.
2-Day Overnight – High Country
Dispersed or campground camping combined with high country fishing at its best. With their headwaters protected in the Uncompahgre Wilderness, the three 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 with fewer 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 fly, and virtually drag-free dry fly fishing. We offer three Tenkara trip options: Half Day (Guide’s Choice), Full Day (Guide’s Choice), and 2-Day Overnight on the Cimarron High Country.
Stillwater – Walk and Wade and Float
Guided stillwater trips on lakes and reservoirs are available in both walk and wade and float formats. A great option for anglers looking to explore a different type of water, develop new presentation skills, or simply enjoy a different pace on the water. Best suited for older kids and adults – younger children do best in the pond and river settings described in the kids section above.
Float Fishing Trip Options
Full Day — Drift Boat Float Fishing, Gunnison River (Pleasure Park and Upper Gunnison)
Float the incredible Upper and Lower Gunnison River and experience world-class fly fishing for healthy rainbow and brown trout. Explore miles of pristine, trout-laden waters with access to areas unreachable on foot – including walk and wade stops on the RIGS-exclusive stretch of Angell Canyon Ranch private water on the lower section. This section features incredible hatches, impressive desert canyon ecology, and nearly year-round fishing for the discerning angler.
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.
Overnight 2-Day – Drift Boat Float Fishing, Gunnison River (Pleasure Park and Upper Gunnison)
RIGS brings its unique blend of quality custom adventures to guided drift boat fishing for the discerning angler. Available when runoff subsides on the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the Upper Gunnison – typically mid-June through November with spring hatches before run off are not to be missed and the region’s only winter float fishing option. Lower Gunnison River section includes our exclusive private water.
3-Day “Deluxe” – Gunnison Gorge Float (Gunnison Gorge NCA Wilderness)
Experience Colorado’s top wilderness overnight float fishing trip. This secluded 14-mile Gold Medal trout fishery inside the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area is commercially restricted to just two launches per day with a maximum party size of 12 including guides – one of the most highly restricted river sections in North America. Combine Gold Medal trout fishing, spectacular remote canyon ecology, geology, wildlife, challenging Class II–III+ whitewater, and the finest amenities, equipment, cuisine, and guides on the river, and you truly have a trip of a lifetime.
Hopefully this helps you narrow down which guided fly fishing trip is the right fit or convinces you there are several you want to experience. We’re open year-round and our guides are happy to take you out multiple times across different seasons and river systems. For more information on our guided trips, give our reservations team a call at 970-626-4460 or email reservations@fishrigs.com.