Guided

Walk Wade Trips

Walk Wade Fishing in Southwest Colorado

GUIDED WALK WADE FLY FISHING

Explore area rivers, streams and lakes by foot in search of Colorado brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. A perfect starting point for beginner to experienced anglers looking to expand their fly-fishing skills. 

Guided-Walk-Wade-Fly-Fishing

All-Inclusive + Lunch
All tackle and rental equipment are included free of charge and provided by the industry’s top manufacturers. (Rod/Reel, Wader/Boot, Flies, Tackle and Transportation.)  All Full Day tours include a riverside Charcuterie Lunch (locally smoked meat, cheese, crackers, olives, nuts, fruit, cookie) and beverages.

Advantages
Walk Wade trips are ideal for anglers of all ability levels. Our trips offer convenient “drive to destinations” with a diverse variety of rivers to choose from. Stalk trout on foot with our experienced guides and learn to select and present flies to feeding trout, control your drift, manage your line, properly land and release fish and much more. Walk Wade trips have become a vacation favorite for solo anglers, groups and families, company outings and anyone interested in improving their abilities.

Passionate Staff
Our guides specialize in the professional instruction of core fly fishing fundamentals by introducing new techniques, strategies and efficiencies that improve angler performance and presentation on the water, all while teaching proper river etiquette. Most importantly, our guides strive to make each day on the water fun and memorable for everyone.

Timing
Half Day, Full Day and Overnight departures are available throughout the year, with easy pick-up or convenient meeting locations. While our regional rivers and streams have a long season for fishing, nature can make certain locations unavailable. No matter the conditions (peak runoff, heavy rains, or snow) we always have an alternative river to fish – year-round!

Not Sure What to Pick?
Discuss with our reservation staff when the best time to go may be or let us recommend the best location over your planned visit.  If we feel another section is fishing better upon your arrival, we can always switch locations based on conditions and what mother nature presents.

Have additional questions? Check out our FAQ page.

The Rivers – Walk Wade

Lower Gunnison River
Our guided walk wade fly fishing access on the Lower Gunnison River offers anglers over 11 miles of secluded trout waters, including two miles of exclusive Private Water wade access at Angell Canyon Ranch (Private water fees included with our guide rate!) – a historic ranch that rests on a spectacularly scenic bend of the world-famous Gunnison River.  This quality water fishery is designated Gold Medal & Wild Trout waters, and within the federally protected Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area plays host to Colorado’s best trout fishery. A virtual bug factory, this world-famous western river is known for its prolific insect hatches and dry fly fishing – including its renowned stone fly hatches and Pteronarcys Californicus (aka: salmon fly hatch). Often referred to as Black Canyon, the more accessible Gunnison Gorge is undoubtedly the crown jewel of fly fishing in western Colorado.

San Miguel River
One of Colorado’s most spectacular and least known fly fishing destinations is located just 30 minutes from our Fly Shop and within great proximity of Telluride. Gin clear water, coupled with abundant insect hatches, provides even beginner anglers a rare opportunity to experience classic Colorado dry fly fishing to eager rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. As the San Miguel meanders its way through red-rock walls, scenic sandstone canyons, and forested banks, expect to be amazed at the river’s serene riparian ecology. The San Miguel River, with its near endless public access (over 20 miles!), beckons anglers to experience one of Colorado’s last freestone (undammed) trout streams. Stoneflies, caddis, pale morning dun, blue-winged olives and midges are just some of the incredible insect hatches anglers can explore the mighty San Miguel and Telluride region with experienced fly fishing guides.

Cimarron High Country
More than just a river, but an entire region of multiple high-country streams and creeks stretching a vast geographic area and within proximity of our Fly Shop. The Cimarron High Country offers endless walk wade access to high alpine trout fishing with breathtaking Colorado scenery – perfect for beginners or those active enough to get lost in quality backcountry wade fishing for native cutthroat, brook and rainbow trout. The fish can be smaller at elevation, but our fly fishing guides will tell you the productivity, solitude and views more than makeup for it. “You’ll be amazed by the diversity of landscape, from alpine tundra to majestic spires, pinnacles and castles blocking the sun to dark, green forests carpeting steep mountains. And water, water everywhere.”  – Mark D. Williams (Author) Fly Fishing Southwest Colorado

Uncompahgre River 

Our home water, and a big reason we call Ridgway home. In fact, RIGS pioneered guided fly fishing access by becoming the Uncompahgre River’s first permitted outfitter at Ridgway State Park at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk back in 2001. The Uncompahgre River headwaters flow through the popular tourist towns of Ouray and Ridgway before meeting Ridgway Reservoir, where its tailwater release creates an unparalleled year-round fishery. “The Unc” as we affectionately refer to it, will challenge any angler, but reward with selective fish; often measured in pounds, not inches. Extensive river habitat rehabilitation below Ridgway Dam, with its catch and release designation, have resulted in prime dry fly-fishing habitat for resident and stocked rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout and often exceed Gold Medal Water standards. Experience an exceptional tailwater fishery year-round at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground within Ridgway State Park or access the extraordinary winter fishery through the City of Montrose. Let our fly fishing guides share firsthand local knowledge of this fantastic and constantly improving trout fishery.

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River
The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River drains the northeastern portion of the San Juan Mountains before its confluence with the Gunnison River in Blue Mesa Reservoir. The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River offers anglers a remote granite canyon with low fishing pressure, healthy hatches, great nymph fishing and healthy river flows throughout the season. Browns, rainbows, cutthroats and a great fall run of hard-fighting kokanee salmon; the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River has become a guide’s favorite. *Located just 45 minutes from the Town of Gunnison, 60 minutes from Montrose and 90 minutes from Ridgway, we offer convenient onsite meeting and pick-up locations to venture to this isolated resource.

Discover miles of

secluded water