Bobber Talk: Monthly Guiding Schedule

Booking a Fly Fishing trip in Vail Colorado

I am very fortunate to have an abundance of water to choose from around the Eagle Valley depending on the time of year. I thought I would take an opportunity to highlight the fun to be had by the month to give those of you that travel a chance to better plan your fishing trips.

JANUARY- Mid FEBRUARY:
This time of year is mostly 1/2 day wades local on THE Eagle River and occasionally on Gore Creek. This time of year is almost exclusively nymphing deep slow runs.Trips revolve around the warmest part of the day, usually 11-3, making for a perfect mid week change of pace for those of you on a ski vacation. Get the kids and Aunt Sue out the door early then enjoy a spa treatment and big breakfast before being picked up and you are still home with a cocktail before they get off the mountain.

Winter walk wade on THE Eagle River

The boat is also available during the winter months. I do full day floats on the Roaring Fork and below Glenwood Springs in the cold months. The full day float this time of year is typically shorter than summer floats based on air and water temperatures. The boat is very commonly used as a taxi between the best holes as the fishing on the run through fast water is not as productive in the winter.

Colorado River somewhere between Glenwood and Silt

Lower Colorado River can be 15 degrees warmer than up valley during the winter

Mid FEBRUARY-Early MAY:
Spring usually has sprung by late February- Early March with air temperatures starting to moderate with longer days and milder nights. We normally receive the majority of our snow in March and April which can help with water flow and bug life. This is every guide in this valleys favorite time to fish and it is no coincidence that most big fish pictures have some snow in the back ground. As the cold of winter begins to give way to spring blooms the fish begin to fatten up on more available bio mass, essentially they throw caution to the wind and eat hard.

March can also be ice off for our private water lease (Vail Rod and Gun Club) on THE Eagle in the Edwards-Wolcott area. This is an incredible time of year to work the best water on the river. We manage the property so we do not over pressure one section and after a long winter with Ice over head this is the place to be for wades. While March can bring the chance to fool fish on top with dry flies the msot success comes while nymphing as the fish begin to move from their winter lies.

Pre run off floats on the Eagle River can happen anytime from mid April-mid May. This trip can be very hard to schedule accurately as the water can only be fishable for a short time before mud season starts. This coveted season can be any where from 3 days to 3 weeks long. You have to be here to enjoy it, but if you are you will never forget it. This special little float offers the streamer junky more than his fair share as the fish of the Eagle love to eat a tandem streamer rig and the boat is the perfect compliment for this technique

Full and 1/2 day wades are available on the Eagle, Roaring Fork and Gore Creek.
Full and 1/2 day floats are available on the Eagle, Roaring Fork and the lower Colorado below Glenwood Springs

MID JUNE-MID SEPTEMBER:
Prime time. This is the most popular time of year to fish here in the Vail area and there is plenty of great options to choose from.

While the water is still high and often muddy from run off I offer a few high mountain stashes for a true back country experience with small rods (1-4 wgt) for eager and abundant wild trout.

One of my favorite spring trips

Once the water drops after run off the float season on the upper Colorado gets going for the summer. While this stretch can be busy during the summer I have learned a few tricks to beat the crowds. Try an evening float (4pm-9) or a quick morning 1/2 day on one of the most scenic trips I offer. It's packed with mostly Brown Trout who have no problem eating a well presented hopper dropper rig.

Mid summer offers some prolific hatches and the fish of THE Eagle River love to eat dry flies. My most popular trip of the year is the roughly 3 weeks in July I get to float The Eagle. The float from Edwards to Wolcott is by far the best 5 mile stretch of wild trout water on the planet. After run off, usually the first week of July the fish gorge themselves on adult Caddis, BWO's and PMD's and the boat can be the ONLY way to get to them. Rigs with 3 dry flies are common this time of year making all the bobber haters smile. Book early, this one fills up for good reason.

Summer fun also includes over nighters and I am not talking camping along the river anymore (less ya want that) make plans to join me at Savery Creek Ranch near Baggs Wyoming. Great food, accommodations, atmosphere and miles of your own private trout fishing. You will not be disappointed.

Primetime can be anything you want it to be, for you, your family and your fishing buds. No experience necessary. Boats, 4 wheelers, horses, helicopters, gourmet food......dream a fishing experience up and I can help make it happen.

SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER:
Loads of fun stuff happen every Fall around here...

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Streamers from a boat to pre-spawn Browns, need more of a reason?
I will float the upper Colorado upstream of Statebridge well into October weather permitting. Once winter threatens the upper stretch I begin concentrating on The lower Colorado from Grizzly Creek- Silt and the Roaring Fork. The weather and the water can be incredible down valley in the Fall and these trips offer the streamer fisherman plenty of shots at big predator Browns as well as a nice Rainbow population trying to fatten up for winter.