It has been a snowy winter and wet spring and now we have an above-average snowpack locked high up in the mountains. The annual “runoff” is here to stay for a little longer than most patient anglers want it to be. The high streamflows and off-color water make it challenging […]
Patrick Perry
63 posts
![Vail Valley Fishing Outlook for 2023 [ PLUS 5 Tips for Pre-Runoff Success]](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vailvalleyanglers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Guide_School_Float_Trip_237.jpg?resize=570%2C350&ssl=1)
Spring is officially here, the snow has stopped momentarily, the sun is out, and the rivers are beginning to really come to life. This past winter has been one for the books, Vail mountain has had an above average snow water equivalent coming in at 21.5%, 113% of the normal […]
When the snow is falling in the Rocky Mountains, winter trout fishing may be an enticing option but most of the guides at Vail Valley Anglers are dreaming of their next saltwater fly fishing trip. This past month a group of Vail Valley Anglers guides and friends headed down to […]
The ski resorts attract most people to the Vail area during the winter months, but the local rivers should be on your list to check out. There can be days out on the water with 50+ plus fish caught and not another angler in sight. Typically the easiest way to […]
Fly rod design is ever-changing, new technology, new fly fishing tactics, trends, and new ideas are all driving rod designers to break the barriers to keep making better and better fly rods. Many will “skoff” at the price of these top of the line fly rods. But if you have […]
The mercury in thermometers have dropped below freezing, the rivers have begun to build up ice shelves and the trout have moved into the deep slow holes. Wintertime in #troutcoutry is a special time for anglers as the rivers are much quieter, the time on the water is short but […]
Fall seems to have already gone and winter is here, mornings are cold, evenings are dark and tropical fly fishing destinations sound pretty appetizing right about now. For the trout bum, saltwater fly fishing is a perfect way to keep up with the sport and try something new. There are […]
Darkness, moonlight, and big freakin’ brown trout! That is a quick way to summarize fly fishing with mouse flies at night in Colorado. “The freaks come out at night,” sings true on many rivers around here as the big predatory brown trout reserve themselves for nocturnal feeding. Big meals and […]
Alpine lakes are classified as lakes at high altitudes, usually above treeline or around 10,000 feet in elevation. The lakes are a refuge for fly anglers in the late summer when local waters are muddy or water temperatures are too high. Due to their cooler water temperatures, algae and weeds […]
Whitefish are the most misunderstood fish in the west. They might not do aerial jumps out of the water or slurp dry flies off of seams, but they can submarine your bobber and put a bend in your fly rod like any big trout can. The world record whitey is […]
The rivers are rising, the snow is melting, and runoff is officially here. High water in trout country can be tricky to fish, some days the increase in flows and turbidity will make it near impossible to catch a fish. On other days you can connect with a fish of […]
“What a beautiful office you work in,” a client remarks to me as we are floating down the Colorado River. Like other fly fishing guides, we have all heard this remark from our clients. And I guess the client is right, fly fishing guides do work in the outdoors in beautiful scenery doing what they love,…
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