Let's get practical for a minute. We not only have fly fishing available but good spincast fishing as well. You will fish in three different kinds of water, but only for trout (Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brown and Brook). Our stocked ranch lake is a fifteen minute walk or a three minute drive. We lease the lake to the Colorado Division of Wildlife and they see to it that it is well supplied with Rainbows or Cutthroats. The lake is a safe place for kids to fish and the scenery at the lake is spectacular. The easiest way to catch fish in the lake is with a spinning rod with a floating water bubble. Five feet of four pound leader behind the bubble, you will place a small (#14-18) fly. We use Mosquitos, Black Ants, Orange Ashers, Prince Nymphs, Beetles and other non-descript patterns. A quick retrieve brings the action.

We also offer a trip to a high lake each week. These are mountain gems that sit just at or above timberline. The hike is usually two to three miles uphill. The fishing can be spectacular or non-existent depending on weather and who knows what else. The scenery, comaradarie, guide service and stories are always amazing. Deer, elk, goats and Bighorn sheep live near the mountain lakes. Native Cutthroat and Brook trout are the sought after species. We use the same techniques that work at the ranch lake. Catch a few early and your guide might cook them up for you for lunch. And take rain gear. By mid-afternoon, the weather roars off the Divide. That's when the fishing often gets good.

We also fish the creeks and the rivers. Chalk Creek is at our doorstep. It is twenty to thirty feet wide. A roaring torrent during early June snow melt, it recedes during the summer to a very wadeable mountain brook. An accomplished fly fisherman can catch dozens of trout in an afternoon of good work. We figure six catches per hour is a good pace. It is often more. This is dry fly water. We will use 7-8 foot leader with a 5X tippet. Good brushy flies float best on the rapid water. Wulff patterns, Hoppers, Irresistibles, Humpies and Stimulators are good in sizes up to #10. None of our streams are easy wading. Many choose to wade in shorts and tennis shoes if they can stand the cold. If not, we usually use chest waders.

We are surrounded by good rivers (South Platte, Frying Pan, Eagle, Roaring Fork), but the Arkansas is home. It is a fast flowing river that will run around 1000-2500 cfs during most of the summer. There are two challenges. You must wade with energy and with care and you must endure the flotillas of rafters as this is one of the finest whitewater rafting rivers in the West. The tough wading challenges keep many other fishermen away and the rafters can be ignored or avoided by choosing your access and time of day.

You will want at least an 8 1/2 foot rod, usually 5-weight or better. The delicate rods that work well elsewhere aren't ideal for our fast water, variable winds and long casts. I like a 9 foot, 6-weight. Unless you are stream fishing (usually best in the fall), you will be casting upstream with either dry flies or nymphs or a combination of both. A popular rig these days is the "Hopper-dropper". This includes a large terrestrial pattern fished on the surface and acting as an indicator for a nymph that is tied 14-30" below. We often use #12 Stimulators on top with #16 Beadheads below. Prince, Copper John, Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear work well and imitate most of the caddis larvae that dominate the River. Sometimes we fish with straight dries, usually with one of the caddis representations, Hoppers or Humpies. A double beadhead rig with a surface indicator is perhaps the most effective but needs to be in the hands of an experienced caster. 5X is plenty small enough.

Macro-fishing the tailwaters for very large trout is available with an hour drive to the Platte or an hour and a half to the Frying Pan. If you like to sight cast to 20" fish that are smarter than most professors and you still have the vision required to tie 7X on size #20 flies, we would love to go along. One of our guests spends one night each trip fishing the "Hog-trough" on the Taylor River, just one hour away. Just clip a night light on your forehead, wade waist deep into 40 degree water and drift nymphs on long leaders for six hours or until the sun comes back up. I wouldn't believe his stories, but he always has pictures to prove his amazing catches.

None of this is easy. It amazes me how most of our guests who love to fly fish spend absolutely zero time practicing their casting at home. It may look a little weird to your neighbors to see you spot-casting to dandelions, but if there is one secret to catching a lot of trout, it is accurate casting with subsequent proper drifts. If you can cast, we can help you with the rest: access, fly suggestions, maps and even some beat-up equipment. It also helps to be in condition. Except for our ranch lake, all of our fishing requires a lot of hiking, stiff wading and good balance. Bring the best equipment you have and don't forget polarized sunglasses.

We will do our best to help you catch fish. We don't charge extra for any of our fishing opportunities, unless we arrange for fishing on some private location in which case you pay an access fee. We can give you plenty of instruction and, in most cases, one of us will go with you to the river if you wish. There are several good fly-fishing shops in the area. They will give you even more updated information. For Arkansas River and Platte updates, you might want to send Bill an email at rgangler@flyshop.com and ask to get on his mailing list.   Guided trips for wading or floating the Arkansas can be arranged through the Arkansas River Fly Shop at 719-539-3474. The owner, Rod Patch, is the top expert on the river and he is always willing to help you out. If you want even more information before you book or before you arrive, give John a call or, better yet, send him an e-mail to jwoolmington@hotmail.com.  He is an unrepentant fly fisherman.