Colorado Fishing Guides
Colorado punches above its weight for a landlocked state. Gold Medal trout waters are designated by the state for exceptional quality — and Colorado has more Gold Medal miles than most states have quality trout water, period. The South Platte, Arkansas, Frying Pan, Gunnison, Blue, and Roaring Fork rivers are world-class. Add the high-country stillwaters and you've got year-round fishing at altitude.
Top waters in Colorado
South Platte River (Cheesman Canyon / Deckers)
Brown trout, rainbow trout
Technical tailwater. Cheesman Canyon is catch-and-release, flies and lures only. Educated fish on clear water — this is where good anglers get humbled.
Frying Pan River
Brown trout, rainbow trout
Tailwater below Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt. Year-round fishery with midge hatches even in January. The 'toilet bowl' pool below the dam is famous and crowded.
Arkansas River
Brown trout, rainbow trout
102 miles of Gold Medal water — the longest contiguous Gold Medal stretch in Colorado. Salida to Canon City is the sweet spot. Also a major rafting corridor — guide boats share water with whitewater rafts.
Blue River
Brown trout, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout
Silverthorne section below Dillon Reservoir. Year-round tailwater. Walk-wade friendly from downtown Silverthorne — unusual urban access to Gold Medal water.
Gunnison River (Black Canyon)
Brown trout, rainbow trout
Remote, steep-walled canyon with trophy browns. The hike in is strenuous but the reward is unmatched solitude and big fish. Not for beginners.
Colorado fishing by season
Spring
Tailwaters fish year-round; freestones clear in May. Blue-winged olive hatches on the South Platte. Runoff on freestones starts late April at lower elevations.
Summer
Freestones clear by late June after runoff. Caddis and PMD hatches. High-country lakes and streams above 9,000 feet are prime. Afternoon thunderstorms are daily above treeline.
Fall
Kokanee salmon run on tributaries (red and spawning). Brown trout spawn. Fall colors at 9-10K feet are spectacular. October is the local's month.
Winter
Tailwaters (Frying Pan, Blue, South Platte) fish all winter. Midge hatches on warm afternoons. Dress for cold — air temps in the teens, water temps in the 30s.
Gold Medal Water is a legally protected designation in Colorado — only the top 1% of state waters earn it. That means strict regulations, high fish counts, and large average size. The combination of freestone diversity (dozens of different rivers across the Rockies), accessible tailwaters within an hour of Denver, and high-country wilderness fishing above 10,000 feet gives Colorado unmatched variety in a single state.
The Dream Stream (South Platte below Spinney Mountain Reservoir) is the most photographed trout water in Colorado but fishes best during the spawn (October-November). For a summer float, book the Arkansas between Salida and Canon City — less crowded than the Frying Pan, bigger water, and you'll see rafters but not other drift boats.
Find a guide that fits your trip
By species
By city
By water
43 Colorado fishing guides
Minturn Anglers LLC, Justin Nolan
Main St Minturn, Colorado
Colorado's premier fly shop & guide service with access to productive trout water.
5280 Angler
Colorado, Colorado
Colorado fly fishing guides offering year-round guided trips on public and private waters.
Alpine Outfitters/Withrow Inc., Aimee and Seth Withrow
Lake City, Colorado
Guided fishing adventures in Colorado's wilderness with expert guides and premium equipment.
Anglers Covey
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado fly fishing guided trips, classes, and gear for all abilities.
Breckenridge Outfitters
Colorado, Colorado
Year-round guided fly fishing adventures in the Rocky Mountains with Orvis-endorsed guides.
Front Range Anglers
Boulder, Colorado
Colorado's premier fly fishing guide service with 43 years of heritage and global adventure travel expertise.
North Fork Ranch
Colorado, Colorado
Orvis Endorsed fly fishing lodge offering world-class mountain fishing on the North Fork of the South Platte River.
Track 'Em Outfitters, Bill, Julie and Amber Canterbury
Howard, Colorado
Colorado big game hunting with summer pack-in fishing trips in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Willowfly Anglers
Colorado, Colorado
Orvis Endorsed fly fishing guides on Colorado's Gunnison River with walk/wade and float trips.
the Broadmoor Fly Fishing Camp
Colorado Springs, Colorado
World-class fly fishing lodge on Colorado's Tarryall River with professional guides and luxury hospitality.
AEI Outfitter, Lewie Foltz
Almont, Colorado
Guided fly fishing adventures in Colorado's Gunnison and Crested Butte Valley
Dunton Hot Springs
Dolores, Colorado
Orvis-Endorsed luxury fly fishing lodge on private West Fork Dolores River waters
Adams Lodge Outfitters, Bruce Clatterbaugh
Meeker, Colorado
Horseback fishing trips to high mountain lakes in Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness.
Budges LLC, Ryan McSparran
Littleton, Colorado
Remote wilderness lodge offering fishing, hunting, and horseback adventures in Colorado.
Crazy Horse Outfitters/San Juan Outfitting LLC, Jesse Bauer
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Elite wilderness horseback adventures in the San Juan Mountains
Flat Tops Adventures LLC, Forest Keith
New Castle, Colorado
Mountain fishing adventures in serene lakes and streams with experienced guides.
LKS Outfitters, LLC dba Flat Tops Wilderness Guides, Horn Fork Guides, Rivers Bend Outfitters, Jimmy Oswald
Craig, Colorado
Colorado's largest public land outfitter with wilderness fishing trips and pack adventures.
Lost Trail Outfitters LLC dba Frazier Outfitting, Ruben Urrutia
Creede, Colorado
Colorado Trophy Elk Hunting Outfitters & Fly Fishing Guides
Lost Valley Ranch Corp., Tony Warnock
Sedalia, Colorado
AAA Four Diamond dude ranch with fly fishing, horseback riding, and Rocky Mountain adventures
Red Feather Guides & Outfitters, Inc., Arnie Schlottman
Gypsum, Colorado
High mountain lake trout fishing, horseback camping trips, June-August
Ute Creek Outfitters and Guide Service LLC dba Long Ridge Outfitters, Greg Pearson
Creede, Colorado
High country fishing trips to streams and alpine lakes with horseback access
Welder Outfitting Services, Shawn Welder
Meeker, Colorado
Colorado's backcountry fishing specialists since 1988 on the upper White River.
44 Outfitters LLC, Clayton Gerard & Jason Bair
Gypsum, Colorado
Guided fishing trips into Colorado's high mountain lakes via horseback
Back Country Outfitters Inc, Justin Frie
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Full-service guide operation offering backcountry fishing expeditions in the San Juan National Forest
Bull Basin Guides & Outfitters, LLC, Dean Billington
Kremmling, Colorado
Premier hunting and fly fishing trips on Colorado's finest private ranches.
Capitol Peak Outfitters LLC, Ted Benge
St Carbondale, Colorado
Premier horseback outfitter offering trail rides, fishing trips, and hunting in Aspen/Snowmass Colorado.
Cherokee T.P. Outfitters LLC, Tammy Merklien
Craig, Colorado
Elite guided hunting and fishing trips in Southern Colorado
J Bar H Outfitters, LLC, Jeanne Horne
Hamilton, Colorado
Full-service big game hunting and horseback fishing outfitter in NW Colorado
Luark Ranch & Outfitters, LLC, Pat and Niki Luark
Burns, Colorado
Fly fish the Colorado River at our 5th generation family ranch in the Rockies.
Mesa Outfitters, Loren Williams
Fruita, Colorado
Colorado fly-fishing and backcountry adventures on the Grand Mesa's pristine trout lakes.
Pair A Dice Outfitters Inc dba Avalanche Outfitters, Josh Wamboldt
Redstone, Colorado
Overnight fishing pack trips in White River National Forest
Sable Mountain Outfitters, LLC, Ann Marie Scritchfield
Meeker, Colorado
Quality personalized fishing trips into the Flat Tops Wilderness and White River National Forest.
Tiffany Ranch dba Weminuche Wilderness Outfitters LLC, Tom and Cheri Van Soelen
Durango, Colorado
Summer pack trips and fall hunts in the remote Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado.
Carron & CO LLC dba Vallecito Lake Outfitters, Doug and Sheila Carron
Bayfield, Colorado
Summer fishing and pack trips in the Weminuche Wilderness at Vallecito Lake
High Sierra Expeditions LLC, Brad Gray
Montrose, Colorado
Southwest Colorado mountain adventures including fly fishing on private acres
Code of the West Outfitters, LLC, Joe Wood
Meeker, Colorado
Professional fulltime outfitters for the Northern Colorado Rockies
Highlands Unlimited Inc, Jennifer and Jeff Burbey
Hesperus, Colorado
Backcountry hunting and fishing drop camps in Southwest Colorado's Piedra Wilderness
JML Outfitters, Marie Haskett
Meeker, Colorado
Year-round outfitting with fishing, trail rides, hunting in White River National Forest
Lobo Outfitters, LLC, Mike Ray
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Hunting, horseback riding, and high country fishing adventures in Colorado
Villa Ranch, Mary K. Krueger and Hanna Borchard
Meeker, Colorado
Guided trout fishing and ranch experiences in Northwest Colorado
HWH West Holdings, LLC, Tony Warnock
Fowler, Colorado
Guided fly fishing experiences in Cheesman Canyon on South Platte River
Sangre De Cristo Outfitters, Inc., Travis Schulze
Westcliffe, Colorado
Trophy elk hunting and premier trout fly fishing in Colorado
Sombrero Ranches, Inc., Rex Walker and Freda Bishop
Longmont, Colorado
Colorado's largest outfitter offering horseback rides, hunting, and guided fishing trips
Monthly fishing guide market report for Colorado.
Pricing trends, top destinations, and seasonal outlook — one email per month.
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