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So,
you are new to fly fishing eh?
This
page is geared to help point you in the right direction
and answer basic questions about our guide trips.
This page will inform you about our guide trips,
what to expect on a trip and provide quick links
to other pages in our site. There is also a lot
of info here for all the veteran anglers out
there, especially if you are bringing along a rookie
for their first time.
What
we offer
Animas
Valley Anglers offers the best guides and guide
service in the West. Our float and wade fly fishing
trips focus on the entire fly fishing experience.
Fly fishing is a life-long lesson and we will
help shorten the learning curve regardless of
your ability or the ability levels in your group.
Never held a fly rod before? No problem, you'll
be casting and feeling comfortable in no time.
Veteran anglers will enjoy our fish "spotting" and
boating abilities, local stream knowledge, and
willingness to share some of our personal tips
and tricks.
The
beginner angler
has a lot to learn
when getting started,
and we will help
make the first
experience fun
and entertaining.
Our guide trips
cover all aspects
of fly fishing,
including equipment,
casting, line control,
rigging tackle,
reading water,
presentation, insects,
fly patterns as
well as how to
hook, play, land
and handle trout.
We keep the education
process simple
and easy for you
to follow.
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| The guides
Our
guides are some of the best in the region with years of
experience and countless hours on the water. The guides
are full time professionals with extensive knowledge and
teaching abilities who can cater to the needs of each individual
anlger. All of our guides are also certified in First Aid
and CPR so you are in
good
hands
with any of the crew. Get
to know them by clicking the links below.
Will
Blanchard | Chris
Meyer | Josh
Jarvis | Tim
Hebbard | Marc
Smith | Rick
Hooley |
Ralph Blanchard
Booking Agent & GM | guides
main page | Animas
Valley Anglers outlook
I
have fished for bass all my life, how will I do?
Those
of you out there who have fished all their lives for bass
or other species with conventional gear will do great
with fly fishing. It is a bit different at first, but after
a little time on the water you'll get the hang of it. Please
keep in mind that trout and bass are very different species
and the techniques we use to catch them are equally as
different. Keep an open mind to learning new techniques,
apply what you know about fish and you'll be a trout pro
in no time. Also, please realize that fly fishing for trout
is meant to be an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend a
day on the water, there are no weigh-ins at the end of
the day or money prizes for the biggest fish. While
friendly wagers and jokes can be fun, we are not tournament
fishermen and our goal is not to catch every fish in the
river but rather to make sure you enjoy the whole fly fishing
experience.
I
have fly fished, but the person I'm bringing has not.
How
will they
do?
They
will do just fine. They just need to be ready to enjoy
the experience and be willing to learn. They will also
gain a lot from watching you fish, along with the guides'
patient instruction. Guided fly fishing trips are a fantastic
way to spend time with friends, family, a significant other
and business associates.
I
plan on fishing, but my wife/husband/friend wishes
to just tag along. Is this available?
Yes.
It works best on float trips, but can be arranged on wade
trips as well. The guest will be billed at our single angler
rate, plus $30
for
the extra
person.
Lunch is also included for that person on full day trips.
Can
you guarantee we'll catch fish?
If
we guaranteed trout, we
might as well call it catching, not fishing. As outfitters,
we are, by law not allowed to guarantee a catch. While
we may not be able to guarantee you'll catch fish,
it is nice
to know our rivers and streams
will give you plenty of opportunities. Catching
fish depends on many things; weather, river conditions,
fish
activity
and
the
ability level of the angler. Beginners will have plenty
of chances and just need to set realistic expectations
for their day. The fish are out there, and we'll do our
best to get you into them.
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Should
I book a full day or half?
We
encourage booking a full day for several reasons.
For beginners in particular, it may take a
good portion of the morning for you to develop
the techniques and come to understand the fish.
Often times the half day trips come to an end
right as you're getting the hang of it and
starting to catch fish. In addition, the conditions
and fish activity can change significantly
throughout the course of a day, meaning that
sometimes the fishing can be better in the
morning than the afternoon or vise versa. Spending
a whole day on the water gives you the best
chance at "catching the hatch" when
the fish and the insects are most active. Lastly,
because of the time commitment and the resources
that go into each trip, the cost difference
between half day trips and full day trips is
minimal. We realize that not every angler has
the vacation time and budget for a full day
of fishing and for those folks a half day trip
can be perfect. We can also arrange to do a
short full day trip (with lunch included) for
a pro rated cost based on the time spent fishing.
The
day
A
day on the water starts in the morning between
7am and 9am. On full day trips we will break
for lunch between 11am to 1pm, then continue
fishing till 3pm to 5pm, depending on the start
time. Meet time and time on the water can vary
a bit depending on transportation issues, schedules
and fishing conditions. Rods will be put down
and boats parked in the event of lightning,
but we are more than happy to fish through
cold spells, wind and rain. On very rare occasions
the weather can force a shortened day, but
we'd much rather take a break, let the weather
clear and keep fishing. Custom meet times are
available and may be determined by the guide
as well as the clients' wishes. We do not have
set times or schedules when it comes to guide
trips.
1/2 day trips: 3 1/2 to 4 hours on the water.
Snack and drinks are provided on 1/2 day trips.
Full
day trips: 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours on the
water. Stream-side lunch and drinks are
provided.
Custom trips: We pro rate the guide fee depending on the duration of
time spent fishing. Stream-side lunch is included.
What
is the best time of year?
We
guide and fish all twelve months of the year.
That makes the Southwest a fantastic year-round
fishing destination, especially with the consistency
of the San juan in New Mexico and the Animas
that flows through Durango. Each river, stream
and lake in our region changes with each season
of the year. Our guides are very diverse as
to the locations fished and will move from
one fishery to the next depending on the conditions
and fish activity. The guides have a constant
pulse on each fishery. There is always some
were to fish, regardless of the time of year,
weather and snow melt.
Spring (March
to the middle of May): Root Pond, our private pond near
Cortez, is happening big time in the early spring. Animas,
Dolores, Rio Grande, the upper San Juan near Pagosa and
the San Juan below Navajo are all options.
Summer (Middle of May to the
end of August): Root Pond fishes well till mid
June or when water temps get a little too warm
for the trout. The Rio, Animas, upper San Juan
and the San Juan in New Mexico are all happening
big time. Mountain creeks and streams also start
to fish well in the middle of June.
Fall (September to the middle
of November): Great time to be the water. Creeks
are fantastic due to the bright fall colors and
feisty trout. The Animas is outstanding in the
fall as the large browns start to get more aggressive.
The San Juan below Navajo Dam is a consistent
fishery in the cooler months. The Dolores also
fishes pretty well in the fall.
Winter (Middle of November to
late February): Do away with cabin fever and
fish our year-round fisheries, the Animas and
San Juan below Navajo Dam in New Mexico. Crowds
are nonexistent and moderate winter temps make
these two fisheries the best winter fisheries
in the west. Fish a couple days on your next
ski or snowboard trip. We also offer specials
in the winter. Rates
and Special Deals | Lessons
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Were
we fish
Here
is a list of quick links to pages in our site to get
you familiar with the places we go and the types of
trips we offer.
Animas | Animas
Historic
Train
Trips | San
Juan
New
Mexico | San
Juan
Colorado | Rio
Grande | Dolores | Mountain
Creeks | Root
Pond | Guide & River
Reports
over
view
Float
or wade?
Some
guides say floating a river is the best way to learn,
others say wade fishing is the best...we say both
are the right way. Floating gets you out away from
trees and other snags, however there are things to
hook in the boat. Like the guide, which is why
we fish barbless hooks. Floating is also nice because
you are up out of the water and can concentrate on
the cast, presentation and cover water inaccessible
by shore. On the San Juan below Navajo Dam the casts
tend to
be
short.
Animas,
Rio
and upper
San
Juan
floats are fine for beginners; however, it can be
a little more challenging.
trip
index | float
fishing | float
trip info | wade
info
Wade
trip
links
Wade
fishing is a great way to learn because you are living
the dream. You are a post card out there as you cast into
the cold clear waters. Many of the smaller streams and
creeks we fish are too small and shallow to float. When
our larger rivers are too low to float, wade trips can
be the only option. Trees, grass, shrubs and other snags
do pose
a threat,
but we will show you tricks on how to hook trout, not trees.
wade
info | mountain
creeks | historic
train trips on the Animas | private
land
Float
trip
links
Animas | San
Juan
New Mexico | San
Juan
Colorado | Rio
Grande | |