Southwest Colorado Fly Fishing, Whitewater Rafting: Family Activities & Fly Shop

Colorado State River Guide Certification Course & ROW Course – Oar Boat Skills (Including: Float Fishing)

fishrigs — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:18:35 +0000

Learn to Row/Oar Rivers in Rafts & Drift Boats – OPEN to non-guides!

Learn how to successfully row/navigate an oar boat successfully down the river on your own! Gain valuable skills, safety, rescue and recovery techniques. This 4-Day Intensive, provides you a better understanding of rivers dynamics including: hydrology, reading the water, environmental considerations and the hazards associated with recreational & commercial river rafting/drift boating. The focus of this course is to educate future Oarsmen. Check out Link!

Colorado State River Guide Certification Course

RIGS has offered its Colorado State River Guide Certification Course since 2002 and provided the most extensive guide certification course, with the highest level of certifications, available in the region. Your instructors have been training top quality river guides since 1991 and look forward to sharing their experience with you. Check out Link!

Tenkara USA @ Denver Fly Fishing Show @ RIGS Fly Shop Booth

fishrigs — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:48:08 +0000

Join RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service and Daniel Galhardo of Tenkara USA http://www.tenkarausa.com/ at “The Fly Fishing Show” this January 6,7,8 in Denver, CO www.flyfishingshow.com .

We are scheduled for presentations each day, as well as casting demos and super rod/discounted gear deals!
Special Guest: Daniel Galhardo – Owner of Tenkara USA! Daniel will be at our booth each day to discuss the Tenkara line – also full product line available for purchase at the show See you there!

Fly Fishing Show

flyfishingshow.com

Check out http://flyfishingshow.com/

RIGS Hours of Opperation – updated 10/22/11

fishrigs — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:46:57 +0000

Fall Shop Hours

Monday – Saturday 8a.m. to 6p.m.

CLOSED October 25th-November 18th

Winter Shop Hours

November 19th -December 31st

OPEN Wed-Sat 10:30am-6:30pm

January-April

Saturdays Only 10am-6pm

*Free Fly Tying Clinics every Saturday! Jan – Feb, 10am – 12noon, coffee and doughnuts on us!

Learn Fly Tying techniques from the very best fly tiers in the region; each Saturday (10am – Noon) throughout the winter! We have many amazing tiers scheduled this winter to help you take your tying to the next level. The Fly Section at the Shop has also expanded its new tying materials section to be the most comprehensive in the region. Every thing from new hook styles to the latest and greatest in dubbing, beads tools and hackle

Whiting Farms Hackle and Feathers

fishrigs — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:42:34 +0000

We specialize in Whiting Farms hackle. Whether looking for a Whiting Midge Saddle, High and Dry Hackle, Bronze or Silver grade Capes/Saddles or a EuroHackle Saddle we have it in stock or we can get it in a timely fashion. Only 30 minutes away from the source, we visit the Whiting farm regularly and specialize in custom orders. Having regional access to the worlds best feather resource gives us the ability to pick up quality orders directly, custom select hackle and give our customer the best product available from Whiting. Our service can cut down the wait time between order and use. Let RIGS get it in your hands faster!

We also carry a great assortment of fly tying materials from Umpqua, Montana Fly Company, Wapsi and HareLine. Let us fill your fly tying needs today.

ORDER – Tenkara Rods

fishrigs — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 01:30:28 +0000

RIGS is your Colorado Tenkara Rod Dealer.

Place an order of $200 or more and get free shipping!

We have the full line of Rods, flies and accessories Tenkara offers. Call us for more information, come in and demo a rod for the day or order now at 970-626-4460.

Colorado Tenkara Fly Rod Dealer

fishrigs — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:48:59 +0000

RIGS Fly Shop is proud to be Colorado’s FIRST & ONLY Tenkara USA Fly Rod Dealer!

Review Rods & Pricing at our website. Call and place an order today: 888-626-4460.

Tenkara is the traditional Japanese method of fly-fishing, which uses only a rod, line and fly. Simple.

Tenkara is a category of fly-fishing particularly well-suited for mountain stream fly fishing and is a great fishing setup for backpacking. It’s a very effective, simple and enjoyable method of fly-fishing mountain streams.

The basic concept:

Tenkara is primarily used and particularly effective for trout fishing in mountain streams and small streams. Some of the main advantages are its simplicity, the very delicate presentations with the light line, the ability to hold the line off the water and a fly in place over difficult currents, precise casting, and great control of the fly.

Only rod, line and fly are used. The line is attached directly to the tip of the rod, tippet is attached to the end of the tenkara line. Like in western fly-fishing the line propels the weightless fly to the desired target and there is a fly-casting technique involved – just a bit slower, and with a shorter casting stroke. Landing a fish is very intuitive and similar to any type of fishing with a rod: one simply raises the rod high, and reaches for the fish.

Tenkara Fly Rod Dealer in Colorado

Tenkara is an ancient angling method, new in the US. While its own style of fly fishing, it is a great tool for the techniques of close-up nymphing, soft-hackle wet fly-fishing and virtually drag-free dry fly fishing. It’s also a great way to get kids engaged in the tradition of fly-fishing, to catch your own food while backpacking, or to simply enjoy the fishing experience.

uncompahgre river, southwest fly fishing

fishrigs — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:25:17 +0000

www.TheAnglingChannel.com went out with RIGS Fly Shop guide Adam Pate of Ridgway, Colorado on the Uncompahgre River located in Southwest Colorado below Ridgway Reservoir for the recent filming of this episode of Colorado Fly Fishing Review. The San Juan worm produced a good number of fish as well as the Caddis nymph. We fished for about 2.5 hours and caught 6 fish. The Uncompahgre holds some good fish and the streamside walkways make it easy to get to. Nice fishing, check it out.Video = http://www.theanglingchannel.com/colorado-fly-fishing-review.html

Fly Fishing & Waterfowl Huntin

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:00:12 +0000

Hunt ducks and geese in the early morning hours and cast in the afternoon, RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service links two great guided offerings throughout the winter. Fly fish the regions best waters with waterfowl hunting on private land both in the same day. Many anglers keep their lines tight in the summertime only, but winter can be even more productive.

“We are excited to again offer two great winter activities in guided waterfowl hunting and fly-fishing,” says Tim Patterson, longtime guide and Owner of RIGS. “Many of our Private Waters have received considerable funding from such groups as the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited in order to enhance wildlife habitat,” says Patterson. “We have access to two major stopovers on the flyway within the Uncompahgre Valley that are full of birds and get very low pressure.”
“Winter fly-fishing is extremely popular for those in the know, and who enjoy fly fishing on a regular basis. There’s not as much angler pressure and the fish are still hungry.
Water levels are lower and identifying where the fish are becomes easier. It’s unique to offer these great activities in combination or on their own.”

RIGS fishes the Uncompahgre River Valley’s local waterways including secluded waters with exclusive private access for some of the regions best year-round angling opportunities. RIGS has commercial permits on public waters including the Uncompahgre, Cimarron, Gunnison and Lake Fork of the Gunnison Rivers as well as access to several different private water fisheries. “Our guiding options are full of diversity and productive opportunities,” says Patterson “We truly have some incredibly unique settings.”

Telluride’s signature water, the San Miguel River, primarily freezes over each winter as the river becomes nearly un-fishable, moving to lower elevation is essential. Ridgway’s Uncompahgre River and tail water sections below the Ridgway Reservoir acts as a prime location for anglers.

“Another nice thing about getting down to the Ridgway area is that we’re lower in elevation so mid-day temperatures tend to be more comfortable,” says Patterson. “The region is unique in that way, we have several tail water fisheries, (that’s water released out of dams,) that fish well year-round. The water temperatures tend to be consistent, rivers don’t freeze over and flows are stabilized.”

RIGS fishes the Uncompahgre, Gunnison, Dolores and Cimarron rivers, and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Rivers and tail waters are the five-year-old company’s main fishing haunts but still-waters are also frequented such as ponds and private lakes.

RIGS offers half-day, full-day and multi-day trips for both Fly Fishing and Guided Waterfowl Hunts, as well as a full service fly shop right on Ridgway’s main drag. For more information or to book a trip visit www.fishrigs.com or give them a call at (970) 626-4460.

On the Uncompahgre River, Southwest Colorado

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:00:38 +0000

By DAVE BUCHANAN
RIDGWAY – The secret that puts a big smile on the face of Tim Patterson really is no secret at all, since it meanders right through the middle of this touristy hamlet in the shadow of Mt. Sneffels.
It’s hard to keep the Uncompahgre River a secret, since it flows where hundreds of people drive past and over it every day, where bald eagles perch in towering cottonwood trees and where elk and deer often come down to drink.
And yet, even in summer this little-understood river, particularly the stretch upstream of Ridgway State Park, barely draws more than a cursory glance from most anglers, most of whom are headed elsewhere.
The 3 miles from the park to Ridgway has the reputation for being polluted, dewatered and intensely private, none of which are complete fabrications but all of which slowly are evolving.
Even many locals don’t fish the Uncompahgre above Ridgway State Park, preferring instead the crystalline high-country streams in the nearby San Juan Mountains, the lure of stocked trout and kokanee salmon in the reservoir and the revamped river below the reservoir, which offers excellent year-round fly fishing.
But much of that is changing, thanks to to the synergistic efforts of such people as Patterson in the 2-year old fly shop occupying a busy corner on Colorado Highway 62 midway through Ridgway.
“It’s all here,” said Patterson during a recent trip exploring the river. Standing just below the Highway 62 bridge, he excitedly pointed out several rising trout, their noses poking into the ether as they fed on midges during a bright day on the cusp of the winter solstice. “No one will believe you that we’re standing here below a busy highway watching trout rise, but there’s definitely fish here, thanks to better water quality and the streamwork that’s been done.”
Towns all across Colorado are becoming more aware of how precious their streambanks are, and Ridgway is one of the leaders in trying to re-establish a river abused by years of neglect.
“A lot of people have put energy, time and money into the river, and we’re thinking it’s going to be a great win-win situation for everyone,” Patterson said earlier that morning” The town has been real supportive of improving the river, using some of their own money plus some GOCO funds.”
The town of Ridgway took the lead in revitalizing the Uncompahgre and has spent more than $200,000 of its funds on the Ridgway River Recreation Corridor Project, said town clerk Pam Kraft.
Money also came from the Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and Wildlife Foundation, GOCO and the El Pomar Foundation.
The project, which will include a park, teaching area and pedestrian bridge, stretches between the southernmost town limits to the narrow-gauge railroad trestle, which marks the start of private property. The multi-year plan project will stabilize the river and offer a variety of recreation uses, including angling, kayaking and rafting.
The work also has provided some deep holes needed by trout to escape summer heat and survive the winter cold.
It hasn’t been easy overcoming a century of mistreatment — initial rehabilitation efforts were washed away in a spring flood — but the stakes are high.
Ridgway businesses watch as an estimated 5,000 cars crawl through town every day, said Patterson, headed for Telluride, Ouray and other destinations with more to offer.
Simultaneously, large tracts of farmland between Ridgway and Montrose are being subdivided at a rapid rate, and the rising demands for recreation sparked the development several years ago of the RiverWay Trail, a paved foot and bike trail built and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management.
“We also have the issue of access to the river between town and the state park,” Patterson said. “We’re hoping someday to work out conservation easements with some of the landowners.”
The river remains the main focus. The fishery is dominated by naturally reproducing brown trout, which are more capable of handling the heavy metals in the Uncompahgre.
We’ve seen a marked increase in the water quality in the San Miguel and upper Uncompahgre basins,” said Dan Kowlaski, fisheries biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. “The mining history is so extensive in the area that we have tributaries running a pH of 2 and 3 (extremely acidic) and until we get that remedied it’s going to impact the whole river.”
It’s not a totally unhealthy river, Kowalski said, and it has an abundance of spawning areas.

Fishing Ouray County

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:00:19 +0000

From deep canyon pools and gently braided runs, to high country lakes and magnificent reservoirs, Ouray County offers anglers of all ages and ability levels a chance to participate in some of Colorado’s finest angling opportunities.

Fly Fishermen, Spin Casters and bait fishermen alike, all have locations in which they can enjoy making some casts to the regions diverse selection of trout. Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat and Brook Trout, as well as the occasional Konkanee Salomon, can all be found within a short drive from Ouray. Throughout the summer, excellent access to the high country offers anglers unparalleled beauty and incredible insect hatches. Eager fish, crashing the waters surface are sure to keep your attention.

So whether you’re looking for a fun and relaxing place to take the family or you’re in search of remote and productive trout waters, the region has something for everyone.

To help determine which location would be best for you and your group, here are a few suggestions of some of the Counties better options for wetting a line!

Uncompahgre River
Although section of the Uncompahgre River through the City of Ouray are too turbulent for productive fishing, a bit further down river offers gentle and easily accessible. The Pa-Co-Chu-Puk & Dallas Creek areas within Ridgway State Park offer classic tailwater river fishing, small creeks and stocked ponds the whole family can enjoy. *Access here excellent for all ability levels, including disabilities.

Ridgway Reservoir

Dutch Charlie Area
Enjoy great shoreline fishing especially on the south shore of the cove where it opens out into the main body of the reservoir. It’s close to picnicking sites, a playground and a modern, universally accessible fishing pier.
Dallas Creek Day Use Area
Highlights include a long shoreline for river or reservoir fishing with convenient drive-up areas and parking spaces. The best fishing is often found where the Uncompahgre River empties into the main body of the reservoir. Kokanee salmon are here during their autumn run.
Cimarron River & Silver Jack Reservoir
The Cimarron River offers great angling opportunities for Cutthroat, Rainbow and Brook Trout. This often overlooked fishery can provide excellent dry fly-fishing throughout the year. A good piece of tail-water angling lies just below Silver Jack Reservoir. The Forks of the Cimarron River offer incredibly scenic fishing in the Big Blue Wilderness, while easy hike access to several scenic high alpine lakes is excellent.

Creeks and High Lakes

Dallas Creek: This large feeder creek flows into Ridgway State Park Reservoir and is home to an excellent trout population, access is limited.
Canyon Creek: One of the few good streams in the Ouray area for fly fishers. Both brook and rainbow trout are found here.
Cow Creek: Upper Cow Creek offers excellent opportunities for those seeking solitude. The more difficult the access (bushwhacking required), the bigger the trout
Crystal Lake: Located just a few miles from Ouray, up Red Mountain Pass to Ironton Park, and on your left is a crystal clear spring feed pond that has some nice dry fly fishing.
Blue Lakes: These three lakes sit at an elevation of approximately 1,100 with stunning views and some nice size trout as an added benefit. Unfortunately, access to these beautiful lakes is accomplished by hiking four miles into the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area on TR #201. The three lakes range from 6 to 16 acres in size. Remember to go prepared for all types of conditions.

*Don’t forget to contact the local fishing shop to receive the most up to date information on conditions, locations, licenses and supplies.

RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service, in Ridgway on Hwy 62.
888-626-4460