Went to Colorado and spent a week driving around fly fishing all the streams and rivers that I have fantasized about for years. I spent 2 days fishing the blue river around silverthorne. We then spent 2 days camping in old dust bowl shacks close to spinney reservoir on a section of the south platte river known as the dream stream. I left there and spent the next 4 days hiking and camping in pursuit of high country Brooke and cutthroat trout. Over the course of 9 days I managed to bring over 100 fish to hand and made some memories that will last me the rest of my days. As if fishing wasn't enough, I got to finish the week off with a bad ass show at red rocks.






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Nothing but awe. A trip like that has been on my list for 20 years. Quit fly fishing when I deployed, never picked it back up. I'm gonna have to talk you into meeting for a more local trip one weekend. Grats on making it happen and having a good safe trip.

I appreciate it Russ. I'm moving out there in January to guide the yampa around steamboat springs as well as areas of the stagecoach tailwater and south platte river. But man anytime you want to make a trip up to arkansas to fish either the White, Norfork, or the Little Red I'm in. I don't move west for a while and it's only a 3 hour drive for me to get up into the ozarks from oxford.

Awesome! Was lucky enough years ago to travel out and fish the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork a couple times. Great memories for sure. Congratulations on making it happen

Livin' the life!! Enjoy yourself out there. It's truly God's country.
Thanks for sharing.

Eagle river close to Vail a few weeks ago. Water was high and parts were way to fast to fish.

OTL thats awesome! we fought high water almost the entire time I was there. The only time we found a break from it was when we hiked to around 12,000 ft. if you make your way out there next year don't hesitate to give me a shout. I'm always down to show folks new places to fish.

BT, Thanks, I have a buddy with a place in Vail. He hooked me up with a guide. No way I am fishing with my wife without a guide and spending the day untangling/re-rigging her pole. I have enough trouble keeping my own rig straight.

I got an invite to duck hunt with another buddy that lives in Silverthorne next year. He has property on the Platte river. What do you know about duck hunting there?

My wife dragged me to Red Rocks also. I had no idea you had to hike that far uphill. For a guy that sleeps at 3' over sea level most nights and had only been in Colorado a few days, was that tough.

Envious. I worked out of Jackson hole as an outfitting guide for 6 months in between college stints. Can't believe I ever came back. Big question no one has asked yet....who did you see at red rocks? Awesome venue

Over the line I don't have a clue about duck hunting up there. Being a transplant fishin guide I have had to learn all I could about trout in that area in a relatively short time. I will say this, the platte river holds more summer Canada geese than I've ever seen. They have even started to nest in the dust bowl shacks because it is easier for them to defend against predators.. I am duck hunting a section of the snake river in December which I am beyond excited about. I'll give you a report after that trip.

Missippi the headliner for that night at red rocks was the avett brothers. They're good, but I was there to see their opener Sturgill Simpson who i've been a big fan of for a while, and he was so damn awesome. But i honestly don't think anyone would be bad at that venue.

Awesome pics btmannin. That's awesome you are making a go at the guiding scene. It's a lot of fun and you do meet some really down to earth people.. We also are having trouble with high water this year, but the current problem is,the water is getting to warm, and we are soon gonna be put in hoot owl mode. Meaning only moring and evening floats. Are you planning on moving to Co. Permant than?

Not moving permanently. I got a job with a medical equpment company right out of school and have completed training with them. I expressed interest in living in Nashville and that city was booked up with reps. So they then gave me the option of taking some time off of work and doing something else, or moving to a city that I did not want to live in and beginning my career. I chose the option of doing something else for 12 months and then coming back to the real world when the head rep that is in Nashville moves to Chicago to get married. The deal kind of fell into place perfectly for my "plan" so it's kind of a win-win. I get to guide for a year (which I have always wanted to do) and then head back to the south to start my career.

Well you can't beat that.. Every thing happens for a reason. If you get some more time off and wanna come up to south central Mt for a duck and goose hunt. Shoot me a pm.

you got yourself a deal man. I know your an experienced fly fisherman, but I would love to trade a float trip for a duck hunt. I will be the proud owner of my very own Clackacraft next month. So any time you want to come fish feel free.

I wonder how much shit it would cause if I posted a detailed review of my drift boat on here. Guarantee someone would ask shallow and deep water speeds

And pics.

Sturgill Simpson is a cool cat

Sounds like an epic trip. Thanks for posting up the pics. It's been many years since I fished out west (Montana for me).

Can't beat a Clackacraft. That GG idea would be the ticket in those skinny summer shoals.