Summer is here and the Roaring Fork is roaring! The Roaring Fork is classified as a “Freestone” river, meaning that it contains no dams from its headwaters to its confluence with the Colorado River. As a result, water levels in the Fork and other Freestones are controlled by snow melt and precipitation alone. That means that in spring and early summer, snow melt produced by warm weather at high elevations causes a surge of water to course through our river systems in a process we call “runoff.” Runoff means high, fast moving water, and presents unique challenges to trout and anglers alike. But, as fishermen we can take advantage of the fast moving, murky water to fool trout with big flashy bugs and heavy tippet. If you haven’t fished high water, you’re missing out on an amazing and unique experience!
Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch
Mother’s day is here, and what an amazing day it is! We get to celebrate the women who gave us life, helped shape who we are and supply us with a never ending stream of love. But, as luck would have it, it’s also the namesake of the prolific “Mother’s Day Caddis” hatch on the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers. … Read More
Streamer Fishing the Spring!
Streamer fishing is always a blast, especially with warming spring weather! March, April and May are some of the best months of the year to throw streamers. Good fly selection, rigging and presentation will skew the odds in your favor and let you take advantage of this wonderful time of year. Let’s dive in!
A Stillwater Adventure to The Salty Pond
A few weeks ago, myself and some of my best friends made our annual pilgrimage to Pyramid Lake in Nevada. Pyramid Lake is no secret to fishermen across the West, but it remains one of the most unique places I’ve had the pleasure of fishing. Located entirely on Tribal lands of the Paiute people, Pyramid Lake has a fascinating cultural, geological and ecological history and provides a telling narrative about the history of the West.
Fishing Mindfully: The Rainbow Trout Spawn
Spring is here in Aspen, and the fishing has been fantastic! Spring is an amazing time of the year to chase trout on the Roaring Fork river. As the water warms, insects begin to hatch in greater numbers and the fishing heats up. However, fishing at this time of year requires a little extra attention – because spring is when the rainbow trout are spawning.
WE’RE HIRING: 2022 SEASON
Aspen Outfitting Co. is hiring for the 2022 season! We are seeking hospitality driven candidates who love the outdoors; both seasoned guides and associates, but also candidates with a willingness to learn and grow. Positions include: Retail Manager, Retail Associates, and Fly Fishing Guides.
Clay Target Shooting in Aspen
From the beginning, clay target shooting was designed to help hunters improve their wingshooting skills. But since its inception, the joy of breaking clays has spread across the world and grown into a sport in its own right. It is an accessible, year round activity for shooters of ALL ability levels (even first-timers!), and is one of our favorite activities … Read More
Valentine’s Day Special: Understanding the Angler You Love
It’s Valentine’s Day! So it’s time to talk about what it’s like to be in a relationship with a die hard angler –or even a fishing guide! We’ll tell you that loving an angler is the best thing you can do because, well, we’re the most fun, best looking, incredible bunch around! However, we do have some tendencies that are hard to understand, and might be frustrating at times. Whether you fish or not, if you’re in a relationship with an avid angler (and especially a fishing guide), keep these things in mind.
Featured Angler: Jordie Karlinski
One of our favorite parts of Fly Fishing is the wonderful community that has grown up around the sport, and the angling community in Aspen’s Roaring Fork Valley is no exception! We are planning a series of articles highlighting our local mix of anglers — each representing a different cross-section of our amazing valley. With the X Games wrapping up, and the 2022 Winter Olympics on the horizon, we caught up with former competitor and hometown hero Jordie Karlinski! Jordie is a retired pro snowboarder, successful entrepreneur, Snowmass local and avid angler!
Entomology for Trout Fishermen Pt. 1: Midges
When it comes right down to it, Fly Fishing is all about the bugs! Each trout stream has a unique array of insect life that cycles and changes on its own schedule. If you’re an angler that is comfortable with the fundamentals of casting, mending and getting a good drift, then geeking out about bugs is your next step. Read through our series of articles to learn about Stoneflies (Plecoptera), Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), Caddisflies (Trichoptera), and Midges (Chironomidae). We hope that you can take this knowledge and apply it on the river, because getting down to the nitty gritty of the variation within each species will help you find success out on the water.