Aspen Outfitting Company’s Roaring Fork River Report 1/27/23

Cian McGillicuddyFly FishingLeave a Comment

Happy X Games to all! We’re excited to see all of the incredible things happening up on the mountain, but we certainly aren’t going to forget about the fish! The fishing has been really good this past week, and could get even better with warmer temperatures projected for next week. Right now, the fish are stacked up in slower, deeper water. Focus on deep holes and eddies near natural structure for the best results. During this time of the year, when you find one fish, you often find many — so make sure to cover water until you find success.

Aspen Outfitting Company’s Upper Roaring Fork River Report 1/20/23

Cian McGillicuddyFly Fishing, Winter Fly FishingLeave a Comment

Going into the last 10 days of January, the fishing has been great! With cold temperatures and low flows in the Upper Fork, the fish are stacked up in slower, deeper water. Focus on deep holes and eddies near natural structure for the best results. During this time of the year, when you find one fish, you often find many — so make sure to cover water until you find success.

Fishing Runoff

Cian McGillicuddyFly FishingLeave a Comment

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!

Fishing Mindfully: The Rainbow Trout Spawn

Cian McGillicuddyFly FishingLeave a Comment

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

Anna StonehouseFly Fishing, RetailLeave a Comment

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

Cian McGillicuddyFly FishingLeave a Comment

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

Cian McGillicuddyFly FishingLeave a Comment

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. 

Entomology for Trout Fishermen Pt. 1: Midges

Cian McGillicuddyFly Fishing, Winter Fly Fishing2 Comments

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.