Welcome to Colorado
Location, Type of Fishing:
Yampa Valley Anglers is a full-service outfitter located in Yampa, Co serving the Steamboat Springs area and surrounding Northwest Region. Offering half day and full day fly fishing trips on both public and private waters, choose between wading or float trips including classic Western rivers and high-country lakes. Centrally located with access to many outstanding fisheries at hand, their home waters include the Yampa, Bear and Colorado Rivers as well as many of the lakes in the northeast corner of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. Originating as snowmelt from high in the wilderness, the Yampa River makes its way right through the ski resort town of Steamboat Springs, providing anglers with excellent opportunities to target big trout. Floating the Yampa River is quite seasonal with flows that only accommodate rafts and drift boats during the months of April, May and June, but there are several good public access points that allow for wading year-round. In fact, winter fishing on the Yampa has lured many visitors away from a day of skiing with the chance for a different form of excitement and some well-needed rest and relaxation on the river. While the fly fishing opportunities are surprisingly good in winter, it is summertime that is the real primetime in NW Colorado, with some of the best fly fishing on waters around the area taking place at that time. During the summer, Yampa Valley Anglers shifts part of their float fishing operations to the Upper Colorado River, a medium-size river with dam-controlled flows just an hour drive from Steamboat. Throughout the summer, they continue to offer the Stillwater float trips in the Flat Tops that began with ice-out in the spring, and lasting well into the fall.
# of People Half Day Full Day
1 $300.00 $375.00
2 $325.00 $425.00
3 $435.00 $550.00
River/Waters Half Day Full Day
Colorado $425.00 $550.00
Flat Tops $350.00 $450.00
Stagecoach $350.00 $450.00
What Makes It Special:
Yampa Valley Anglers offers fun and exciting fishing trips throughout the Yampa Valley and beyond. The Yampa River is the true centerpiece of their outfitting operations in Northwest Colorado, one that is rapidly gaining notoriety as the west’s premiere destinations for trophy rainbows and browns. One of the few remaining free-flowing rivers left in the Western United States, the Yampa begins its nearly 250-mile journey to its confluence with the Green River, starting out as snowmelt in the Flat Tops. Although its flow is controlled by dams on its upper stretches, the river downstream acts more like a freestone section of river than a traditional tailwater. Constantly recreating itself from year to year, it descends through the riparian forests of cottonwood, dogwood and alder that line the river’s edge as it passes through the valley floor. From above Stagecoach Reservoir on its upper reaches, to the towns of Milner and Hayden west of Steamboat Springs, anglers will find some of the best trout fishing that the river has to offer, a real gem holding big browns, rainbows and cuttbows throughout. In addition to this truly remarkable fishery, Yampa Valley Anglers is proud to offer access to the headwaters of this incredible river in addition to a number of high-country lakes. A great place to escape the heat of summer, the scenic views at the edge of this backcountry wilderness are nothing short of extraordinary. Awesome dry fly fishing awaits all summer long for medium-size browns, brookies and cutthroat while encountering very light traffic and fishing pressure that is little to none.
Fishing:
Yampa Valley Anglers take great care in offering safe and fun trips that provide useful instruction on how you can catch lots of fish while out on the water. With several public water options, they also deliver a convenient service for a very good value. Theirteam of guides are excellent instructors that can teach anyone how to successfully catch and land fish. Novices and experts alike will find the perfect pairing of fishing trips to meet any skill level.Wade-only trips on public waters take place on the Yampa River, Flat Tops Wilderness Area and Stagecoach Reservoir. Private waters on the Yampa River are also available and are subject to an additional rod fee. Floating the rivers of Western Colorado are very much dependent on snowpack and sufficient water flows. The Yampa, North Platte and Eagle Rivers are generally best in springtime, and in years of average to above-average snowpack, the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers typically have plenty of good flows of cold water to last the hot, dry months of summer and fall. Float trips can be tailored to novice anglers and experts alike. The lakes, reservoirs and streams of the Flat Tops, on the other hand, are generally good for beginners and large parties with a focus being on having fun and catching lots of fish. The area is not only incredibly beautiful, but it is also home to a fantastic fishery that holds an abundance of trout and grayling. The best way to fish the Flat Tops is to float the lakes in small watercraft, targeting medium-sized fish (12-17”) with lightweight fly rods. In addition to these high-country Stillwaters, they also offer float trips on Stagecoach and Elk Head Reservoirs as well as the Delany Buttes Lakes of North Park in the pursuit of larger fish on heavier fly rods.
Schools:
Great instructors and teachers, Yampa Valley Anglers has two levels of training to help their clients develop in the sport as well as possibly advance professionally. Fly Fishing Clinics focus on teaching novice anglers more about the sport in general, and are great for the beginner who wants to learn how to fly fish. This introduction to fly fishing covers the basics including entomology, proper casting method, choosing the right fly patterns, tying knots and setting-up the equipment. For those interested in working professionally, the River Guide School helps perspective guides and rowers earn the required certification that they will need in order to work for an outfitter in the State of Colorado. Not just for those who are hoping to land a job as a guide, it is also great for the student who wants to learn better river running skills and techniques. This 6-day school is taught right on the river by a group of professional guide instructors who work with their students in a patient and fun environment to cover the necessary skills needed to become a certified rower. Over the course of 2 weekends, students will perform the State-required minimum 50-hours ofon-the-water training, receiving the fundamentals and skills necessary for proper boat handling, safety, swift-water rescue, types of river hazards, reading water, scouting rapids, maneuvering the boat, rowing for fishing, boat rigging, knot-tying and First Aid/CPR certification. Students of this course will be expected toswim the rapids during one of the training days, and should provide their own personal items and gear including PFD, throw bag, dry bag for extra warm clothes, fly fishing gear, food and water. Cost is $1000/student, and lodging can be included at an additional cost.
Typical Day:
A non-refundable deposit of $100.00/day is required to reserve your guided fly fishing trip with Yampa Valley Anglers. Upon making your reservation, please give us your size for waders and boots, and place a lunch order for full-day trips. Trips are customized to fit the individual needs and wishes of the client. The day before your scheduled trip, the guide will personally contact you to set up a meet time for the following day and discuss expectations for your outing. The morning of your scheduled trip, please bring a check or cash for the remainder of the trip, and the guide will meet you at the predetermined location where you will head out to your assigned water together. You will be fitted for waders, if necessary, and provided with rod outfits and instruction on how to use your gear before proceeding to fish. On half day trips, you will spend 4 hours guided on the water, finishing up in the early afternoon. Lunch is provided on full day fishing trips, taking place at a nice spot on the water about midday. Fly fishing continues in the afternoon on full day trips, wrapping up after having spent 7.5 total hours on the water. We ask that you bring a good attitude and your own personal items like a light rain jacket, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and the guides will provide the rest. Guides use Sage, Orvis, Scott and TFO rods paired with Nautilis, Ross and Lamson reels. Watercraft include Clackacraft and Alumiweld drift boats, and NRS and Rocky Mountain Rafts. Guides work hard for tips, and gratuities are typically based on their performance. 20% of the total base rate is common, excluding additional rod fees. Tips can be given directly to your guide at the end of the trip.
What’s Included:
All wade trips have a maximum ratio of 1 guide per 3 anglers. On float trips, the maximum number per boat is 2 anglers plus the guide. All trips include fishing gear, drinks and snacks. Full day trips include lunch on the water. Not included are gratuities for the guides, rod fees for private waters and a Colorado fishing license. Rod fees vary per property, and a one-day Colorado fishing license is $9.00, with $5.00 for each additional day. Fishing licenses must be purchased prior to the trip. To purchase licenses online, please visit the link:
http://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/Pages/Fishing.aspx