| New
to fly fishing or Animas Valley Anglers?
No
problem, this
page is geared to help point you in the
right direction and answer basic questions
about fly fishing and our guided trips.
Veteran
anglers out
there, especially if you are bringing along
a rookie for their first time, will find this information
helpfull as well. So click around and become
acquainted with
AvA.
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The
guides and crew
Our
guides are
the best in the region.
Each professional
guide has years
of experience and
countless
hours
on the water. The
guides are full time
professionals with
extensive knowledge
and teaching abilities
who can cater to
the needs of each
individual angler.
All of our guides
are also certified
in First Aid and
CPR so your trip
will not only be
educational, but
also safe. Get to
know the AvA crew
by clicking this
button.
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Beginners
Welcome and Veteran Approved
Animas
Valley Anglers offers
the best guides and
guide service in the
West. Our float and
wade fly fishing trips
focus on the entire
fly fishing experience.
Fly fishing is a life-long
lesson and we will
help shorten the learning
curve regardless of
your ability or the
ability levels in your
group.
Never
held a fly rod before? No
problem, you'll be
casting and feeling
comfortable in no
time. Veteran anglers will
enjoy our fish "spotting" and
boating abilities,
local stream knowledge,
and willingness to
share some of our personal
tips and tricks.
The
beginner angler has a lot to
learn when getting started,
and we will help make the first
experience fun and entertaining.
Our guide trips cover all aspects
of fly fishing; including equipment,
casting, line control, rigging
tackle, reading water, presentation,
insect life cycles,
fly patterns as well
as how to hook, play, land
and handle trout. We keep
the
education process simple and
easy for you to follow.
Trips
with Animas Valley Anglers can be catered to
meet your personal needs or the needs of
your angling group. Just ask and we'll make
it
happen.
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I
have fished for bass all my life, how will I do?
Those
of you out there who have fished all their
lives for bass or other species with conventional
gear will do great with fly fishing. It is
a bit different at first, but after a little
time on the water you'll get the hang of it.
Please keep in mind that trout and bass are
very different species and the techniques we
use to catch them are equally as different.
Keep an open mind to learning new techniques,
apply what you know about fish and you'll be
a trout pro in no time. Also, please realize
that fly fishing for trout is meant to be an
enjoyable and relaxing way to spend a day on
the water, there are no weigh-ins at the end
of the day or money prizes for the biggest
fish. While friendly wagers and jokes can be
fun, we are not tournament fishermen and our
goal is not to catch every fish in the river
but rather to make sure you enjoy the whole
fly fishing experience.
I
have fly fished, but the person I'm bringing has not.
How will they do?
They
will do just fine. They just need to be ready
to enjoy the experience and be willing to learn.
They will also gain a lot from watching you fish,
along with the guides' patient instruction. Guided
fly fishing trips are a fantastic way to spend
time with friends, family, a significant other
and business associates.
I
plan on fishing, but my wife/husband/friend wishes to
just tag along. Is this available?
Yes.
It works best on float trips, but can be arranged
on wade trips as well. The guest will be billed
at our single angler rate, plus $25 for the
extra person. Lunch is included for that person
on all our full day trips.
Can
you guarantee we'll catch fish?
If
we guaranteed trout, we might as well call
it catching, not fishing. As outfitters, we
are, by law not allowed to guarantee a catch.
While we may not be able to guarantee you'll
catch fish, it is nice to know our rivers and
streams will give you plenty of opportunities.
Catching fish depends on many things; weather,
river conditions, fish activity and the ability
level of the angler. Beginners will have plenty
of chances and just need to set realistic expectations
for their day. The fish are out there, and
we'll give you the best coaching to help you
get into them.
Can
I keep a fish? Can I use a spinning rod and spinners on
the trip?
No and no. We release all the fish back into the water unharmed because each
trout is our coworker. Spinning rods may seem simple to operate, however they
do not work well with fly fishing. There are also safety issues. Fly fishing
is pretty fun; we have turned a lot of spin fishers into hardcore fly fishers.
Should
I buy gear before our trip with AvA?
You
do not have to invest in gear right away. You can
wait to make sure you like the sport and just use
our gear. We provide it as part of the trip at no
extra cost. (Most guide services charge for rentals)
We provide mostly Scott Fly Rods on our trips. Scott
is one of the top manufactures and they handcraft
every rod right here in Colorado.
We
also recommend
you not
buy
cheap
gear, you'll out grow it pretty quick. Instead ask
us for recommendations and we'll point you in the
right direction as to gear manufactures and places
to buy equipment. |
Float
or wade?
Some
guides say floating a river is the best way to learn, others
say wade fishing is the best...we say both. Floating gets
you out away from trees and other snags, however there
are things to hook in the boat. Like the guide, which is
why we fish barbless hooks. With wade fishing anglers can
spread out, accessing their own water. Float or wade, beginner
anglers will not have to make long casts as they learn
the basics.
Wade
Trips
Wade
fishing is a great way to learn because you are knee deep
in cool stream or river living the dream. You are a post
card out there as you cast into the cold clear waters.
When our larger rivers are too low to float, wade trips
can be the only option.
Float
Trips
Float fishing
allows the angler to fish remote waters and/or through
private property. It is a great way to cover water and
enjoy a day.
Should
I book a full day or half?
We
encourage booking a full day for several reasons. For
beginners in particular, it may take a good portion
of the morning for you to develop the techniques and
come to understand the fish. Often times the half day
trips come to an end right as you're getting the hang
of it and starting to catch fish. In addition, the
conditions and fish activity can change significantly
throughout the course of a day, meaning that sometimes
the fishing can be better in the morning than the afternoon
or vise versa. Spending a whole day on the water gives
you the best chance at "catching the hatch" when
the fish and the insects are most active. Lastly, because
of the time commitment and the resources that go into
each trip, the cost difference between half day trips
and full day trips is minimal. We realize that not
every angler has the vacation time and budget for a
full day of fishing and for those folks a half day
trip can be perfect. We can also arrange to do a short
full day trip (with lunch included) for a pro-rated
cost based on the time spent fishing. |
The
day
A
day on the water starts in the morning between 7am
and 9am. On full day trips we will break for lunch
between 11am to 1pm, then continue fishing till 3pm
to 5pm, depending on the start time. Meet time and
time on the water can vary a bit depending on transportation
issues, schedules and fishing conditions. Rods will
be put down and boats parked in the event of lightning,
but we are more than happy to fish through cold spells,
wind and rain. On very rare occasions the weather
can force a shortened day, but we'd much rather take
a break, let the weather clear and keep fishing.
Custom meet times are available and may be determined
by the guide as well as the clients' wishes. We do
not have set times or schedules when it comes to
guide trips.
1/2 day trips: 3 1/2 to 4 hours on the water.
Snack and drinks are provided on 1/2 day trips.
Full
day trips: 7 1/2 to 9 hours on the water. Stream-side lunch and drinks
are provided.
Custom trips: We pro rate the guide fee depending on the duration of time spent
fishing. Stream-side lunch is included.
Meeting
place
Animas
Valley Anglers is a home based guide
service. We do not have a store front,
so our meet locations are catered to
you and your needs. We can meet you and
your party at your hotel, B & B,
guest ranch, personal home, fly shop
or on the river. Meet
locations are determined at the time of the booking or
once contact is made with your guide prior to the days
fishing trip.
What
is the best time of year?
We
guide and fish all twelve months of the year. That
makes the Southwest a fantastic year-round fishing
destination, especially with the consistency of the
San juan in New Mexico and the Animas that flows
through Durango. Each river, stream and lake in our
region changes with each season of the year. Our
guides are very diverse as to the locations fished
and will move from one fishery to the next depending
on the conditions and fish activity. The guides have
a constant pulse on each fishery. There is always
some were to fish, regardless of the time of year,
weather and snow melt.
- Spring (March
to the middle of May): Root Pond, our private pond
near Cortez, is happening big time in the early spring.
Animas, Dolores, Rio Grande, the upper San Juan near
Pagosa and the San Juan below Navajo are all options.
- Summer (Middle
of May to the end of August): Root Pond fishes well
till mid June or when water temps get a little too
warm for the trout. The Rio, Animas, upper San Juan
and the San Juan in New Mexico are all happening big
time. Mountain creeks and streams also start to fish
well in the middle of June.
- Fall (September
to the middle of November): Great time to be the water.
Creeks are fantastic due to the bright fall colors
and feisty trout. The Animas is outstanding in the
fall as the large browns start to get more aggressive.
The San Juan below Navajo Dam is a consistent fishery
in the cooler months. The Dolores also fishes pretty
well in the fall.
- Winter (Middle
of November to late February): Do away with cabin fever
and fish our year-round fisheries, the Animas and San
Juan below Navajo Dam in New Mexico. Crowds are nonexistent
and moderate winter temps make these two fisheries
the best winter fisheries in the west. Fish a couple
days on your next ski or snowboard trip. We also offer
specials in the winter. Rates
and Special Deals | Lessons
and Classes
Weather
The
weather in our region can be very unpredictable. Even
though we have numerous beautiful sunny days, there are times
that rain and snow can come in unexpectedly. We will
guide
rain or shine. At times in the summer and fall, torrential
rain storms will cause our local rivers to muddy up and
swell to un-fishable flows. On occasion, this forces
us to change our plans and the locations we had planned to
fish. Just remember to be flexible and ready for an adventure.
We have a number of fishing options and we will do what
it takes to get you on the best water in any conditions.
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Stuff
to bring, not just for fishing but any trip to Colorado
or New Mexico
Rain gear, fleece top and bottoms, wool socks, shoes that can get wet
or muddy, polarized sunglasses, hat, medications such as prescribed inhalers
or bee sting kit. Bring a willingness to learn and a sense of adventure,
we'll take care of the rest.
Fishing
gear
Breathable
waders along with wading boots
and wading belt are also essential
items. Neoprene guard socks also
work well in the summer in wet-wading
situations. If you need waders,
boots, belt or neoprene socks for
your trip we'll provide them at
no extra cost. Just let us know
your height and shoe size.
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What
is included in a trip?
Colorado
and New Mexico guide trips include
your guide, flies, transportation (if
needed), lunch, drinks, sunscreen and
terminal tackle. Polarized sunglasses
are also available if they are needed.
If you don't have gear (rod/reel or
waders) or you have no desire to pack
your own along, we can help. All rod/reel
and wader use is included in
the trip cost. Most guide services
tack those additional costs on to the
guide fee. Our rates also include all
New Mexico taxes. Most trips include
private land fees.
What
is not included in a trip?
Valid
Colorado or New Mexico fishing license and gratuity for
the guide are not included in the guide fee. Payments
made by credit card are subject to a 4% fee.
Trips
set up with some B&Bs, guest ranches, historic hotels,
packers and other businesses we work with may have additional
fees. Those fees will be detailed at the time of booking
with the companies out-side of Animas Valley Anglers.
There are no hidden costs when you book through Animas
Valley Anglers.
Tips
on tips
Gratuities
are not included in the cost of the guide
trip. Tips help the guides with the numerous
expenses that are involved in each guide
day. Lunch, fuel, flies, gear, shuttles,
private land fees, boat and trailer maintenance
are the responsibility of your guide. Tipping
a guide is very similar to an experience
in a restaurant. If you enjoyed the day
of fishing, 15 to 20% of the trip cost
is an average gratuity. If you had an outstanding
trip, many times our guests will go above
and beyond.
Buy
Your Fishing License On-line
Fishing license in Colorado is required for anyone
16 years and older. Colorado residents, over the age of
65 are not required to have a fishing license. Click the
link below to book a New Mexico or Colorado fishing license
online.
Payments
We accept
Visa, Master Card, checks, travelers checks and cash.
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Graphics-Web
Design-Creative Design-Photography
by Will Blanchard © 2000-2010 Animas
Valley Anglers | all rights reserved
AVA
is licensed, bonded and insured in
Colorado and New Mexico | Colorado
guide license #2008
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