Why You Need to Try Fly Fishing in Telluride
Telluride is known for its fields of wildflowers, waterfalls, and wildlife in the summertime, but it should also be getting attention for another outdoor activity: fly fishing.
"We have a terrific trout-to-human ratio in the San Juans!" says John Duncan, Telluride Outside general manager and co-owner. "Rising in the remote mountains of the Southern Rockies, the San Miguel, Dolores, Uncompahgre and Gunnison rivers generate plenty of cold, clear water for wild trout. For the same reasons that Telluride is famous for tremendous skiing with short lift lines, anglers enjoy pristine trout fishing opportunities on uncrowded rivers."
The San Miguel River is one of the only free-flowing rivers in Colorado, meaning that there is no dam to regulate the water flow. While rainbow and brown trout can be found all over Colorado, there is a substantial population of Colorado River Cutthroats in the high country, which is very rare.
"Few places in the West is it possible to catch native trout in undammed rivers and creeks," Duncan says, noting that public access to the San Miguel, Dolores, Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers is abundant. "Telluride is like a fly fishing lodge with 40 restaurants."
If you're used to bobber or spinner fishing on lakes, fly fishing is definitely different, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to learn.
"The learning curve in fly fishing is rewardingly steep," says Duncan. "If you start by learning the fundamentals with a professional guide, fly fishing will turn into a do-it-yourself endeavor that you’ll enjoy in your back yard and everywhere you roam. From here in Telluride to the horizon of our watery planet, fly fishing is the ultimate travel companion."
Unlike many lower elevation rivers in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, mid-summer is the best time to go fishing in the Telluride area. Due to the elevation and the free-flowing rivers, the water is always cold and the fish are always vibrant. The cold rivers and abundant aquatic insect life also make the rivers around Telluride beginner friendly.
"I wish I had learned to fly fish in Telluride when I was eight years old," Duncan says. "Kids pick up a fly rod for the first time every day in Telluride... and never put it down."
Telluride Outside offers half-day, full-day and private tours on the San Miguel, Gunnison, and Uncompahgre rivers. with Telluride Outside.
Photos Courtesy Telluride Outside
