Fly Fish the Arkansas River

Ever since our start back in 1978, we’ve always focused on providing a high level of guest service with quality amenities and the most professional guides out there. Just as our focus in the whitewater rafting realm focuses on first time and family rafting trips, our fishing focus is similar: teaching first time or novice anglers the skills of fly fishing in a remarkably beautiful river corridor. Our guides are personable and knowledgable, our equipment is top notch, and the scenery simply can’t be beat.

Yes. Guests are required to obtain their own fishing license and show proof of your license to your guide. One-day, multiple-day, and annual fishing licenses can be purchased through Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s website. Licenses can also be purchased by calling the CPW call center at 800-244-5613.

*PLEASE NOTE: In order to legally fish in the State of Colorado, anyone 16 years or older must possess a valid Colorado State Fishing License. The cost of the fishing license is not included in trip prices.

When float fishing you fish exclusively from a raft as your guide navigates the river with oars mounted to an oar frame. Float fishing frames accommodate your guide and up to two anglers – one on either end of the raft. Seating and leaning bars are available to stabilize the angler as they fish the waters, and life jackets are required while on the raft. Float fishing is faster paced than walk wade fishing, and we recommend guests have a basic knowledge of fly fishing if they choose this type of fishing. Guides provide instruction along the way to enhance your experience.

Walk wade fishing or wade fishing is fishing from the shoreline or wading into the river as you fish the river accessible given the river flows and depth. Waders and boots are typically worn to keep you dry’ish while you fish. Walk wade fishing is excellent for first time anglers who want a more controlled environment to learn the basics of the sport without the added challenge of a moving raft under your feet.

All of Echo Canyon’s fly fishing tours include transportation to and from the river, our qualified guide, rods, reels and a limited number of flys. Waders and wading boots are also included in all walk wade trips. You are welcome to bring your own gear if you would like!

Adverse fishing conditions can occur due to side creeks upstream blowing out due to occasional rain storms. Luckily these events are short lived and sometimes are confined to a section of the river we can avoid by simply moving further upstream. However, if we determine conditions are detrimental to a quality fishing experience we can offer you the opportunity to either reschedule or we may refer you to our partner fly fishing company, Anglers Covey. Anglers Covey is a very experienced and reputable fishing guide service that has access to additional streams and private property waterways that can be completely unaffected by the localize thunderstorm that caused challenging conditions on the Arkansas River.

We recommend you choose synthetic layers and consider the weather forecast when packing for your fishing outing. Long sleeve sun shirts or sun hoodies are encouraged, long pants, a hat for sun protection, polarized sunglasses with glasses strap, suncreen, and lip balm. An extra change of clothes and socks are encouraged to leave in your car when the day is done. 

Bring along a water bottle, and stay hydrated! We are in an arid environment, so deydration can happen even on cooler days.

If you are bringing your own gear we recommend a 4 to 6 weight rod. We do not have a fly shop on-site at our check-in location, so if you have fly preferences please feel free to bring those as well. Otherwise your guide will have flys available for you to use, and these will be selected based on current conditions, hatches, etc.

We encourage anglers to be at least 12 years of age to participate in our fly fishing trips. While we may make exceptions, we want to ensure a quality experience for the junior angler as well as other anglers on the trip.

At Echo Canyon we will supply free of charge rods, reels, and waders and boots on walk wade trips. A limited supply of flies are also included, although it is customary to reimburse your guide if you lose too many flies!

Fishing licenses are not included, and guide gratuities are, of course, always appreciated by your professional guide.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission is the entity that officially designates a section of water as ‘Gold Medal’ in Colorado. So what is Gold Medal water? As determined by CPW aquatic biologists survery data, a rivers or lake must consistently produce at least 60 pounds of trout per acre and a minimum of twelve quality trout of 14+ inches per acre.

This is an elite status that few bodies of water can boast. In the entire state of Colorado only 322 of Colorado’s 9,000 miles of streams qualify as Gold Medal fisheries. And 102 of those 322 miles are the very water we fish here on the Arkansas River! You’ll be fishing some of the very best fishing waters in the state.

We can accommodate single guests for any of our fly fishing experiences. Groups of 12 or more can be accommodated with enough advanced notice.

Float fishing trips are no more than 2 guests to 1 guide. Walk wade fishing trips are limited to 3 guests to 1 guide.

We strictly practice catch and release, so no, you may not keep any fish you catch. Our goal is to practice Leave No Trace principles and allow another angler to enjoy the thrill of catching a fish.

We cannot guarantee you’ll catch a fish, but we’ll certainly do our best to teach you the skills needed and find the best locations to give you the very best chances of success.