We had an incredible experience with Collin as our fishing guide on Blue Mesa Reservoir! He was…read moreextremely knowledgeable--not just about fishing techniques, but also the history of the area and the various fish species in the lake. His expertise with graphs and fishing technology was especially impressive, and it played a huge role in our success on the water. Collin exceeded all expectations when it came to catching Kokanee salmon--we were reeling them in left and right! As an avid bass angler, I didn't expect to be so hooked on Colorado fishing, but Collin convinced me to come back to Gunnison to try ice fishing for lake trout or even go after a trophy pike. If you're looking for a professional, tech-savvy, and passionate guide who knows how to deliver an unforgettable experience, Collin is the one to book! ~ Bryan and Kim

We had a good guide through Blue Mesa Fishing and an overall good experience. I took my three sons…read morewith me (ages elementary to high school). Our guide was friendly and helpful.

First time ever doing something like this! Went with my four of my family members and had a blast!…read moreBetween all of us caught 31 fishes! Jared was our guide and will ask for him next time! Definitely recommend this trip!

From the owner: We specialize in Trophy Lake Trout fishing and Kokanee salmon fishing on Colorado's largest body of…read morewater, Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Highly recommended !! We (my son and I) arrived in town on Saturday and walked into the shop…read moregreeted by Bradley and ask if there was any opportunity to book a fly fishing 1/2 day! Bradley was able to make it happen and we had the BEST time on a float fly fishing 1/2 day. Caught a ton of fish and learned lots of new tips / tricks along the way. Bradley was so knowledgeable and full of energy. What a great human! So glad we stopped in. We will defiantly be back! Thank you again!

If you plan to go fly fishing for trout in Crested Butte, this is the place. We have had guided…read morefishing expeditions with the Angler team multiple times. It is always a great experience and they are very helpful, even for beginners. Great equipment too. It is not uncommon for me to catch 20 or more trout on a half-day trip.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is absolutely worth visiting. The canyon is stunning,…read moreand there are numerous overlooks that provide incredible views without requiring a hike. If you do enjoy hiking, there are several trails to choose from as well. One thing we really appreciated was that the park is pet-friendly. Dogs are allowed on all overlooks and on select trails, which are clearly marked, making it easy to plan your visit if you're traveling with a pet. The park has a visitor center, restrooms, and drinking water fountains, but they do not sell bottled water, so be sure to bring plenty with you--especially during the summer. Many of the trails are fairly short, but there is very little shade, so you'll be in direct sunlight for much of your visit. We visited shortly after a wildfire, so there were some burned trees and shrubs throughout the park. Even so, the scenery was still incredibly beautiful and well worth the trip. If you don't have an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass, admission is $30 per vehicle. Overall, this is a fantastic park with breathtaking views, whether you're stopping at the overlooks or spending the day hiking.

Where to start? I love a National Park and this is no exception. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a…read morefairly understated park, as in many folks don't know about it. It's further out west in Colorado so it takes a bit of effort to find yourself here but you will be rewarded if you venture out west. First of all this part of Colorado is gorgeous and a bit less traveled so you'll have more space to yourself which is lovely. The canyon itself is incredible. It reminded me a lot of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone if you've ever seen that. We did several smaller hikes around the rim as we had little kids in tow. Be sure to hold onto those small hands as I was pretty nervous about them falling in since it's just a big ol' drop around the edges. All that being said, this is a great park and I'd love to return sometimes without kids or when the kids are older to do one of the bigger hikes.

I can't believe it's not a review of this place maybe it's called something different?…read more Montrose is a great town with a lot of activities, food, places of interest. This park would probably be number one in my book. Has Miles abroad paved walking trails which connect to a much longer bike path through the area, as well as smaller off-road walking trails. All of this runs along side the river Which is gold standard for flyfishing! So you can hike, bike, fish, walk your dog, picnic, and I'm not done yet There is a water park here where you can basically go white water rafting or tubing!!!!!!!! Never even heard of such a thing. Do yourself a favor and stop by on your way to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison national Forest. This is a really great town.

Awesome day on the river. First time fly fishing caught a ton of fish. Guide was Awesome!read more

We've always wanted to do a guided fly-fishing trip in this part of Colorado, since we come every…read moreyear to visit our son. My husband's birthday was the perfect opportunity, especially when we discovered RIGS was located right in Ridgway, where we were staying. They serve the whole region and are very convenient to Ouray as well. We chose the High Country full-day trip for two. RIGS was very accommodating--David answered all our questions in person, and Nick helped us book over the phone. Both were patient and professional. Our son, who works locally as a Climbing Instructor and Guide for Basecamp Ouray, might've joined us, but we didn't know his schedule until the last minute. Despite it being peak season, RIGS managed to get another guide so all three of us could go together. We really appreciated that flexibility. Check-in was smooth since we'd completed the online waivers. They walked us through the day with a laminated checklist of everything we'd need and tips for success. We bought our one-day fishing licenses (separate from the trip cost), then got fitted in their gear room. Our guides, Ethan and Jason, ensured everything fit comfortably. Being from Florida, my husband and I opted for full-body waders to stay warm. They recommended knee-highs, but we were glad we went with full-body. I wore leggings, he wore light hiking pants--we stayed comfortable all day. Our son, a local, wore knee waders and was fine. It was a mix of sun, clouds, and light rain, but we had rain jackets as advised. I also brought insect repellent, which was useful during sunnier stretches. There were definitely mosquitoes in the brush. We stayed warm, dry, and bug-free. My husband's toes still got cold, so he was grateful for the gear. The drive to the high country was gorgeous. When we arrived, Ethan and Jason set up chairs for us to put on our gear comfortably--felt like red carpet treatment! My husband and son went with Jason since they had some experience, and I went with Ethan, who was so patient and clear. He showed me each step, explained fly placement, and helped me spot bites to set the hook. I'm used to saltwater fishing, so freshwater fly-fishing was a totally new, relaxing experience. At our first stop--a confluence between two rivers--I caught 16 rainbow trout (6-10 inches). Even more fun was practicing the motion and avoiding snags. I worked hard not to make Ethan's job harder and only got snagged once. He quickly re-rigged the line without ever making me feel bad. We fished from shore and landed plenty at all the spots they chose. For lunch, they rolled out the red carpet again with chairs so we could relax. My husband and I are Plant-Based (Vegan/Vegetarian), and they were thoughtful in providing a lemon-dill hummus, carrots, grape leaves, corn crackers, cookies, and nuts--super satisfying and energizing. Our son, who's not PB, got a charcuterie tray with cheese, crackers, and cold cuts. We'd brought snacks just in case, but we didn't need them. If you're someone who eats a lot--like our son--you may want extras, but we were perfectly satisfied. After lunch, we headed to a second spot on the Cimarron, just 10 minutes away. It was great to fish two very different rivers. The first was smaller--ideal for beginners like me and for my husband and son to get reacquainted with the gear. The second was much wider, more secluded, and more of an adventure. Ethan and Jason asked if we were up for it, and we happily agreed. Along the way, we saw moose droppings and trees downed by beavers. Wildflowers were in full July bloom--perfect for me since I love photographing them. We hiked through brush and forest to get there, which was also part of the fun. Bring bug spray for this part! At the second river, it was harder to land fish, but they were biting. I caught two bigger rainbow trout (around 10 inches). The technique Ethan taught me earlier really helped here, with longer casts and river wading. I loved every second. My husband enjoyed the openness and challenge and really appreciated the techniques both guides shared. I even took breaks so Ethan could help my husband and son too. Ethan and Jason were endlessly patient. Each of us needed help--my husband and son had a few snags, which Jason handled, and Ethan stayed beside me to make sure I didn't slip, even standing knee-deep in cold water all day. They went above and beyond to make the trip special. The only problem now is... I'm completely hooked on fly-fishing. So our future Colorado trips will definitely include another RIGS adventure!

I had a one-on-one trip on 8/4/22 with Matt on the upper Gunnison River. He did an outstanding job…read more Matt worked hard during our entire trip. He understands the entomology of aquatic insects and what the fish were keying on. He was quick with knots for bug changes. Matt's ability to handle the boat was excellent. I will book another trip with Matt.

Took a full day float trip. The guide was nice, but a bit dry. When we received the call from the…read moreguide the night before we asked if we would need waders, he simply said no, so I assumed from past experience we would be in a drift boat. When we arrived we discovered that we would be fishing from a raft and the guide informed us that we would definitely get wet and we did. I don't have a problem with getting wet, but had this been mentioned I would have worn my wet wading attire. No fault of the guide but the river was running fast. You maybe got one cast into some good, but tight, spots (maybe two if you were lucky) as you passed it quickly. I consider myself pretty adept at fly casting, but it was a real challenge to hit the moving targets as fast as we were going. In addition the river passes through a significant amount of private property, so if you hang up and break off (many of the target spots are tight along the bank) you may have to travel a significant distance without fishing before there is a spot to stop and re-rig. Later that day I spoke to another angler who had fished with a different guide that day and he explained it best, "It was like fishing from a freight train". The time on the river ended up being a little over six hours, and not the advertised eight, but the river was running pretty quick. Not sure about a return trip, but would definitely check the flows closer before doing so.

I have used this place for close to 20 years . Very knowledgeable staff . The staff is always…read morehelpful and friendly . Shop is well stocked with clothes , boots and fishing tackle . We have used Austin , Rob , Patrick , and David . Austin has taught my son and daughter how to fish . Both are still fishing 18 years later . We have floated the Gunny and Waded various other streams and rivers . Always a fun time . Full day trips include lunch . Here is where Austin is heads above other guides . He brings a sandwich spread to build your own that is incredible . Most guides provide you a store bought sandwich . Most of our trips have been very productive. Lots of fish and tall tales .

Oh my gooooosh! What an experience! Book this now. I have NEVER fly-fished but Hunter Pearson our…read moreguide helped us catch 10 fish!!!! I could have gone another 4 hours. I'm 59 and a woman and I am hooked thanks to Hunter. I will be back

Always stop by to get outfitted w needs or bits n bobs. Fantastic knowledgeable staff who take time…read moreto help you out. Service is wonderful. Maps, gear, guns, whatever. All good if it's in stock. Fair dejection though I'm very disappointed they don't carry HOKA. We need HOKAs! Fair enough prices for good quality clothes and gear. Don't forget to go downstairs where there are many more great items to shop. It's a town icon and fantastic place to shop for anyone.

Fantastic selection and very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Husband bought fishing equipment and…read morewas impressed with their level of expertise for what he needed. Would definitely go back anytime we are in Gunnison!

We stopped here for dinner after a brief stop at another lodge that featured a sign announcing "out…read moreof food". On a Friday night. At any rate, Grand Mesa had food and it was good. Smoked brisket was really good. Every one else in our party raved about their pulled pork. Surprisingly, it wasn't crowded, but our server took good care of us.

My wife and I visited Grand Mesa Lodge for the first time recently and really enjoyed our time…read morethere! The location was very convenient right off of Highway 65 with plenty of free parking. We were welcomed upon entering the main lodge, the outside and inside of the lodge building was pleasingly decorated, the employee in charge was friendly and laid back, helpful, and very patient with us as we decided on our supper choices and found our table, the lodge was clean, neat, did not smell bad, the fireplace had a nice warm fire going with several comfortable chairs and a couch in front of it, the dining room was spacious, there were several delicious choices for supper (we ordered a Hawaiian pizza!), there were many alcohol choices, snacks, a well-stocked side room with many essentials for campers, hunters, etc., big windows on one whole side of the lodge that afforded nice views of the beautiful Grand Mesa mountains. You've gotta check this unique place out!