First class all the way on our 3 day float trip. From the check in the day before to the pick up…read morethe morning of our first day to the quality of the rigs, quality of the gear, quality of the food, quality of the camp site set ups to the guides first class. What a great experiences three dads with their sons/son in laws we had a blast. Spencer lead a great group of experienced guides who made the trip fun and eventful. I will do that again.

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!

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.

I had High hopes for this expedition. So when we first got there, they looked confused that we were…read morethere. They didn't really greet us when we got inside. (2 guys did outside when we asked where do we go for the kayak trip) so we're inside and it's a bar. We walk up and after about a min or so, they ask, "can we help you?" We explain we are here for the kayak trip. We fill out liability forms. And go outside with one of the reps. He shows us our kayaks gets us some life vest. He gave us a basic run down. I myself being out of state and living the city life. Don't really have any experience in all this, so I'm asking multiple questions. How long is the ride?, is it safe?, anything we should be aware of?, can we flip over?, what if we get lost?, can these kayaks hold me? (I'm 5'11 235lbs) keep in mind they're the inflatable kayaks not the hard plastic ones. (So yes, I have many concerns) not to mention, I have my girlfriend with me and her safety is my most imperative concern. So to continue.... he said, " it's about 4 hours depending if you sight seen or paddling. Stick to the right, and you'll see your boat launch. You can't miss it. It's a huge parking lot, with lots of cars and you'll see rafts and other kayaks (It was NOT a huge parking lot, with lots of cars and no rafts or kayaks pulled up there. It was a small entrance to pull up your kayak. my vehicle and 1 other truck was there) looked like a beach pit. Maybe because I'm from the city, I pictured a actual parking lot, pavement, and a bunch of rafts and kayaks there after people beach them. Well, we ended up missing our end spot and ended up 2 miles down from where we were suppose to be. Had concerns, called the front desk. A woman answered said, sounds like you passed it up. You need to paddle back. So we tried turning the kayaks around to paddle against the current. I myself was tired and my girlfriend was already exhausted. (Keep in mind, we already been on the river about 4 and a half hours) we tried but didn't make any ground. My girlfriend actually got swept away from me and ended up about 50 yards down and across the other side of the river and me on the other side. She calls me and we agree we need to get out the river and on to the bank. So she's crossing over to where I am and struggling to get to me because the river and the strong current. So I myself risk meeting her half way to help her. She was terrified and crying. But we made it to the bank. And crawled up some shrubbery and pulled up our kayaks. (I forgot to mention on this expedition there us no cellular signal till you get towards the end of the expedition.) We had to go through someone's property and in the interim my girlfriend got shocked by a electrical fence. We called the staff again, and they said to drop a pin location which we did. They said, " we need to get to a main highway because we can't get to you. Help me, help you!" So we had to walk a about a quarter mile or a little more pulling those kayaks as well. (Not to mention already exhausted and dehydrated) so we pull the kayaks through a field and had to go under a couple more electrical fences again knowing that we are in people's property. (Hoping we don't get shot at. I'm not familiar with Colorado) we drop another pin showing we made it to highway 65. 2 guys came and picked us up. Each in a separate vehicle. 1 guy seemed very irritated and annoyed. And the other seemed a little more polite. Told us to go sit un his truck with ac. (Because we were exhausted they did half to go in the property and retrieve the kayaks. It was about 30 yards or so) I was a bit surprised that they didn't really show any concern to see if we were ok. Especially because they're running a business. The more polite guy gave us a ride to our vehicle. We thanked him and went on our way. ( oh yeah, and where they leave your vehicle for pick up at the end of your expedition they tuck away your keys under your tire. Surprised, because I'm from out of state we don't do that because of theft. But out there it's a less concern. Which I'm cool with that part. Just letting yall know. ALL IN ALL THE EXPEDITION WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE BUSINESS JUST NEEDS TO HAVE A BETTER DIRECTION OF THINGS FOR TOURIST THAT ARE OUT OF STATE AND HAVE NO EXPERIENCE. PS. I write this post as a concern tourist. Not to ridicule or bash this business. SUGGESTIONS: *PAPER MAP OF RIVER SO US TOURIST CAN HAVE A BETTER IDEA AND EXPERIENCE. *SIGNS SHOWING THAT WE'RE A MILE FROM OUR DOCKING DESTINATION *SECONDARY DOCKING DESTINATION SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO MISS THE FIRST DESTINATION. (believe me, it's hard paddling against the current!!!)

If I could give 0 stars I would for the business. Staff was unwelcoming from the start. We rented…read moretwo kayaks and they gave us very little instructions on where to end. They just told us it's 8miles and to exit off the boat launch saying "you can't miss it." There was no sign or any trace of the boat launch and we ended up missing it going two miles further. We got off on the nearest river bank and called the office. They wanted us to walk back AGAINST THE CURRENT with the kayaks to the boat launch. That's 2 miles up!! So we ended up walking to the nearest highway where two gentleman picked us up. One of them seemed really annoyed, we didn't get an apology or any concern about our safety we were so tired and dehydrated from the whole experience at one point I was electrocuted from a fence we had to go through as there was no other way out of the river. There needs to be some kind of sign to let people know where to end the trail, I would hate for anyone to miss it and go through what we went through. The whole experience with the staff was rude, disorganized and unprofessional.

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.

Flat Tops Wilderness Guides is totally GOOD TO GO! Cliff and his crew are great guys and you will…read moreexperience the wildness beyond expectation! We stayed 3 nights there and it was great fun. Highly recommended.

Cliff took our group on an awesome adventure, culminating with a summit of Shingle Peak. We had a…read morepretty mixed group in terms of experience and fitness and Cliff did a great job of challenging everyone while keeping us safe. I was impressed with the way he modified routes and timelines based on weather and our group's performance. This was truly a custom adventure and not a generic "one size fit all, take it or leave it" trip. Camp food was at least 2 tiers above what I was expecting. Great way to experience the Colorado Flat Tops!

Here is a bullet point summary highlighting a stellar experience with Montrose Anglers:…read more~ setting: a pristine stream along the glorious Uncompahgre River in Western Colorado consistently surrounded by an abundance of trophy-sized rainbows, browns, and cutthroats ~ guide: Caleb is a consummate pro ... he knows his stuff and is a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of fly fishing ... bonus: Caleb is incredibly patient while remaining laser focused on the goal: catching fish ~ result: a banner day in experiencing the best kept fly fishing secret on the western slope of Colorado...what a thrill landing wild rainbow and brown trout in one of the healthiest rivers in the state ~ 2 words: HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Everything you need here for fly fishing including tours the staff is wonderful as well definitely…read morerecommend this place

A great place to learn how to fly fish and find top quality fishing gear. Ned was very friendly &…read moreknowledgeable. Ivan was a great casting and rigging instructor. My wife and i learned so much. You wont be disappointed. Support local businesses.

This is a great flyshop. I came in looking for a new pair of wading boots. There was a good…read moreselection and I found exactly what I wanted. The owner was super helpful and I wound up leaving with new wading socks and a new sling bag. Despite having lived in the area for a while, this was my first visit, but it won't be the last.

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!

My wife and I booked Sam Gigliotti through CB Angler for a couple of half day floats on the…read moreGunnison River. Sam was great! He clearly knows the river. Sam also knows how to play along with fish stories. At the end of a Tuesday float, I caught a 20" rainbow. By Wednesday, my wife was saying it was 22". We asked Sam on Thursday what size he thought it was. He said, "It could have been 20, it could have been 22.... heck! It could have been 27!" I may be going back next year and will certainly try to arrange a float with Sam again.