Colorado — Guided Fly Fishing
Thirty years of reading water.
Dry fly and backcountry technique across the Front Range — guided by someone who learned on the pickiest fish in the state.
Live water
USGS and Colorado DWR gauges with Open-Meteo conditions, refreshed through the day. Cole will tell you what the water is actually doing when you talk.
Three decades on the Conejos River and the backcountry water around it — learning the fish that refuse to make it easy.
The Guide
Raised in
southern Colorado
Cole Atchley has been fly fishing for 30 years, specializing in dry fly and backcountry technique. He grew up fishing in southern Colorado, where his grandparents owned a lodge on the Conejos River — one of the most challenging rivers in the state to fish, and the water that taught him how to read picky, selective fish.
Read his story
Native Water
The Rio Grande cutthroat
Colorado's native trout — gold flanks, a crimson throat slash, and a reputation for making anglers work for the take. Cole's favorite fish, from the water he grew up on.
Days on the water
All tripsWalk & Wade
On foot, in the water, across the Front Range. Cole's core trip — reading runs and working technical dry-fly water at close range.
From $350
Private Waters & Destination Trips
Multi-day trips on private water and down on the Conejos — the southern Colorado river Cole grew up fishing. Two days at a minimum, up to a week, built around what you want to fish.
Rate on request
The essentials
What it is
Guided walk-and-wade fly fishing in Colorado with Cole Atchley — on foot and in the water, never from a boat. 30 years fishing, 8 guiding.
Where it happens
Deckers on the South Platte, Eleven Mile Canyon, Browns Canyon and the Arkansas at Pueblo, and the Conejos River in southern Colorado.
What a day costs
Rates are per party, not per angler. A full day runs 6 hours from $495; a half day runs 4½ hours from $350.
What's provided
Waders, wading boots, rods and reels, plus lunch on full days. Bring polarized sunglasses, a hat, a rain jacket, and your own Colorado fishing licence.
Who can come
Up to three anglers fish with one guide. Four or more means a second guide, priced individually. Beginners are welcome — so are people chasing picky fish.
How booking works
Send a request and Cole replies the same day. Half the rate holds the date, refunded in full if you cancel a week or more ahead. Blown-out water means a reschedule, not a loss.
Reviews
From the water
“Can out fish this local? Check Has a famous productive fly named after him? Colefly. Check. Knows more good runs than me? Check Buddha of the flows? Check. Will admit to catching a sucker? Check. Knows where the best trout chowder is apres-flyfish? Check. Can teach an old dog new fishsticks? Check Fish fear him or at least agree to disagree? Check Volunteers for vets and boyscouts? Check Will make you a better flyfisher? Check Has earned the prestigious gold chain? Check”
“I met Cole by chance one day in the fly shop while i aimlessly looked for flies to fish the local, front range rivers. He asked where I was fishing and pointed me towards his favorite bug, the Molefly. We exchanged contact info and we fished the next week where I had my best day on the river. Since then, Cole and I have had several days on the rivers that would be considered nothing short of spectacular. If you’re hunting for a guide that will put you on fish, give Cole a call.”
On the water
Full gallery
