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
“I have been fishing with Cole several times. He is very knowledgeable and helpful. I have caught several fish with Cole including my personal best.”
“Had the opportunity to fish with Cole twice on the latter part of my trip. Fished the South Platte River south of Woodland Park, CO. Saw lots of fish rising and eating but were pretty particular that day. Water was already 64 when we started and only fished for little over 3.5 hours when water temperature and incoming storm pushed us off water. Caught a hand full of quality fish but thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Cole invited me to come fish with him on the Conejos River a few days later. Didn’t take much arm twisting to get me back on another body of water.😀 We spent a little less than four hours in the water with absolute total success. Netted eight fish with two of them being “Monsters” After seven years of pursuing the 24” Club Membership I did so on this trip catching not one but two Rainbow’s over 24”. I will be back to enjoy another experience on the Conejos and will recommend Cole to any and all who want an opportunity to catch these big boys.”
On the water
Full gallery
