While the colorado river at lees ferry is ideally suited to flyfishing and is our primary emphasis, spin casting with appropriate barbless lures can be equally rewarding. Colorado river lees ferry arizona fly fishing gear trout. We are arizonas largest fly fishing outfitter and oldest fly shop at the crown of the grand canyon. Angler releasing a trout at lees ferry our private guided fishing charters include a u. Long, good drifts using midge larva and pupa imitations is the best way to go about catching trout. This guide to fly fishing lees ferry is indispensable for the angler and intrepid visitor to the marble canyon.
There is a ton of good information about lees ferry available online. Cliff dwellers lodge is a yearround lodge located at the base of 294,000 acre vermilion cliffs national monument on the road that connects the north and south rims of the grand canyon. Here youll find favorite trout waters from the famous lees ferry to small mountain lakes. Your passion is fly fishing and you have traveled to northern arizona and one of the wests greatest fly fishing destinations lees ferry on the colorado river. To the uninitiated, fly fishing the colorado river at lees ferry is like casting a needle in a haystack. May 16, 2020 sadly in the 90s, due primarily to bad fish and water release management, the fishing declined. Arizona, arizona products, fly fishing, individual river maps, maps tags. However, i am delighted to report that the fishing at the ferry is back and will only get better in the coming months and years. Northern arizona guide service lees ferry trout fishing the. The deep blue water flows over green moss covered rocks and beneath towering cliffs of pink, orange, and red. Bamboo fly rods can recall a time when life was simpler. I took a group of 8 fly fishermen to lees ferry may 4, 2015, ranging in ability from beginner to advanced.
It includes fly rods, waders, leaders, tippet and lees ferry trout flies. There are a ton of good books that will help a novice angler improve and progress into an intermediate fly fisher, but for simply laying out the basics, the manifesto is hard to beat. Two of lees ferrys most experienced fishing guides. Lees ferry is a premiere fishery located in northern arizona on the colorado river above the grand canyon.
Created with the completion of glen canyon dam in 1963, this tail water is crystal clear and a constant 47 degrees, providing anglers with an exceptional fishing opportunity 365 days a year. Lees ferry fishing guide the outdoorsman fishing guides. A storied stretch of river predating fly fishing because of its access, it remains famous today because of that same trait. Mar 22, 2015 the new fly fisher recommended for you. Here at the head of grand canyon, a tail water fishery of unparalleled quality and beauty has been created below glen canyon dam. He spent the summer of 2003 guiding in alaska as a fly out guide specializing in sight casting for trout. Premium discount fishing flies hand tied by our own tiers since 2004. Skip has been guiding at lees ferry since 1999, also and avid saltwater and accomplished bass angler. At lees ferry, there is a walkin fishing area in the stretch of the river a 3 mile or so just below the raft trip departure point down to the paria riffle where theres a great place to fish. Lees ferry on the fly lees ferry fishing guides trout. Fly fishing lees ferry for rainbow trout catch, cook, and camp duration. Dave foster began his guiding career at lees ferry in the late 80s he has spent countless days on the river not only fishing, but studying and documenting this amazing fishery.
Fly fishing on the colorado river lees ferry in arizona. May 02, 2015 lees ferry is home to some of the most breathtaking fly fishing scenery in the world. Spinners with the colors of a rainbow usually work well for the spin fishing group. Eloquent and poignant, especially in the married life context. The complete guide to fishing and boating the colorado river below glen canyon dam no nonsense fly fishing guides. Thanks to my inlaws gift for my son and i, we booked 2 guided fly fishing trips for 108 and 109. Also included are some fine reservoirs and streams where one can fly fish.
The complete guide to fishing and boating the colorado river below glen canyon dam no nonsense fly fishing guides foster, dave, chadwell, pete on. Fish for rainbow trout on the colorado river at lees ferry near page, arizona 16 miles of blue ribbon water below the glen canyon dam. Fly fisherguide fly tierwriter wendy gunn, a professoinal guide on the colorado river, introduces you to fly fishing lees ferry. Best fly fishing mysteries a small, but enjoyable subgenre, at least for fishermen, are so called fly fishing mysteries. I am sorry, but the fishing details peculiar to lees ferry are not what they could be. For more than 20 years author dave foster has boated, explored and guided anglers on the big water that courses below the huge sandstone cliffs that start the grand canyon. It provides information on the fly fishing gear, tackle and trout flies you will need for fishing. Besides fishing, skip has a worked for several years in the fishing retail business.
Marble canyon outfitters at lees ferry specializes in helping you make the most of your fly fishing. They are of course mysteries with a strong element of fishing. Combine that with the outstanding rainbow trout fishing and beautiful weather, and you have an unbeatable spring fishing destination. This year, the river seems to boast an even better than usual population, with a wider range of fish sizes than in recent memory. Coast guard licensed captain as your guide, our 22. San juan flies, trout flies, the source for fly fishing. Lunch let us know if you have special dietary needs flies charged for flies lost at the end of day rod if necessary specially outfitted powerdriven riverboats and fuel. Be sure to visit our fly fishing ebooks catalog we have some of the best fly fishing books by top authors now in high quality pdf ebook format. It can be tied to the fly line by hand, and should also be chosen based on the specific type of fishing you will use it for. Throughout the book detailed maps direct fly and spin fishing and show points. It flows clear and cold from the glen canyon dam providing the.
The title says its a guide to fly fishing lees ferry. Lees ferry, the namesake of arizonas most famous fly fishing destination, is 15 miles of glorious colorado river tailwater. Fly fishing lees ferry ebook by dave foster rakuten kobo. The complete guide to fishing and boating the colorado river below. Koffler jet boat, fuel, lunch from the marble canyon lodge, fly rods and at least 8 hours on the water typically starting at 7 am. This is the book my non fishing friends read and admire. This book is a huge contribution to fly fishing and a step forward in the ongoing chronicle of the fascinating river, its storage and the crossing that has served as a. To your professional guide, the river is a road map with rainbow trout at the end of the line. Terrys wildlife and fly fishing photographs have appeared in most all of the outdoor magazines as well as books, journals, newspapers, calendars, and. On one of my trips to lees ferry a wary old trout taught me a valuable lesson that has changed the way i have fly fished from that point on. Lees ferry 11x17 fold out fishing map quantity buy sku.
Pat dorsey photo excerpted from fly fishing tailwaters. Fly fishing guide for the colorado river lees ferry arizona fly fishing the lees ferry colorado river tailwater is mostly nymph fishing. Also included are some fine reservoirs and streams where one can fly. There is no limit on other sport fish species which includes all species of bass including sunfish and stripers, all species of catfish, all species of trout other than rainbow trout, and walleye. If youre talking about fly fishing for trout, thats an easy one. Some caught the biggest cutt, hybrid rainbow and brookie of thier lives. Travel arizona lees ferry trout fly fishing co river bennett. There is a great article found here if your interested in the history and area information. Coast guard captain licensed lees ferry suggests the following.
Terry gunn is coowner and founder of lees ferry anglers fly shop and guide. Fly fishing the colorado river at lees ferry ask about fly. In this fly fishing adventure, see what lies in arizonas lees ferrys crystal waters in fly. Lees ferry on the fly trout fishing guides on the colorado. Guided fly fishing trip with lees ferry anglers been hearing and reading about the fishing at lees ferry for years.
Fly leader the fly leader essentially extends the fly line, although with a special shape and material for a more delicate and convincing presentation. Terry gunn and jeff english give us a tour of lees ferry and show us what treasures the. From glen canyon dam to the beginning of paria riffle lees ferry limit 2 rainbow trout per day. An angler plays a thickbodied lees ferry rainbow that took a scud pattern while feeding on a gravel bar below glen canyon dam. Of the 7 natural wonders of the world, only one has great fishing for wild rainbow trout.
This is a fly fishing guide for the colorado river at lees ferry arizona. The complete guide to fishing and boating the colorado river below glen canyon dam by dave foster, pete due to covid19, orders may be delayed. Lees ferry on the fly lees ferry fishing guides trout fly. His book fly fishing lees ferry is a comprehensive guide to boating and fishing the colorado river at lees ferry. This guidebook helps you quickly absorb the essential information youll need to fly. Lees ferry anglers and cliff dwellers lodge serves flyfishers, grand canyon rafters, hikers, and travelers from around. Weather was a bit challenging but that didnt seem to bother the fish much. The first book to look at the very best tailwater fisheries across the u. Lees ferry sits at the base of vermilion cliffs national monument in one of the western united states most spectacular settings.
Oct 09, 20 fly lines should be cleaned between uses. Fly fishing on the colorado, of course, gets the most attention. Marble canyon outfitters at lees ferry has been offering successful guided fishing trips since 1988. The river yields wild rainbow trout from 14 to 22 inches. Free fly fishing ebooks downloads northwest outdoors. But i thought i was buying a book on fishing, not history. John gierach on bamboo rods midcurrent fly fishing. Lees ferry anglers is one of the largest fly fishing outfitters in the world employing 14 fulltime guides. Today lees ferry is well known for its trout fishing, for its rich scenery, and as a starting point for. See for yourself why lees ferry is on every fishermans must do list. Four of us started the trip off at panguitch for a couple days of breaking in. Lees ferry is home to more than 20,000 wild trout per mile. Lees ferry is famous for its estimated 12,000 fish per mile. This guide to fly fishing lees ferry is indispensable for the angler and intrepid.
Aug 19, 2019 bamboo rods have a religious following among anglers. This tailwater, just below glenn canyon dam and at the start of the grand canyon, is one of the most beautiful places on earth to fish. With the sleepless night and the mornings misadventure firmly in our rearview mirror, its time to get down to business. Fly fishing guide on the colorado river, at lees ferry, in northern arizona. But theres also some unapologetic nostalgia at work here. Tactics and patterns for yearround waters stackpole books, 2009. Part of it is the way we value the yankee workshoplike tradition of fine handwork done with what we now consider to be primitive tools, as well as the antique virtues of skill and patience, writes john gierach.
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