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Rio Grande



~ SOME OF THE BEST DRY FLY FISHING IN THE WEST ~



About the Rio





Epic fishing



The Rio Grande offers some of the best float fishing in the west. Streamers and nymphs in the spring. Early summer brings epic insect hatches peaking in late June and July making for some unbelievable dry fly fishing. It is common to have 40+ fish days per angler on the Rio Grande.



Rio Season





Mid April to late September



The Rio season typically ramps up as the river thaws and flows bump in early to mid April. Prime-time dry fly season starts in mid June and goes through July. Epic hatches include, salmon flies, stones, caddis, drakes, PMDs, tricos as well as hoppers. Float trips are always flow dependent.



Your Day





Big days



Rio Epic guides are know for long days with float trips covering up to 18 miles. That is a lot of fishing! We typically meet guests between 8 and 9 AM and fish till 5 or 6 on our full days. A mid day guide-provided lunch helps breakup the action. 1/2 days are about 4 1/2 hours of fishing.



Creede and Southfork Colorado



Rio Epic separates our float trips on the Rio Grande into two sections, the Upper Rio and Lower Rio.
The Upper Rio starts at Texas Creek and flows downstream to the Upper Coller State
Wildlife Area (SWA).
The Lower Rio starts at the Upper Coller SWA
and covers the waters downstream past
​South Fork Colorado.



RATES
Upper Rio





Texas Creek to Upper

Coller SWA



Full Day or 1/2 Day
One angler $625
Two anglers $725



RATES
Lower Rio





Upper Coller SWA downstream
beyond South Fork



Full Day
One angler $625
Two anglers $725

1/2 Day
One angler $525
Two anglers $625



Rio Grande Rate Info





Rates Do Not Include:
$20 Tax/fees (per angler)
$5 Conservation surcharge (per angler)
Gratuity for you guide

All guests will need to have a valid Colorado fishing license.



Rio Float Trip Rates



With full transparency here is a quick rundown on our rate structure for our guided float trips on the Rio Grande River near Creede and South Fork Colorado.


Rio Epic separates the river into two distinct sections. The Upper Rio and Lower Rio. The Upper Rio starts at the base of the box canyon near Texas Creek and runs past Creede to the Upper Coller State Wildlife Area (SWA). The Lower Rio starts at the Upper Coller SWA and covers waters beyond South Fork Colorado. Our guiding on the upper Rio near Creede is strictly controlled with only four outfitters permitted in that section. Outfitters have a set number of user days as detailed on a permit issued by the US Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.


The demand for the our float trips on the Rio is very high. Many of our clients book for multiple years in advance and getting in on the "prime window" is not always easy.


Our main goal is offer the best guided experience possible to our guests with some of the best guides in the biz. Upper Rio or Lower Rio both can fish very well, it all just depends on the day, the flows, the insect hatches and ultimately the fish. Let us know if you have a preference and we'll try to accommodate you and your group. Our advice for booking the Rio is to go with what your guide thinks. If you are on a budget, go with a 1/2 day on the Lower Rio. For more info and rates please click the link.



Contact Rio Epic





office: 970-259-0484



If you would like to book a trip please call, text, email or click our booking form.


Text:

970-749-3474


Email:

fish@rioepic.com


Office Hours:

  • Summer: 8am - 7pm
  • Winter: 8am - 5pm

Guide Hours: Long, but we wouldn’t have any other way


Booking Form

Southwest Fly Fishing Guide Service



durango | creede | southfork | silverton | navajo dam | pagosa springs | dolores
Rio Epic: 970-259-0484
Colorado guide license #2008 | © Rio Epic 1999 - 2022