Winter Walk-Wade Fishing
Our experienced guides are ready for any type of weather and will lead you through pristine waters, ensuring you have the chance to connect with a variety of trout species. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, we tailor each trip to meet your skill level and needs. Get ready for an adventure that create lasting memories on the water!
Winter Fly Fishing Info
The Arkansas River Valley offers year round fishing even in the middle of winter. With the valley sitting in what is called a banana belt, which is a geographic valley or region that stays warmer and drier than the surrounding area during the winter. This allows us to start fishing around 11:00 am when the ice/slush melts off the river. Winter fishing still requires preparedness. Always bring layers that you can shed off once the sun comes out, pick the days with the highest temps and most sunlight and always have a set of handwarmers at the ready.
With less water in the river, fish tend to stack up in deeper holes waiting for food to come by. This can offer excellent days of fishing when it seems like every fish on the river is right Infront of you.
With the cold deterring others you may have the entire river to yourself and experience the beauty of fishing during the winter.
What To Wear
It is recommended to have at least three layers of clothing on your upper torso and two for your lower legs. A Merino wool base layer along with socks is recommended to reach optimal comfort on the river.
A solid hoodie or vest over the base layer along with some sort of thermal puffer to top it off. A good hat or beanie with ear cover is also a must.
Staying warm is the key to good day of winter fishing!
What Clothing To Pack
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Merino Wool - Socks, Long Johns, Crew
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Warm Sweat pants
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Hoodie or Quarter Zip
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Light weight gloves that do not hinder hand dexterity.
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Warm Face covering.
Pro Tips To Stay Warm
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Keep Waders warm and inside before fishing.
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Cold or frozen waders can steal all your warmth quickly.
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Wear all layers on drive over to get all that warmth soaked in.
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If starting to sweat reduce layers. Stay dry!
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Keep handwarmers in front wader pocket to quickly warm hands.
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Black Surgical Glove!!
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Keeping your hands dry is very important.
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The black color will also amplify the warmth from the sun considerably.
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Do not suffocate your feet!
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To much tightness on you feet can restrict blood flow and quickly turn you feet into blocks of ice!
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Enter the water sparingly!
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Do not enter the water unless you have! Ice will soon accumulate the second you leave the water. Causing warmth to slowly get sucked out of your body.
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Included:
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Transportation to and from locations within Chaffee County
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All necessary fishing & safety equipment including flies and waders
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Lunch (on full day trips only)
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Snacks and water
Not included:
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Warm clothing
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Guide gratuity - not expected, but greatly appreciated. If your guide worked hard, consider a 20% tip regardless of how many fish were caught.
*A 6% land & water access fee and a 4% credit card processing fee will be added to the total upon booking. Ask us about other payment options to avoid the credit card processing fee.
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Gold Medal Waters-Arkansas River
We are pleased to offer guided trips on over 100 miles of Gold Medal water along the Arkansas River. This stretch is renowned for its abundant Brown Trout and an increasing population of Rainbow Trout.
This wade fishing trip provides an excellent opportunity to experience the river firsthand. Whether you are a first-time angler interested in learning the basics or a veteran looking to gain local insights on river tactics, our guided sessions are designed to suit all skill levels.
Gold Medal Waters- Dream Stream, South Platte River
The Dream Stream, a Gold Medal section of the South Platte River, offers large and vibrant Rainbows, Browns, and Kokanee in the fall and into the winter. It is recommended for experienced anglers looking to land the fish of their dreams!
This section of river is not located in a banana belt so temperatures can vary extremely. Negatives in the morning hours are normal along with ice. It is even more necessary to come prepared with layers. However, since the Dream Stream is a tailwater the river never freezes completely over allowing for full day fishing from dawn to dusk.
Full Day
$500 1 angler*
$600 2 anglers*
Half Day
$375 1 angler*
$450 2 anglers*
*When booking online let us know in the notes section which of these trips you are most interested in.
Private Water- Arkansas River
We partner with local landowners to offer exclusive river access unavailable to the public. These private waters see less fishing pressure, providing a unique opportunity to target larger fish.
Full Day
$600 1 angler*
$800 2 anglers*
Half Day
$475 1 angler*
$650 2 anglers*
At UpRiver Fly Fishing we strive for the best experience possible, that is why we limit our wade trips to a 2-to1 client to guide ratio. We do offer 3-to-1 client to guide ratio, however it is only recommended for experienced anglers on a case by case basis on public water. This is not an option on our private water trips. Please call to (719)395-9227 to discuss the option of a 3-to-1 client to guide ration.
