Discover North Park with Colorado's Fly Fishing Specialists

Why Should You Take A Guide Trip With North Park Anglers?

May 24, 2018

There are a lot of great benefits of going on a guided fly fishing trip, but why should you take one with us? At North Park Anglers, we are able to offer an experience unlike any other. Here are the top five reasons why you should fish with North Park Anglers:

1.) Seclusion and Solitude

North Park Anglers is located in Walden, Colorado, a small mountain town northwest of Denver and the only municipality in Jackson County. With Main Street being about one mile long and lacking even a stoplight, the town of Walden is often unheard of even by Colorado natives. The seclusion and solitude that North Park offers is unheard of around many parts of the state and even the country. As a fly shop, we offer anglers the opportunity to fish over 10 miles of private rivers and streams. Trips taken on these private waters guarantee that the only other potential company you will see that day is a moose or friendly marmot. All of our private shop waters are regulated and rested to ensure healthy waters and fish.

SECLUDED PRIVATE WATER. 

North Park Anglers also offers guide trips on over 50 miles of public water that is rarely touched. The infamous North Park mosquitoes drive away many visitors even during prime fishing conditions, which means that the public waters are not as pressured as other areas around the state, and ofter great fishing opportunities for the bug-brave angler. Public waters include a diverse selection of scenery including meadow streams, wilderness areas, alpine lakes and streams, the North Platte River, and many still-waters. 

2.) Trip Selection

At North Park Anglers, we offer a unique selection of guided fishing trips to choose from. Early on and later in the season we offer half day walk/wade trips on both public and private waters. During our peak season we offer full day walk/wade trips on both public and private waters, full day drift boat trips on public and private lakes, a full day float trip through Northgate Canyon, a full day float trip on the North Platte in the Valley and a full day float trip on the Encampment River in Wyoming. The amount of water options we have available allows us to help customize your trip and adapt to changing conditions.

3.) Guide Selection and Trip Booking Process

North Park Anglers offers a unique and custom trip booking and guide selection process. Unlike many shops, we do not have an online booking process, instead we like to make all of our bookings over the phone or in person. We like being able to talk to you in order to get a good idea of the expectations and desires of your trip. We want to get a feel for you and your guest’s experience level, what you want to learn, what kind of gear you may need, answer any questions you may have and even help you with lodging and travel options. Based on the conversation and information we discuss, we are able to match you with one of our eight professional guides to help make your trip a success. You can see a list of our guides on our website at http://northparkanglers.com/about/staff/ 

4.) Diversity and Uniqueness of North Park

North Park is home to some of the most diverse and unique fisheries in the United States. With the headwaters of the North Platte located in the park, we have the special opportunity to fish many tributary streams such at the Illinois, Michigan, North Fork of the North Platte, Roaring Fork, Canadian, Norris and many more along with the North Platte itself. All of the rivers located in the park are freestone rivers, not tail waters. This means that our water levels are not regulated, but instead depend on snowpack and ranching irrigation. These freestone rivers produce many awesome hatches throughout the year and allow anglers the opportunity to fish a diverse selection of bugs.

MAT PETERSON WITH A FREESTONE RIVER BROWN TROUT.

Aside from the diversity of the waters and hatches, North Park also contains a diverse amount of trout species. Looking to catch a Colorado Grand Slam (rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat)? You can do that here! Not only does North Park give you the ability to catch different species and a lot of them, it also provides the chance at a freestone river fish of a lifetime. Big fish mean big bugs, which is just another reason why North Park is so special. Due to the lack of pressure and water regulations, anglers have the opportunity to throw large flies. Step aside size #22 zebra midge, we’re fishing with size #2 articulated streamers up here. We often get funny looks from people when we recommend them to buy 0x-3x leaders and tippet up here, but that’s the way to go when you get the opportunity to fish large dry terrestrials, size #8 nymphs, and large articulated streamers. The diverse freestone river valley of North Park is one you definitely want to put on your bucket list.

 

5.) It’s More Than Just Fishing

At North Park Anglers, we offer an experience that goes beyond just fishing. Sure, there’s a good chance that you’ll hook into some fish while you’re here, but the experiences you take away at the end of your trip far surpass any fish put into the net. Here are just a few things you will be exposed to by the end of your trip:

  • Tips and techniques on how to fish more effectively

Our professional guides can teach you how to read water, tie new knots, cast more efficiently, as well as teach you about the different bugs/hatches that happen, history about the park and anything else you may be curious about.

  • Wildlife

Potential wildlife viewing/encounters in the park could include, moose, deer, elk, antelope, big horn sheep, bears, hawks, eagles, owls, otters, porcupines, and many more. Bringing a camera with you on your trip will allow you to bring a little piece of paradise back to your friends and family who missed out.

  • Scenery

The North Park Valley is situated between a mix of different mountain ranges including the Medicine Bow Mountains, Never Summer Mountains, the Rabbit Ears Range, and the Park Range. Green and golden hay meadows, brightly colored wildflowers, and fiery orange, yellow and red aspen leaves are a taste of the kind of scenery North Park has to offer during the season.

  • Creating and Strengthening Relationships

Whether it’s with your guide or your guest, a fly fishing trip with North Park Anglers is a great bonding experience and is sure to establish and strengthen relationships. We have lots of different kinds of groups come fish with us, including parent/child duos, husband/wife duos, owner/client duos, employer/employee duos, best friends, long distance friends, siblings, relatives and more. Did you know we also offer multiple day events for larger groups through our parent company, Buffalo Creek Ranch? You can find out more information about that on the website, http://buffalocreek.com/ .

  • Fishing With Us Beats a Day Sitting at Work 

GUIDE MAT JIMENEZ AND CLIENT CARL MARTIN CELEBRATING A GREAT CATCH. 

Do we really need to say more?

Going on a guided fishing trip should be a fun and memorable experience, and here at North Park Anglers we strive every day to achieve and exceed client expectations. So come on up, get your fishing fix with North Park Anglers then join the cowboys at the Stockman Bar. We can’t wait to meet you!

Call today to book a trip: 970-723-4215

Shop Hours: 7am-7pm every day

Written by: Taylor Martin