Flyfishing in southern Colorado, the San Luis Valley and upper Rio Grande Valley, with locations a few hours’ drive from southern Front Range cities of Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Walsenburg and Raton and valley towns of Blanca, Salida, Alamosa, Monte Vista, Del Norte and South Fork. Ask us about accommodations in the area so you can maximize fishing and minimize driving.

Enjoy the amenities of Taos or Angel Fire in northern New Mexico and let us guide you to great fishing in southern Colorado, a little over an hour away. Visitng Great Sand Dunes National Park? Meet us less than an hour’s drive south for unforgettable, uncrowded and unspoiled southern Colorado flyfishing.

Fish our exclusive private waters on Trinchera Ranch, including Trinchera Creek, Ute Creek and and Sangre de Cristo Creek. Reel in huge rainbow trout and northern pike on our exclusive Monte Vista Trophy Ponds. Cast a fly on our exclusive water (meadow stream and pond) on San Luis Creek near Poncha Pass. Fish with us on the Rio de Los Pinos and the Conejos River, draining the beautiful and undiscovered east slope of the spectacular southern San Juan Mountains.

Whatever you do, don’t miss a day on Culebra Creek (near San Luis, Colorado). We love this place, and you will too! Miles and miles of exclusive, isolated, pristine tailwater in an emerald green valley, rimmed by some of the highest mountains in Colorado and New Mexico. Meander after meander of big holes, undercut banks and sparkling riffles. Big, clean fish lurking everywhere. Your river, your fish, your own piece of the Rocky Mountain West.

Something to write home about!

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PRIVATE WATER

Culebra Creek

Season: Year-Round Fishing!
Private Water Rod Fee $75 per angler per day.

• Flies: Baetis, Tricos, Hoppers, Small Golden Stones, Caddis, Midges, Craneflies, Snails, Scuds
• Type: Beautifull tailwater, deep undercut banks, long riffles
• Prices

The Culebra springs out of the bottom of Sanchez Reservoir, located in San Luis CO, about an hour’s drive north from Taos. Situated at the base of the 14,000 plus foot Culebra Peak, the creek offers both fantastic scenery and splendid fly fishing on a year-round basis. The river runs through lovely wide-open pastures and meadows. The fish, on average, are the largest in the Taos area, with fish 18″ and up not uncommon.

Van Beacham has an exclusive lease on about eight miles of the stream, and owns two more. Van only allows anglers to fish the stream with a guide (unless you are one of the few privileged members of his Solitary Angling Club) which keeps pressure down. There are six sections and only one party per day is allowed on each. Every section receives at least two days rest each week.

By far, our clients’ favorite place to fish. Hatches occur all year long (see hatch chart) with prolific spring and fall baetis hatches. Stoneflies, caddis, crane flies, PMDs and tricos hatch all summer and midges hatch all winter.
Culebra Creek*

Culebra Creek in Southern Colorado is our crown jewel and perhaps the finest small stream in the southwest, boasting a robust population of wild browns and cutbows that average 16 to 20 inches with several larger fish up to, believe it or not, 30 inches! The number of big fish varies from year to year but the Culebra grows fish rapidly so there are always big fish. There are multiple reasons for the Culebra’s ability to grow big fish. First, it’s a tail-water below Sanchez Reservoir, which provides nutrient-rich, clean water with less fluctuation of water temperatures, resulting in good year-round feeding opportunities. Secondly, the Culebra has numerous bends with deep undercut banks where big fish can hide when endangered or threatened and very few places for small fish to survive the onslaught from cold winter temperatures, fast currents and predation, thus more big fish. Other factors include management tools such as SAC stream and habitat improvements, catch-and-release flyfishing only, prescription stocking of fish, reduction of poaching through patrolling and limited angling pressure through careful scheduling. (See the SAC brochure for more details.)

 

The secret to successful angling on the Culebra is learning which sections fish best at certain water levels and times of the year and the different techniques to use during those conditions. Needless to say our guides know the Culebra intimately and can help insure your next fishing trip is a success. We have over 10 miles of the Culebra divided into 10 sections (beats) so there is plenty of room to spread out and once you book a section with your guide, you’re the only one there and chances are that there wasn’t any one there yesterday nor will be tomorrow. The secret to our quality fisheries is that we “rest the water.”

Come fish the Culebra with one of our guides and find out why it is by far our most popular destination that anglers keep returning to year after year. Call us at 1-866-502-1700 or email us at jack@thesolitaryangler.com to book today!

For details on techniques, seasons, hatches and access to the Culebra Creek refer to my book, The Flyfisher’s Guide to New Mexico.

*The entire Culebra Creek is also available to members of the SAC.

Coming Soon

Accommodations on the Culebra

Casa de Culebra

Construction of a small lodge / fishing retreat is scheduled to begin this summer on my property on Culebra Creek. It will be unobtrusive to the angler on the river, yet still offer stunning views of the creek and the towering peaks of the Sangre de Cristos. Once completed, it will be available for nightly rentals to our members and clients that fish with us. More information as it becomes available can be found on our web site at www.thesolitaryangler.com by clicking on Accommodations.

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PRIVATE WATER

Trinchera Creek/Trinchera Lodge

Season: June – August

• Flies: Mayflies, Midges, Stone Flies, Caddis, Hoppers
• Type: Freestone Streams, Creeks, and lakes
• Prices

The sprawling 180,000-acre Trinchera Ranch in Southern Colorado, formerly known as the Forbes Ranch, is a sight to behold. This magnificent ranch sits in the heart of the highest mountain peaks in Colorado, several rising over 14,000 feet in elevation. These jagged peaks supply water for three major streams on the ranch, each teaming with wild Rio Grande Cutthroat and some browns, bows and brookies.

It’s like having your own wilderness area to yourself but you don’t have to hike. You can drive to most of the fishing. There are also several lakes on the property with some very large rainbows, brookies and cuts. The best season at Trinchera is late June through August, when you can catch fish on dries all day long.

Trinchera Lodge has five-star accommodations and a well equipped conference room, and it’s an ideal location for corporate groups and group conferences. Space is limited on these exclusive trips so book early! Combine with fishing on the Culebra, just 25 minutes from the Lodge.

For more information, visit our Lodgings page.

For details on techniques, seasons, hatches and access to Culebra Creek,
refer to my book, The Flyfisher’s Guide to New Mexico.

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