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NEWSLETTER #53A -
OCTOBER 2006
Special Fly Fishing
Adventures Report
COLORADO EXPLORATORY TRIP, OCTOBER 2006
Famous Rocky Mountain “private water” lodges like
Elk Creek and the Marvine Ranch (both of which have
gone completely private in recent years) as well as
Elk Trout Lodge and the newest and finest, Three
Forks Ranch, are all located in Colorado.
I returned 10/12 from an exploratory trip to
Colorado with an answer to a question that has
always puzzled me: “Why are the best private waters
fisheries in the West located in Colorado?” The
answer was easy to discover – Colorado state law
states that landowners also own the rights to the
river and stream surfaces and the land underneath
the water on all waterways on their property. This
allows landowners to restrict access to their
watersheds, unlike many other states in the West,
which encourages the Colorado property owner to
improve their waters and fisheries. Couple the legal
reason with the stunning natural beauty and
trout-friendly environment created by the Colorado
Rockies, and you have the complete answer.
THREE FORKS RANCH: The Outdoor Sportsperson’s
Fantasy Playground
On the land made famous in the frontier days as the
home of Jeremiah Johnson, the famous mountain man,
and the hideaway for Butch Cassidy’s Hole In The
Wall Gang, this 250,000 acre ranch straddles the
border of both southern Wyoming and northern
Colorado. It simply is the finest fly fishing lodge
operation in the lower 48, bar none. It starts with
the quality of the fishing which includes, to quote
a well traveled client of ours, “more 20+ inch fish
than I’ve ever caught anywhere.” Over 16 miles of
private access, easily waded, insect-rich, streams
are available, including the South, Middle, and
North Forks of the Little Snake River. These are
waters that have undergone the most extensive stream
restoration program anywhere creating a picture-book
string of riffles and pools. For the most part,
these streams are 25-50 feet wide and provide
challenges for every skill level of fly fisher, from
beginner to the most experienced.
The guides match the quality of the fishing –
outstanding and qualified teachers for the
newcomer. The staff, accommodations, and Rocky
Mountain cuisine, from breakfast through dinner, is
on a scale with a five star property. Lem Cragholm,
who did a father-son trip in September, stated “it
met the lofty expectations I had.” Similar comments
have been registered from 100% of our clients who
have visited in the last two years.
My trip was a chance to verify that all I’d heard
was true. And verify I did! I only fished and
photographed one day. Conditions were tough as a
recent storm had left the water a little off-color
and cold. However, these freestone streams clear
quickly and we were able to fish dry flies most of
the day to rising fish, even in mid-October. We
must have had 50 fish respond to our fly and
released about 25, including one monster rainbow of
7+ pounds (no scale with us, but having weighed and
released numbers of 6 – 8# fish in New Zealand and
Labrador, I can eyeball the weight reasonably
well).
Being late in the season, there were several hunters
on the ranch and many stalks resulting in trophy elk
and mule dear were discussed over dinner. Although
I’m not a hunter, I enjoyed the banter with the
hunters and could appreciate their excitement and
tales of the stalk.
Starting in 2008, when the new spa and lodge will
open, hunters and fly fishers will be kept entirely
apart in different areas of the ranch during
September and October. The 6,000 square foot spa
will be a welcome addition for non-fishing
spouses…..as well as fishing spouses! Currently,
spa treatments are available, but not as extensive
as the new spa will facilitate.
2007 Availability: One unique aspect of Three Forks
is they will do any length of stay from 3 nights to
two weeks. Only a few slots remain for one or two
rods maximum except for a short stay of 3 nights, 2
days. The exceptions are:
A: first two weeks of June will be open in 2007 for
the first time. Certainly there is danger of high
and roiled waters due to run-off in early June, but
they did some experimental fishing in early June
this year and, even with difficult water conditions,
fishing was good.
B: For those that can travel over the 4th
of July, there is room for up to six rods from June
30 to July 5.
C: We just had a four night slot for a party of two
for September 6 – 10 come open.
D: Some reserved space has not yet been deposited
and could come open. However, they are running over
80% repeat clients which are pretty solid bookings.
Bookings for 2008: With their policy of allowing
“first rights” on return dates to clients, no 2008
bookings are being accepted (with the exception
noted below) although I am starting a “wait list”
for clients of Fly Fishing Adventures. We will have
some “first rights” ourselves as dates open for
2008. The only exception is the period after
September 10. Bookings are already being taken for
the fall of 2008 because there will be no fly
fishers at the Ranch next fall after September 10 to
tie up the space with “first rights.”
Pricing: Expensive as would befit the finest
operation of its kind. A six night, five day stay
runs $5,500 per person based on double occupancy and
shared guide.
SMOKING RIVER GUIDES, WHITE RIVER VALLEY – Early
Season Option
Before they went totally private, the Marvine Ranch
and Elk Creek Lodge on the White River system near
Meeker were two of the finest private water
operations in the US. When Elk Creek announced they
wouldn’t be open to the public starting with this
summer, it made several talented guides, each with
over 10 years experience fishing the White,
available for hire. These guys have banded together
and formed the Smoking River Guides Association
(Smoking River being the Indian name for the White
River). I sampled their program on my trip.
I learned why the White has the outstanding
reputation it has as a trout fishery. It is a
wonderful river with several braided sections with
each braid resembling a small stream environment. I
only fished one day plus the evening of my arrival
and did take all four species (rainbow, brown,
cutthroat, and cutt-bow hybrid) of the Rockies Grand
Slam. We released a few fish in the 18-20 inch
range and were able to fish dry flies about half the
time.
They have private access to approximately 6 miles of
the White as well as other privately accessed
water. With the hoards of fly fishers today on the
waters of the West, private waters like these are an
increasingly attractive option.
For accommodations, they have contracted with a 4
bedroom B&B-style ranch house. The house itself is
over 100 years old and has been very tastefully
restored and is very comfortable, although short on
bathrooms with only two. It is operated by a gal
who was a cook at Elk Creek and does an excellent
job with the meals.
Their prime months are March and April up through
mid to late April when the waters begin to become
roiled. After the runoff is finished in late June,
July is excellent. August continues to be good if
the late summer heat and rains aren’t too severe.
Mid-September through October, as long as the
weather holds, are also considered prime although
hunting season starts here around mid-October
changing the overall atmosphere of the area.
For a group with a minimum of four to a maximum of
six rods, the ranch house is exclusive just for that
group making it a very private overall experience.
The ideal package with the Smoking River gang is a 4
night stay with three days fishing. The price per
person for that 4n/3d package is $2,070 and includes
lodging, meals, private access rod fees, and shared
guide (2 anglers per guide).
Slide presentations are available for both of these
Colorado destinations.
Don Muelrath
Fly Fishing Adventures
www.flyfishingadventures.com
888-347-4896
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