Fall Fishing the Eagle River: Chasing Trophy Trout in October

It is October 13th, and the air in the Roaring Fork Valley has that crisp, thin bite that tells you it is time to get serious. While everyone is crowded around the Fryingpan, I have been pointing my rig toward the Eagle River. If you want to put a bend in a Sage fly fishing rod and put your nerves to the test, this is the place. Right now, the water is hitting that sweet spot—flows are steady, and the fish are putting on the feedbag before the real freeze sets in. Whether we are hitting the stretch below Edwards, working the riffles by the Eagle fairgrounds, or scouting the pools above Gypsum, the action has been relentless. We are seeing some incredible big browns getting territorial and aggressive rainbows that do not want to come to the net. My new Clackacraft drift boat has been sliding over these flows perfectly, giving us the stealth we need to sneak up on these trophy trout. If you are rigged up with a solid Hardy fly fishing setup, stick to the BWO nymphs—tiny and shiny is the name of the game—or drop a small stonefly pattern if you are drifting through the deeper, shadier buckets. For those who prefer dry flies, keep a sharp eye out during those cloudy afternoons; when the BWOs pop, these fish are looking up. I have spent 30 years learning the mood of these rivers, and there is nothing quite like the scenic float fishing you get on the Eagle this time of year. It is not just about the technical stuff, though. We have been hosting a lot of groups lately, and if you are planning a bachelor or bachelorette party and want something better than the standard bar crawl, a guided drift boat trip is the ultimate Colorado adventure. It is a day on the water that your crew will actually remember. Aspen area fly fishing is about getting away from the noise, and right now, the Eagle is providing exactly that. If you want to put some weight in the net and learn the nuances of the drift from someone who has been navigating these waters for three decades, get in touch. We are booking up fast for the remainder of the season. Shoot Aspen Angling Company a message and let’s get you on the oars.