|
|
Post by underhillsbill on Jun 5, 2015 8:24:39 GMT -6
I recently booked a guide service for an upcoming trip to Colorado. I received the confirmation email setting out the details of the trip. Also mentioned in the confirmation was that flies cost extra. Is this standard? My guide experience is limited to the BB Fly Shop (highly recommend by the way, great experience on several occassions) where flies were included in the trip price. I'm certainly happy to pay for flies, I generally buy a bunch locally anyway. Seemed like this might be a red flag if not the norm across the industry. Thanks everyone.
|
|
|
|
Post by dannys on Jun 5, 2015 9:34:35 GMT -6
I have only hired guides at one river and they do not charge for flies. That said, I do seem to recall seeing that on a guide service web site; just can't recall where the outfit was located. Wonder if the guide that charges for flies ties his own flies.
|
|
|
|
Post by dainw on Jun 5, 2015 9:56:29 GMT -6
I think it probably varies by guide service. I've got a trip to colorado coming up in August and their policy is that you pay for any fly that you use out of the guide's box. Not sure where you're going or what guide service you're using, but I've looked around at several different areas/rivers/guides trying to plan this trip (and it's just something I do when I'm bored sometimes) and I think it's all over the board. What I've noticed is that the most of the guides on a particular river or particular area are going to charge about the same price and include most of the same services. Also, the more of a "destination" that particular river or area is considered, then the more expensive the guides tend to be. If you look at fly fishing guides on the white river system in Arkansas, they're all going to charge you $400. It's pretty much the going rate. I was looking at drift boat trips on the Green River in Utah this morning, and the going rate is about $450 a day no matter which guide service you use. I will agree though, the guide service at BBFS is top notch. I think it's rare that you find a guide service where the price is "all inclusive"...where they let you use their rods, leaders, flies etc. Plus their price is on the lower end of what most guide services charge (maybe I shouldn't be saying this). All of these are factors in why I would recommend the guide services at BBFS, but the main reason is that I caught fish and had a really knowledgeable guide. Long story short, I wouldn't worry too much about the guide charging you for flies. It isn't uncommon. As long as you've done your research into the guides in the area and feel comfortable that you're being charged a reasonable price, then I'd say you don't have anything to worry about. Besides what's ultimately going to make or break the experience is whether or not you learn something from the trip and if you caught a few fish. If the trip goes well, I'm sure you'll be happy to pay an extra couple bucks for flies.
|
|
|
|
Post by golferjeff on Jun 5, 2015 10:03:22 GMT -6
I have hired enough guides in my day that I can say this is an uncommon practice. Maybe 1 in 10 have this sort of caveat. Usually flies, waders, and rod are in the booking fee. I have had 4 services in Colorado and ZERO have made this extra charge.
Can I ask what service on what River system? COuld be a red flag, but it could also just be a smaller operation on a tighter budget.
Dain- extra flies could get pricey if you are fishing the banks - maybe an extra $50-$75 for a full day trip. If guides desire a nice tip, they will 'allow' the use of their flies.
my 2 cents....
|
|
|
|
Post by dainw on Jun 5, 2015 10:07:52 GMT -6
Jeff the service I'm using in August is Duranglers in Durango, CO. They charge for flies, but at the same time they seemed on the low end of the pricing scale compared with other services in town. They came pretty highly recommended to me, but I dunno, I've since heard some negative things about them.
|
|
|
|
Post by golferjeff on Jun 5, 2015 10:10:37 GMT -6
I know 2 of the guys in Duranglers..... they are knowledgeable. They don't have permits on some of the private water nearby, which is why their prices are a little lower. Lots of good public water around there though. Peter's summer job is just on the other side of the mountain on the north drainage.
|
|
|
|
Post by dainw on Jun 5, 2015 10:16:21 GMT -6
Yeah after spending a half day with Peter on the LMF a couple weeks ago, I'm kind of wishing that I had found that out back in February when I booked this trip. But this trip has been booked for a while and the deposits have been paid. Lake City is definitely on the list now.
|
|
|
|
Post by underhillsbill on Jun 5, 2015 10:47:15 GMT -6
Thank you everyone for the responses and feedback. I'm in Durango for a wedding in a couple weeks, staying a couple extra days so booked a trip with The San Juan Angler. My 12 year old is coming with me so between him and me, we'll use a good number of flies I'm sure. Dainw, maybe it's more customary in the Durango area since Duranglers charges for flies too. No mention of this when I called and booked, only found out through their confirmation email. Just raises the question "what else are they not telling me?" Probably no big deal, just thought I would throw this out since so many of you have posted about guide services in the past.
|
|
|
|
Post by dainw on Jun 5, 2015 11:29:41 GMT -6
Maybe it is a Durango thing. The guy that works at Backwoods here in Oklahoma City has done some guiding in that area and he's a big fan of the San Juan Angler, that's actually the shop that he recommended, but alas the trip has been booked for a while now. I think you'll be in good hands. Let me know how it goes. What rivers are you hitting?
|
|
|
|
Post by underhillsbill on Jun 5, 2015 12:24:57 GMT -6
Great to hear, nice to have a real recommendation. I just read various internet reviews and lurked around on their instragram and twitter feeds. After talking with them, we decided on a day in the high country. Likely Hermosa Creek but I told them I'm up for last minute changes depending on run off. They said the Animas is just too hit and miss right now but that could certainly change in a week. Really excited for the trip, I'll let you know how it goes. I want to get back some year later in the summer to fish the Animas. Lake City area is on the list too.
|
|
|
|
Post by dainw on Jun 5, 2015 13:47:56 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by underhillsbill on Jun 5, 2015 15:59:06 GMT -6
Would love the chance to catch a native Colorado cutthroat. Very cool pics from your summer trip thread. Hopefully I'll have a few to add.
|
|
|
|
Post by breeden3 on Jun 5, 2015 17:07:25 GMT -6
At the Sportsman, we do not charge for flies. It is included in the trip price. I don't really agree with charging for flies either. If I put you in a tough casting position, and you lose a fly to a tree or a hang up on the bottom, then you shouldn't be responsible for that fly. It is on the shops to provide the gear, flies, and other services so that the client may experience a successful trip, and want a repeat. I would hate to be the guide saying, "well they sure were hitting BWOs. Too bad you lost the last one and didn't buy anymore before we left the shop." lol Same goes for keeping track of the flies the client uses on the water, and then the client has to pay the fee when they get back to the shop. Fly fishing is an in depth experience. The last thing the client wants while on the water is to try and keep track of how much money he is spending on flies. Just my opinion as a guide for two incredible shops.
|
|
|
|
Post by underhillsbill on Jun 26, 2015 22:28:45 GMT -6
The Animas was flowing almost twice the normal level for runoff season while we were in Durango (almost 6000 cfs) and the high country was really high water and tough fishing too. Talked to the guide shop (San Juan Angler) in Durango a couple days before the trip and decided we'd head to the San Juan in NW New Mexico instead. No disappointment there as it's a world class tailwater. We had great weather, overcast, little wind, 65-75 degrees. Started on the water a little after 8:00 on a Tuesday. More people than I expected on a weekday but still more than enough places to fish without someone on each side of you. Fished varying midge patterns in sz #22-24 all day and caught more fish than we could have hoped. My son was practically floating on the water all day with so many hook ups. Rainbows from 12-18 inches. Saw some bigger fish too but couldn't get them to take the bait (so to speak). Also fished more weight than I had in the past on the San Juan. Previous reports and fly shops had told me you do not want to fish the bottom. This guide had a different approach and we caught more fish on this trip than my several previous trips combined. Only downsize was that you had to clean the grass/moss off your flies about every third cast. At one point our guide set up his "cannonball" rig to fish a deep fast pool (6 big split shots). After a couple big mends, immediately hooked up and landed a fish. Next cast, hooked a big rockfish.. We fished the main channel above the Texas Hole then finished up sight fishing various holes in The Braids section. Great trip and I'd definitely recommend the folks at The San Juan Anger in Durango. Jeff, you may be onto something with your flies/tip comment. No charge for the guides flies on this trip. Also noticed the fly shop didn't sell any of the flies our guide had (I tried to buy more; bought some others anyway) so he was definitely using his personal cache. |
|
|
|
Post by underhillsbill on Jun 26, 2015 22:30:46 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by dainw on Jun 27, 2015 10:27:23 GMT -6
Man looks like you had a great time. Sounds like you guys tore them up. I'm headed there in a month and I can't wait.
|
|
|
|
Post by underhillsbill on Jun 28, 2015 16:32:28 GMT -6
you'll definitely have a great trip. High country, Animas, and the San Juan will all be fishing great.
|
|
