Rio Epic Float & Wade Fly Fishing Adventures in Southwest Colorado & the San Juan River.

For over 25 years Rio Epic has been sharing epic fly fishing experiences with our guests throughout the Southwest. Our custom guided trips are safe, educational and a blast. From the world famous San Juan River in northern New Mexico to the Animas, Rio Grande, Dolores, Pine and regional lakes we have a trip for you.

If your vacation is near the amazing towns of Durango, Creede, South Fork, Silverton, Dolores, Pagosa, Bayfield and Navajo Dam New Mexico we will get you on the water.

rio
rēō (spanish for riv·er) | - noun
large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.

epic
ˈepik | - adjective
heroic or grand in scale or character: an epic journey to the best fly waters in southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico.

It's going to be epic!

Rio Epic Celebrating 25 Epic Years

With all these years on the water Rio Epic guides are some of the best in the fly-fishing and outdoor education industry. From float or wade adventures in southwest Colorado on the Animas, Rio Grande, Dolores, Pine, mountain streams to the legendary San Juan River below Navajo Dam we have you covered.

Your Adventure

Rookies to Experienced Pros

Rio Epic offers an ego-free guide experience for anyone regardless of experience. We are family friendly as well as the perfect outing for women's groups, corporate team building, couples & fishing buddies.

From the world-famous San Juan River in northern New Mexico to the epic dry fly fishing on the Rio Grande to small mountain creeks to stunning private waters and beyond, we have a special trip for you.

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About Rio Epic

Years of experience

Rio Epic was established in the winter of 1999 by Will Blanchard. Will already had 7 years of guiding under his belt at that point. Rio Epic is an independent family owned and operated guide service based in southwest Colorado.

Rio Epic does not have a storefront, our focus is building the best custom guide trip for you and your group. Our passion for guiding and fly fishing is unmatched. It's going to be epic!

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Our Guide Season

Fishing Year-round 365 days

Rio Epic offers year-round guided float or wade fly fishing trips on the amazing waters of the southwest. Regardless of the season or time of year we have the perfect trip for you.

Rio Epic guides have been guiding and fishing for years on our local waters. Each is a top-rated professional ensuring your guide trip will be safe, educational and a lot of fun. Year-round fly fishing on the best waters.

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grant B stoked guest_RIO EPIC 2021_edited.jpg

"Some of the most diverse fishing in the West,

and maybe in the entire US. As for the guides they are the friendliest and best out there."

Mark Mason, Dallas Texas

new page! - fishing reports, stream flows & snow pack

Fly fishing reports for the San Juan, Animas, Rio Grande along with other streams and regional lakes in southwest Colorado. Stream flows and snowpack reports are also available.

fishing reports

Fly Fishing News & Notes

Report April 14 2025

Spring fishing has been fantastic on the San Juan River below Navajo Dam. Also our regional lakes have been productive as well. The Animas and the Rio Grande have also been a blast but with the warm weather have been pretty stained. Spring time fishing might offer varied weather and flows but the rewards are worth it. Streamers and nymphs are the best approaches to getting into fish right now.

Guide season is underway and time on the water has certainly been rewarded. Plan now for the spring, summer and fall trips. We do have a few coveted slots available for or epic Rio Grande float trips. qe are also getting our kids camps filled up. If you haven't signed your kiddo up yet, just drop us a line.

Photos: Another busy week with our fourth week of fly tying classes at Mountain Middle School. What a fun program. From hares ears, to chubbies, to midges, to monster articulated streamers. Ben put one of his streamers to the test and locked into a few nice fish. The brownie below was a stud. Guide season is underway and time on the water has certainly been rewarded.

Rio Epic teen fly tying class Mountain Middle School

teen fly tying class Mountain Middle with Rio Epic

Last minute guide trips are available just click us a
message or drop us a line . . .

970-259-0484

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photography

We tell a lot of our story through photography. All the images you see on the site or in galleries are taken on our local waters either on guide trips or on "guides days off". Click away!