guide trip info
All of us guides here at Rio Epic pride themselves on trips that are safe, educational and flat out a ton of fun. We are all professionals with years of experience. Worried you're not going to get the hang of it or will tangle the line? Not a worry, Rio Epic guides are great teachers and have tons of patience. So tangle away, we got you.
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Guide trip info
Rio Epic
. . . is a family owned and operated home-based fly fishing guide service. We do not have a storefront, so our meet locations are catered to you and your groups needs. Same goes for your day on the water. Your entire experience is custom to you.
planning your trip
drop us a line or an email
Start by contacting Rio Epic. If you call you will reach our answering service. They will take detailed notes and one of us guides will call you back or text depending on what you prefer. Or you can email REO.
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Once you are booked on the days you request we'll dial in the deposit and arrange payment. Confirmation of your trip can be verbal, text or email. Then Rio Epic will send a shared text message shared between you and your guide. This introduction will include meet time and place along with other important information. Your guide will also reach out to go over any last minute details and changes.
meeting your guide
custom meet locations
We create custom meet times and locations to fit your vacation plans. Your Rio Epic guide will meet you at your hotel, B&B, guest ranch, VRBO, personal home, condo, cabin, coffee shop, a fly shop or even on the river. It can allow guests a safe place to leave a vehicle for the day. Meet locations are determined at the time of the booking or once contact is made with your guide prior to the days fishing trip.
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Colorado trips meet in Durango, Cortez, Creede, Southfork Mancos, South Fork, Dolores or Pagosa Springs. San Juan trips in New Mexico will meet either in Durango, Bayfield, Aztec or a fly shop near the river (Navajo Dam, NM)
tips on tips
take care of those that take care of you
We realize tipping expectations is a little out of control these days, but with a reasonable tip there is no better way to put a big smile on your guides face at the end of a guide day.
Tips help the guides with numerous expenses that are involved in each guide day. Lunch, fuel, flies, gear, shuttles, boat and trailer maintenance to name a few. Tipping a guide is very similar to the restaurant industry. If you enjoyed your day 18% to 20% of the trip cost (not including the $50 for tax) is a solid starting point and base for a good tip. If you had an outstanding trip, many of our guests will go above and beyond.
lunch!
We wonder if some of our guests come for the lunches more than the fishing. Most lunches are build your own deli sandwiches. Pastrami, smoked turkey, salami, yummy cheeses and topped off with avocado, tomato and various condiments. Some guides will get even more creative. If you or any on in your group has diet restrictions we will help accommodate those needs. Chips, cookies, crackers and drinks will also be available.
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Lunches are served on our full day trips. On 1/2 day trips drinks and snacks are provided.
the day
7:30 - 9:30
Meet your guide! Double check gear. Confirm you and the ones in your group have fishing licenses. Load up and head for the river. Gear up! Launch boat or walk to the water. Meet time and time on the water can vary a bit depending on transportation, schedules and fishing conditions. Custom meet times are available and may be determined by the guide as well as the clients' wishes. We do not have set times or schedules when it comes to your guide trip.
8:30 - 10:30
Hit the water and fish hard!
11:30 - 1:00
Guide provided stream side lunch on full days.
12:30 - 6:00
Fish the rest of the day. After fishing slide the boat on the trailer or pull the waders off. Apre fishing, then head back to home base. (Guide day ends depending on start time)
Full day trips are 7 to 9 hours long depending on the trip and half day trips are 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours on the water. (Snacks and drinks are provided on half day trips) Full day trips: 7 1/2 to 9 hours on the water. (Stream-side lunch and drinks are provided on full days.)
Custom trips (short full days) are also available for those with different needs and the occasional special situation. We pro-rate the guide fee depending on the duration of time spent fishing. (Stream-side lunch is included on custom full day trips).​
FAQ
Q: When is the best time of year to visit and fish?
A: We are asked this one a lot and the answer is simple; when ever you can. We fish and guide year-round here in Southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico. We have incredible winter fishing due to mild winter weather and low crowds. Spring is when the big fish hunt with summer offering consistent fishing on all bodies of water. Fall, a guides favorite, is fantastic with the fish being aggressive and bulking up for winter.
the gear
​Your guide trip includes - float or wade trips
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Your professional guide
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Flies & tackle
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Yummy stream-side lunch (full day trips)Snacks (1/2 day trips)
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Drinks & extras water
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Rods/reels & waders/boots (if you need them. No extra cost)
What to bring on a trip
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The basic gear list looks like this (float or wade trips)
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Sunglasses for sun and safety (polarized are best helps you see the fish)
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Hat (wide brim is best)
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Sun mask or buff
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Light weight shirt, sun top or hoody as well as shorts or light weight pants (summer)
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Rain gear (jacket and pants) even if it is sunny in the morning
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Fleece top or hoody for any AM or PM chill
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Personal water bottle (guides will have extra water and drinks)
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Sunscreen (we have more sunny days than not) Medications (prescribed inhalers or epi pen)
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Shoes or boots that can get dirty, wet or muddy
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Camera or phone in a dry bag or small dry box
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Willingness to learn and a big sense of adventure!
Extra stuff needed for wade trips
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Breathable waders along with wading boots and wading belt are essential
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Warm fleece pants and wool socks (even in the summer, some of our rivers are very cold)
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Small waters and creeks some anglers prefer to "wet wade". Wet-wading is best with fishing boots and neoprene socks
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* If you need waders, boots, belt or neoprene socks for your trip we'll provide them at no extra cost. Just let us know your height and shoe size
​* Most guide services tack these types of additional costs on to the guide fee. If you are shopping around make sure ask, because equipment rental and flies can run an extra $40 or more per person. If you don't want to pack gear, no problem we have them for you to borrow.
odd number in group
If you have an odd number of anglers in your group most of our guests book an additional guide. Us guides recommend it for a number of reasons. Not only does it open up the option for the group to experience a float trip it will increase the hands-on instruction each person receives even on wade trips. We realize it will increase the trip cost but we do offer single angler rates to help off set the increase when adding a guide. If budget is an issue we do offer 3 person wade trips.
adding an angler
We do offer three person wade trips on certain trips and are available only on WADE trips. There is a maximum of two guests per boat on float trips.. Our three person trip locations include the San Juan in New Mexico, Animas and some mountain streams in Colorado. Groups with experienced anglers we will consider 3 person trips on the Rio and Pine. The guide trip will be billed at our two person rate plus an additional $150 for the third angler.
non fishing tag-along
A non-angling friend or spouse are more than welcome to join in on a guide trip and just tag-along. Tagging along works best on float trips, however it is also available on wade trips. (Waders and boots for the tag-along will be available at no extra cost). The trip will be billed at our single angler rate, plus $25 for the tag-along. On full day trips lunch is included at no extra cost. The tag-along is however responsible for taking photos of trout and scenery.
fishing license info
New Mexico
When booking a trip on the San Juan River (all sections below Navajo Reservoir) you will need a New Mexico fishing license. Purchases are handled by an authorized vendor, phone or online. Grabbing a license online helps fast track guide trips to the river, saving valuable fishing time.
Season (April 1 thru March 31 of next year)
Age: 12 and up will need a New Mexico Fishing license.
Phone: TOLL FREE TELEPHONE 888-248-6866 Monday-Friday 8am to 5PM
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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A PRINTER, SAVING IT TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE IS ALSO OK. Either way you must have the license on your person.
Colorado
When booking a Colorado guide trip (including private waters) you will need a Colorado fishing license. You can grab your license at a retail vendor, CPW office, by phone or online (easiest). Again, like San Juan trips in New Mexico, grabbing a license online helps fast track guide trips to the river, saving valuable fishing time.
Season (April 1 thru March 31 of next year)
Age: 16 and up will need a Colorado Fishing license.
Colorado Fishing License
TOLL FREE TELEPHONE 1-800-244-5613
ONLINE SALES: Click the link
weather
​​The weather in our region can be very unpredictable. Even though we have numerous beautiful sunny days, there are times that rain and snow can come in unexpectedly. We guide rain or shine. At times in the summer and fall, torrential rain storms will cause our some rivers to muddy up and swell to un-fishable flows. On occasion, this forces us to change our plans and fishing locations. Just remember to be flexible and ready for an adventure. We have a number of fishing options as well as back up plans. We will do what it takes to get you on the best water in any conditions.
Keeping it safe during a thunderstorm will be high priority. Rods will be put down and boats parked in the event of close lightning strikes. We would much rather fish under a bright blue southwest sky however, the days that are dark with low clouds loaded with rain, sleet and snow can be some of the best days on the water. Clouds will typically kick off serious hatches of aquatic insects. And we know what that mean; happy and active trout. On very rare occasions the weather will deteriorate enough to force a shortened day. In most cases we take a quick break, let the weather clear and then get right back at it. But safety is a high priority for us.
guide life in photos
This gallery is another look at the fly fishing experience here in southwest Colorado & on the San Juan.
Rio Epic is an equal opportunity provider
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
durango | creede | south fork | pagosa springs
navajo dam | silverton | dolores​​​
