Skip to content

Trips, Rentals & Classes

Join Golden Fly Shop in the mountains on pristine streams and rivers for an experience of a lifetime. These fly fishing trips will leave lasting memories and make a great gift for the angler in your life!

For fly fishing beginners we recommend booking a full or half day wade trip. For anglers with at least a couple days of experience we recommend a full day wade or float trip to maximize your time.  

To sign up for Fly Tying Classes, Please click the button below.

Or, Call Us 303.330.1292


Our Guides

Sean Cowman

Sean Cowman

Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan.  I grew up bait and spin fishing for warm water species on the Huron River in Southeast Michigan.  When I was a late Teenager my Father introduced me to fly fishing during the Hex hatch in Michigan. I was instantly hooked.  From there I fished for pretty much every species Michigan had to offer, just now on the fly rod.  I became a guide in 2020 after quitting my summer job for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  I love fly fishing and I love teaching people to fish. 

What does fly fishing mean to you?
Peace of mind, an Escape.  When I was younger it was what kept me out of trouble.  I owe a lot of successes in my life to Fly Fishing. It means everything to me. I do not know where I'd be without it.

Favorite species to target? Why?Brown Trout - I remember my first one to this day.  SImply incredible fish.  

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
Soundcloud Rap 

Favorite river beverage?
The coldest La Croix I can get.  When guiding; Red Bull! 

Ian Sullivan

Ian Sullivan

I am originally from Apple Valley, Minnesota but it wasn't until
I went to college in Boulder where I got into fly fishing. I have been fly fishing for 9 years now and guiding for the last 3. 

What does fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing to me is all about fishing in the most fun way possible. There is nothing better than seeing a trout sip on a dry fly or see a big brown chase a steamer. Getting to do this while exploring new places, enjoying the outdoors and meeting great people is what fly fishing is about for me.

Favorite species to target? Why?My favorite species to target is brown trout. There is something about their aggressiveness and their colors I can't get enough of.  

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
When I roll up to the river you can find me listening to some Steely Dan or the newest Pardon My Take episode. 

Favorite river beverage?
Favorite river beverage is coffee in the morning and some cold
Modelo's in the afternoon.

Frank Orten

Frank Orten

I was born here in Colorado, in Denver, and raised in Westminster.  My Grandfather took me fishing for the first time when I was four years old.  He was fly fishing, and I had a Zebco, push button bait setup with an earthworm.  He caught one fish, and I caught none, it was so fun I have been fishing now since 1962.

My guiding status started in 2015, in Colorado Springs with Anglers Covey.

The majority of my fishing has been here in Colorado searching for trout of all sizes.  A small creek has trophy trout in there, which would be the largest fish the environment of the creek can support, as small as 8 inches, yet the largest fish in the water.  My largest trout is a 34 inch Brown Trout.

I enjoy working with fly fishers of all levels of experience.  It is very enjoyable to introduce clients of all ages to the world of fly fishing, and I hope they like it enough to keep fishing.  Those with more experience are also great to take and search for large fish. I get very excited when my clients hook and land a beautiful trout.

I love to tie the flies I use and give to my clients, and because of that I have a some different details on an few of the popular types of flies.

I do enjoy a Coors Banquet beer after a day on the water, but if I get to camp I will change over quickly to a bourbon.

Tight lines to you, and remember the least amount of line out off of the reel the better the chance you have to land the fish.

Abby Nowlan

Abby Nowlan

Born and raised in Vermont, I do not have the most typical journey of becoming a fly fishing guide. I have over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry in the roles of chef and bartender. After reigniting my love of fly fishing on the small mountain streams of eastern Tennessee six years ago, I decided to dedicate my time to guiding with a goal of creating positive experiences for those interested in the sport. 

What does fly fishing mean to you?
There are a lot of factors that come together for a fish to connect with your fly. There will always be more to learn and more places to explore. I want to create space for anyone to pursue their passion, step onto a riverbank, and feel welcome there.

Favorite species to target? Why?
Colorado has an incredible diversity of species to target that I will not pick just one - every fish is a representation of land stewardship and conservation and that is always special to me.

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
$10 Cowboy or Pink Pony Club

Favorite river beverage?
Coffee to start the day and a lemon Spindrift with ice to finish. 

Reilly Findlan

Reilly Findlan

Born and raised in south florida I have been fishing for as long as I can remember. I was given my first fly rod in middle school and fell in love. I spent the next number of years catching everything I could on a fly rod, from Everglades snook to tuna offshore. I moved to Colorado last summer and became obsessed with learning my new fishery. This is my first year guiding in Colorado and I can't wait to share what I've learned.

What does fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing means a journey. From tying flies, to driving a sketchy dirt road to a new spot you found on google earth, to deciding what fly will best match the hatch. When all this pays off it's a truly beautiful thing. 

Favorite species to target? Why?
My favorite species is any fish that I can sight fish. There is nothing like watching a fish chase and eat your fly.

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
Lynyrd Skynyrd or Koe Wetzel

Favorite river beverage?
Orange celsius before the trip, after the trip it's a cold coors banquet.

Richard McCurdy 

Richard McCurdy 

Originally from the East Coast, I lived in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Fishing has been a part of my life since I was a little kid.  I grew up spin fishing for bass, panfish and trout at my grandparents cabin in the Pocono Mtns of Pennsylvania. I moved to Colorado in 1993 where I took up fly fishing. Since then, I have fly fished all over the state of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana. I love fly tying and consider it a form of art. I have been tying for years and still get great satisfaction from catching fish on my own flies.

What does fly fishing mean to you?
The thing I enjoy most about fly fishing is the beautiful places it takes us. As a former art teacher, I have a great appreciation for nature, wildlife, and our Colorado landscape. The joy of catching trout in such beautiful surroundings is what makes fly fishing so special. I look forward to sharing this passion with our clients.

Favorite species to target? Why?
I mostly fish for Rainbow and Brown Trout but my favorite species to target is Cutthroat Trout. Whether fishing for them in a small mountain stream in Rocky Mountain National Park or a high alpine lake, native cutthroats are by far the most beautiful trout. Catching them on a 3wt with a dry fly is just magical.

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
Rolling up to the river I will most likely be listening to classic rock. I love collecting and listening to vinyl. Most of my collection is made up of old classic rock. 

Favorite river beverage?
Coffee on the way to the river. If I am fishing the Blue River, then I am definitely stopping for a beer after at the Dam Brewery! My favorite brewery.

Sam Krause

Sam Krause

I grew up in Leawood, Kansas and learned to fish at the Lake of the Ozarks with my Grandpa Don. I started fly fishing around 10 years ago while I lived in Vail one summer during college. I started guiding two years ago on the Elk River outside of Steamboat Springs.

What does fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing is a great way to connect with anyone - friends, family, strangers. It doesn't matter what your background is, anyone can appreciate and enjoy spending some time on the water. 

Favorite species to target? Why?
Nothing better than chasing cutthroat in a remote, high alpine lake. It gets you away from the crowds and some relief from the late summer heat. 

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
"Love Storm" by Goldie and the Grindstones

Favorite river beverage?
My good friend Roland introduced me to his take on the "special beer" - a modelo with smoked oyster juice and tajin. Is it good? Maybe. Does it help you catch fish? Definitely.

Ethan Hill

Ethan Hill

I grew up chasing brook trout in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with my dad and grandfather. I picked up fly fishing in high school and have been hooked ever since. When work gave me the opportunity to move from Boston to Denver, I jumped on it—drawn by the chance to be closer to some of the best trout water in the country.

What does fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing is the best way I know to relax and unwind while still solving a problem. That balance between calm and complexity is what draws me back every time. There’s something really satisfying about being fully present in a beautiful place while trying to figure out what the fish are up to.

Favorite species to target? Why?
That’s a tough one—but I’ve gotta go with native species. In Colorado, that means cutthroat trout. On the East Coast, it’s brookies. They always seem to live in the most beautiful, untouched places, and there’s something really rewarding about chasing fish that belong to the landscape.

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
Depends on the day, but it’s gotta be a pump-up.Strangleholdby Ted Nugent is my pick today!

Favorite river beverage?
Hot coffee—doesn’t matter what time of day. One cream, one sugar. Always my go-to.

Christopher Stella

Christopher Stella

I am originally from Wisconsin where I grew up spin cast fishing. Since I was 5 years old, I was out fishing with my Dad and my Grandpa Fred who were the first people to put a rod in my hands and introduce me to the magic of being on the waters. I did jigging for walleyes, trolling around piers for bass, and fishing for king salmon in Lake Michigan. It didn't matter what kind of fishing I was doing, just so long as there was a rod in my hand and I was on the water, I was happy. My fly-fishing journey didn't start until I moved to Colorado 12 years ago and I met Chris Goodwin aka Shadybanks who was a guide for Blue Quill and over at Boxwood. Chris became one of my best friends- he passed on the bug bite to me and I was hooked, literally. Fishing has taken me to incredible places and has brought so many special people into my life. I am forever grateful for fishing and the experiences it's brought my way.

What does fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing means everything to me. It is a way to connect with the outdoors and with the self. It's a way to disconnect from the city and every day grind and find yourself in the moment listening to the birds, hearing the riffles in the river, watching the trout rise, and being one with mother nature. Fly fishing is my therapy and is healing in so many ways.

Favorite species to target? Why?
My favorite species to target are Brown Trout. There is nothing better than sight fishing for a brown you see in the shallows, watching one rising on the bank making waves, or one chasing down a mouse pattern to enjoy a meal. The colors that they can express are just spectacular- from the blue hue cheeks that they get to the yellows and reds that come out at certain times of the year.

What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
When I roll up to the river to can find me listening to any type bluegrass with Yonder Mountain String band being my favorite. Strings and streams just go hand in hand for me.

Favorite river beverage?
My favorite river beverage is coffee in the morning on the way to the water and a nice ice cold fresca in the later part of the day to quench the thirst.

Testimonials

Dale and Chris guided a group of 4 of us on the Eagle River. Amazing day. These guys really know how to treat their clients, and make the experience special. Dale even cooked us a burger lunch on the bank of the river!

Mike Hatam

Tryston was a fantastic teacher on the river. After winning some fly gear through my work I decided I needed to learn. I decided to hire Tryston as my fly guide and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. He was patient and explained everything very well. He made my first day on the river fun and exciting. Highly recommend him if you want a great guide.

Thanks again Tryston.

Griffin Brill

Had Tyler as a guide for a day and it was nothing short of awesome. Tyler is a super cool guy and has a great knowledge for the sport of fly fishing. I am new to fly fishing and only know the basics. While being out on the river Tyler was very helpful answering any questions I had, and giving me tips and corrections as the day went on. And of course he helped me catch some beautiful fish. If you’re looking to gain more knowledge Tyler is definitely your guy.

Andrew Teklits

I was in town on a work trip and decided to stay an extra day and fish. I called Golden Fly Shop and spoke with Conor who connected me with Tryston for a guided day on Clear Creek. Tryston was super knowledgeable, patient and put us into the fish. I got the "trifecta", brook, rainbow, and a brown. It was a great day and having a guide like Tryston really made a difference. The shop itself is amazing! I've been into a lot of fly shops but Golden is up on the higher echelon of shops. They have everything and the folks that work there are super helpful and friendly, even offered me a Coors while I waited for my UBER :-).

David Hess

My husband and I had a fabulous time learning to fly fish with Tryston! He is patient and easy to work with. What a fun way to spend the morning.

Helen Hackworth

Cannot say enough good things about Golden Fly and Tyler for guided fly fishing. Got in early to an awesome location, all gear and some amazing sandwiches provided, and Tyler helped us land as some beautiful brown trout. We gained so much knowledge and had the BEST time. 10/10 would recommend.

Bekah Davis