Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing in Montrose, CO
If you have ever watched someone standing in a beautiful river, gracefully casting a fly line and wondered how to get started, you are in the right place. Montrose, Colorado is one of the best places in the entire country to learn fly fishing. Surrounded by world class rivers in every direction, with Gold Medal waters right in our backyard, there is no better place to pick up a rod for the first time.
At Ed's Fly Shop on Main Street in Montrose, we help beginners get started every single day. Here is everything you need to know to go from complete beginner to confident angler on the water.
Why Montrose is Perfect for Beginner Fly Fishers
Montrose sits at the center of one of the most diverse and productive fly fishing regions in the American West. Within a short drive from downtown you have access to:
The Uncompahgre River flowing right through town offering year round trout fishing for Rainbow and Brown trout. The Lower Gunnison River just outside of town featuring mild water and excellent fishing perfect for beginners. Paco Chu Puk, a premier tailwater fishery below Ridgway Reservoir with a healthy population of Rainbow, Brown, and Snake River Cutthroat trout. The legendary Gunnison Gorge, one of Colorado's most celebrated Gold Medal fisheries. The San Miguel River near Telluride offering stunning scenery and great fishing in a more remote setting.
No matter your skill level, there is water in Montrose perfectly suited to where you are in your fly fishing journey.
Step 1: Get Your Colorado Fishing License
Before you ever wet a line in Colorado, you need a valid fishing license. Anyone 16 years of age or older is required to have one. You can purchase your license online through Colorado Parks and Wildlife at cpw.state.co.us or stop by Ed's Fly Shop and we can point you in the right direction.
Licenses are available as a one day, five day, or annual option depending on how long you plan to fish. For most visitors an annual license is worth the investment if you plan to fish more than a couple of days.
Step 2: Get the Right Gear
You don't need to spend a fortune to get started in fly fishing. Here is what we recommend for beginners fishing the rivers around Montrose:
Fly Rod and Reel A 9 foot 5 weight fly rod is the perfect all around choice for the rivers around Montrose. It is versatile enough to handle everything from the Uncompahgre River in town to the Lower Gunnison on a guided float trip. Paired with a quality reel featuring a smooth drag system, this setup will serve you well for years.
At Ed's Fly Shop we carry a full range of beginner friendly rod and reel combos from brands including Orvis, Redington, and Echo at price points that won't break the bank. We can help you find the right setup for your budget and the water you plan to fish.
Fly Line, Leader, and Tippet A weight forward floating fly line is the standard choice for beginners. We recommend going a half weight heavy — for example a 5.5 weight line on a 5 weight rod — as it will load your rod faster and cast more easily in Colorado's wind. Rio Gold and Scientific Anglers MPX are both excellent choices.
Your leader should be 9 feet long to start. Add 2 to 3 feet of fluorocarbon tippet in 5X for most situations on the rivers around Montrose.
Waders and Wading Boots While you can fish from the bank to start, getting into the water opens up far more opportunities. Breathable waders and wading boots with good traction are essential for comfort and safety on the river. Always wear a wading belt — it is a critical safety item that traps air in your waders if you take a fall.
At Ed's Fly Shop we carry waders and boots from Simms, Orvis, Patagonia, and Korkers in a range of sizes and price points.
Polarized Sunglasses Polarized sunglasses are not optional — they cut through the glare on the water and allow you to see fish holding in runs and pools. Amber or copper lenses work best on the rivers around Montrose. We carry Bajio and Smith Optics sunglasses in store.
Essential Accessories A few small items make a big difference on the water: Hemostats for removing hooks from fish. Nippers for cutting tippet. Strike indicators for nymph fishing. Floatant for keeping dry flies on the surface. A rubber mesh net for landing and releasing fish safely.
Step 3: Learn the Basic Cast
The most important skill in fly fishing is the cast. Unlike conventional fishing where the weight of the lure carries the line, in fly fishing it is the weight of the line itself that carries the fly. This requires a different technique that takes a little practice to master but is extremely satisfying once it clicks.
The basic overhead cast involves a back cast and a forward cast with a brief pause between them to allow the line to straighten behind you. The key is timing and a smooth acceleration to a crisp stop on both the back cast and forward cast.
The best way to learn: Take a lesson. At Ed's Fly Shop we offer fly casting lessons taught by our experienced guides. In just a couple of hours on the water with one of our instructors you will learn the fundamentals of casting, reading the water, and presenting a fly to a trout. It is the fastest way to get started and will save you years of frustration trying to figure it out on your own.
Step 4: Learn to Read the Water
Trout are not randomly distributed in a river. They hold in specific locations that offer three things: food, shelter from the current, and protection from predators. Learning to identify where trout are likely to be holding is one of the most important skills in fly fishing.
Look for these key features:
Riffles: Shallow, fast water with a broken surface. Riffles are oxygen rich and full of insects, making them productive feeding areas especially during hatches.
Runs: Deeper, smoother water between riffles and pools. Runs often hold good numbers of trout feeding actively on nymphs drifting through.
Pools: Deep, slow water where trout rest and feed selectively. Pools can be challenging for beginners but hold the largest fish.
Seams: The edges between fast and slow water. Trout hold in the slow water and dart into the fast water to intercept food drifting past. Seams are some of the most productive water on any river.
Undercut banks: Trout love to hide under overhanging banks where they have cover and a steady supply of food. Cast tight to the bank for the best results.
Step 5: Start with These Beginner Friendly Flies
You don't need hundreds of fly patterns to get started. Here are the essential flies to have in your box for the rivers around Montrose:
Nymphs (fished under the surface) Pheasant Tail Nymph in sizes 14 through 18. Hare's Ear Nymph in sizes 14 through 18. Zebra Midge in sizes 18 through 22. Pat's Rubber Legs in sizes 6 through 10.
Dry Flies (fished on the surface) Parachute Adams in sizes 14 through 18. Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 14 through 18. Parachute Hopper in sizes 8 through 12 for summer fishing.
General Advice Start with nymphing. It is the most productive technique for beginners because trout feed below the surface around 80 percent of the time. Use a strike indicator to detect strikes and focus on getting a natural dead drift through the water column.
Stop by Ed's Fly Shop before your trip and ask our team what is currently working on the local rivers. We update our fishing reports regularly and can point you toward the right flies for the conditions on the day you plan to fish.
Step 6: Practice Catch and Release
The rivers around Montrose are Catch and Release fisheries which means all Rainbow trout must be released after being caught. Even where harvest is permitted we strongly encourage catch and release to help preserve the exceptional fishing that makes Montrose such a special place to fish.
A few tips for releasing fish safely: Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Wet your hands before handling the fish. Remove the hook quickly using hemostats. Hold the fish gently upright in the current and allow it to recover before letting it swim away. Never squeeze a fish or hold it out of water for an extended photo session.
The Fastest Way to Get Started: Book a Guided Trip
The single best investment a beginning fly fisher can make is a guided trip. Our expert guides at Ed's Fly Shop have spent thousands of hours on the local rivers and know exactly where the fish are, what they are eating, and how to present a fly to get a strike.
On a guided trip you will learn more in one day than you would in months of fishing on your own. Our guides tailor every experience to your skill level and goals — whether you want to learn the basics of casting and reading water or you simply want to catch as many fish as possible.
For beginners we recommend starting with one of these trips:
Uncompahgre River Half Day Walk Wade — A relaxed and accessible introduction to fly fishing right in the heart of Montrose. Perfect for all skill levels with approximately 4 hours on the water.
Uncompahgre River Full Day Walk Wade — A full day experience on our hometown river giving you more time to develop your skills and explore the best water the Unc has to offer.
Lower Gunnison River Full Day Float — A comfortable drift boat trip on Gold Medal water perfect for beginners who want to experience world class fishing without a strenuous hike or wade.
Book a Beginner Friendly Guided Trip Today
Come See Us at Ed's Fly Shop
Whether you need to pick up your first fly rod, stock your fly box, or get advice on where to fish this weekend, we are here to help. Our team at Ed's Fly Shop knows the local rivers better than anyone and we love helping new anglers discover the sport we are passionate about.
Stop by the shop at 432 E Main St, Montrose, CO or give us a call at 970-964-9991. We also offer fly casting lessons and fly tying classes throughout the year — ask us about upcoming dates when you visit.
Shop Beginner Fly Fishing Gear at Ed's Fly Shop
We look forward to getting you on the water. Tight lines!