Here are descriptions of the sections of water that we are permitted to guide our fishing trips. Have a look and remember that we will fine tune your fishing trip to match you with the best possible fishing for the time of year you are visiting.

Private Water

Our guides are active members of the Rocky Mountain Angling Club and have access to several private waters within an easy drive of downtown Steamboat Springs. These waters are perfect for those guests seeking water with limited fishing pressure, which typically means a more abundant fishery. Additional rod fees apply and vary depending on property fished ($40-$150/rod).

Click here to view the Rocky Mountain Angling club website and find out the opportunities where we can take you. Make sure you view the Property C - Northwest CO button on left side of their site.

Public Water

The Yampa River - Steamboat section: With several miles of public fishing in downtown Steamboat Springs, we are blessed with the fantastic opportunity to put you on fish in just short walk or quick drive from our 11th Street boathouse. Being a catch and release fishery, the downtown stretch of the Yampa holds excellent numbers of trout with some very large fish. This remarkable resource is a treasure for all of us who live here and fish the river year round as well as for those who are visiting for just a short time.

The Yampa River - Stagecoach Tailwaters: Fishing at the tailwaters can be epic. This fishery holds the highest concentrations of naturally reproducing rainbow trout in all of Colorado and is a perfect place to learn to fly fish or dial in your skills. This tailwater is a popular place and at times will have a lot of fisherman present, so we only guide this section of river on weekdays and with 2 guests or less at any given time.

The Yampa River - Float fishing opportunities: During spring and early summer, the Yampa River west of Steamboat Springs near Hayden, is a classic float fishing trip. Northern pike and large rainbow and brown trout can be caught with pike being the sought after species. We drift our boats into the backwater slews, casting into the willows and sight fishing for pike. Fish into the 40" range have been caught on our float trips.

The Bear River: Located near the picturesque Flat Tops Wilderness Area, this small river is prime habitat for brookies, rainbows and browns. Best fished in the morning before any winds pick up, the Bear is a very small river where proper casting and fly presentation is key.

Elk River: Catching brookies by the dozen will always make for a good day. We can fish all 3 forks of the Elk and it is a perfect place for beginners looking to learn a thing or two about fly fishing.

The Little Snake River: This small river adventure is North of Steamboat Lake near Columbine. Offered only as a full day trip, you will have the opportunely to catch all four species of trout. Dry fly activity can be insane here with sight fishing the norm.

High Mountain Lakes: Fish the lakes of Buffalo Pass and the Flat Tops Wilderness. Offered as full day trips only, fishing one or more of these high mountain lakes will provide you with the a remote Colorado fishing experience. These lakes offer excellent brook and cutthroat trout fishing.

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If you wish to learn more about the trips we guide, current fishing conditions or you would just like to learn more about fishing the Steamboat area, don't be afraid to call John at 970-879-89747 or email him at john@buckingrainbow.com