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KNOWLEDGEABLE, LOCAL ORVIS ENDORSED GUIDES (THEY ARE THE BEST!)

Orvis Endorsed Vail Fly Fishing Guides

Our Orvis Endorsed personable, knowledgeable, and professional guide staff is the most experienced in the Vail Valley with a combined 225 + years guiding on local waters.

Our guides closely monitors river flows, water clarity and movement of bug hatches to put you where the fish are biting best.

Many of our guides have been with us over a decade and know the waters we fish like the back of their hand.

35+ guides on staff in the peak season; 15+ certified rowing guides for float trips.

Meet The Colorado Fly Fishing Outfitter's Guides:

John Packer

Hometown: Eagle, Colorado
Years Fly Fishing: A long time...
Favorite Fly: Royal Wulff/ Wooly Bugger
Favorite Trip: Float trip on the Eagle

Senior Guide and Owner.

Kevin Wildgen

Hometown: Kalispell, MT
Years Fly Fishing: 50+ years
Attributes: Patience and a strong passion for the sport
Favorite Trip: Love to guide from my boat

Senior Guide - 16th year with Fly Fishing Outfitters!

John Muir

Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Years Fly Fishing: 16 years
Favorite Fly: x-2 Caddis,BIG streamers
Favorite Trip: Fall cast and blast for big browns and green heads on the Colorado

Michael Moser

Hometown: Vail, Colorado
Years Fly Fishing: Fishing for 35 years & Guiding for 22 years.
Favorite Trip: Float trips or wilderness creeks
Greatest Experiences: Sharing love of fishing with people!

Norm Raffelson

Hometown: East Moline Illinois
Years Fly Fishing: 5 years
Favorite Fly: Royal wulff,Parachute Adams
Favorite Trip: Floating on the upper Colorado River with close friends

Bryan Crossley

Hometown: Tillamook, Oregon.
Years Fly Fishing: Fly fishing Colorado for eight years
Favorite Fly: Mercer Micro May
Favorite Trip: Gunny Gorge, Gunnison River.

Ross Guillen

Hometown: Denver, CO
Years Fly Fishing: 30 years
Favorite Fly: parachute adams on top and Bead Head Prince down under!
Favorite Trip: Chasing Greenback Cutthroat trout in the High country lakes of RMN

Kelly Bobye

Hometown: Denver
Years Fly Fishing: 25 years fly fishing
Favorite Fly: Barrs emerger, rs-2, anything caddis and a pig sticke
Favorite Trip: Full day at deep creek

Mike Devins

Hometown: Eagle, Colorado
Years Fly Fishing: 1980
Favorite Fly: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
First Pair of Waders: 1980
Favorite Trip: Situk River at Yakutat, AK

Jim Phillips

Hometown: Sonora, CA
Years Fly Fishing: 50+
Favorite Fly: Patriot
Favorite Trip: Kamchatka, Russia

Dan Houck

Hometown: Lake St. Clair, MI
Years Fly Fishing: 22 years fly fishing, 11 years guiding
Favorite Fly:Anything that floats on the surface
Favorite Trip:Half Day Float on the Eagle River during the Caddis hatch- there is nothing better!

Patrick Perry

Hometown: Vail, Colorado
Years Fly Fishing: Ever since I could walk.
Favorite Trip: If it involves fishing dries or ripping streamers.
Greatest Experience: Fishing the caddis hatch on the Eagle or Floating the Blue.

Matt Kelsic

Hometown: Littleton, Colorado
Years Fly Fishing: 12 years.
Favorite Fly: The bigger the better, especially if it floats.
Favorite Trip: Multi-day trips to new water!

Jason Newell

Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Years Fly Fishing: 30 years.
Favorite Fly: Dry dropper, it always changes!
Favorite Trip: Half day float on the Eagle River!

Mike Salomone

Hometown: Chillicothe, Ohio
Years Fly Fishing: Started in 1992. Guiding at FFO since 2001.
Favorite Fly: Freshwater-Parachute Adams, Saltwater-Chart/White Clouser
Favorite Trip: Freshwater-Floating the Green River out of the Flaming Gorge, Utah. Saltwater-Flats outside of Marsh Harbor, Abaco, Bahamas or the Kelp off Catalina Island, California.

Lisa Kraft

Hometown:Madison WI
Years Fly Fishing:10 years
Favorite Fly:H&L Variant
Favorite Trip: Anytime I get to fish with my Dad is the best, otherwise I love to float the lower C.

Marc Barnwell

I teach at the Vail Ski School in the winter guide in summers I also do some photography on the side. Check out my website at www.marcbarnwell.com

Hometown: Camarillo, CA
Years Fly Fishing: 16 Years guiding
Favorite Fly: Royal Stimy/Chuck's Caddis
Favorite Trip: My favorite trip is one where I catch fish mostly on the Eagle!
Favorite Story: I was guiding a guy once on the Eagle River and fresh cold Bud Light floated right to him, he didn't even have to move to grab it. It was if he had ordered it. He looked at me and said, might as well take a break and he then pop it open and drank it!

Derek Delaney

Hometown: Keene, NH
Years Fly Fishing: Been fishing my whole life, fly fishing for 10 years. 2nd year as a Guide with FFO.
Favorite Fly: Fishing for stripe bass on the vineyard.
Favorite Trip: Floating the Fork and Eagle, fishing streamers and drys!

Rick Agett

Fly fishing is a "must be present to win" game!

Hometown: Olean, New York
Years Fly Fishing: 10 years
Favorite Trip: Late afternoon wading on the Eagle!
Greatest Experiences: Tuscan Browns on a dry, early winter in Italy! Fly fishing is a "must be present to win" game!

Matt "Fletch" Fletcher

Hometown: Cameron, WI
Years Fly Fishing: 20 years
Favorite Trip: I'll fish anywhere, anytime, for anything!

Jeff Snyder

Fly fishing is a "must be present to win" game!

Hometown: Asheville, NC
Years Fly Fishing: Fly fishing for around 40 years, and guiding for over 20 years!
Favorite Trip: It blends fly-fishing with the excitement of a white-water experience.
Greatest Experiences: My favorite experience would be a toss-up between fishing the Tongariro River in Turangi NZ, or an amazing float through the lower Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge during the meat of a Salmon fly hatch. Tight lines.

Rick Lewis

Hometown: Whittier, CA
Years Fly Fishing: 30+ years
Favorite Fly: Barr Emerger, RS-2
Favorite Trip: Half day wade

Retired 10 years ago to become a guide (best decision ever). Love the rivers, and teaching people this great sport. A real plus is getting to guide and fish with my son Matt "Lew" Lewis.

Bill Perry

Hometown: Seaside Park, NJ
Years Fly Fishing: 40 years
Favorite Fly: Renegade
Favorite Trip: Float

"Twenty plus years guiding central Colorado"

Bill Sutila

Hometown: Indiana, PA / Breckenridge, CO
Years Fly Fishing: 40+ years
Favorite Trip: love to see the reaction from those who have never fished before when they catch their
first fish. Amazing!

Types of Trips

FFO Schools

Lodging Specials

Cordillera Lodge & Spa

Physical; Fly Fishing Outfitters
1060 West Beaver Creek Blvd
Avon, CO 81620

Mailing; P. O Box 5346 Eagle , CO 81631

P: 970-845-8090
F: 970-845-0284
E: fish@flyfishingoutfitters.net

Winter 2013 shop hours

Monday - Saturday 10-6

Closed Sunday

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"I want to thank Jeff Lyon, my instructor through the Orvis program out of Edwards, CO. What a solid start I have to a lifetime of fly fishing! Not only was the course and his instruction technically beneficial, but we spent a majority of our time practicing various techniques while on the water. Needless to say, I've come back to St. Louis eager to join experienced fly fishermen on upcoming outings and I am no longer anxious about being new to the sport. It is evident to me that the knowledge gained through the Orvis school is beneficial to anyone, no matter their experience level.

Thanks again, Jeff, Orvis and Cordillera! I look forward to seeing you again next year and catching the one that got away!"

Tim Ward

St. Louis

"First of all I would like to thank Jeff for all his expertise and patience with me and my buddy. I'm sure we were a handful at times with our witty comments and bickering at each other, but we were having such a good time with Jeff we felt that he was one of the guys.

His instruction and laid back approach was spot on when it comes to learning how to fly fish. He tailored his instruction to fit both our personalities and he was very patient with us even when we were frustrated, but by the end of the second day everything begin to click and let's just say I'm excited to continue fly fishing the rest of my life.

Next year I plan on taking the class again with my son since the experience is unlike any other instruction in Colorado. Thanks Jeff for the great weekend!

"FFO, We really had a great time and Jodi is really hooked on fishing now. Thanks for your patience with us – we had a wonderful experience. Now, I am looking forward to another FLOAT TRIP – with you, of course! If my Father comes to town – I’ll be calling to book a float – location based on your recommendation. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

John K.

"We were a four boat party on a float trip on the Colorado River. All the guides were knowledgeable, personable, and tried their best to make the fish take the fly. Yes the fishing was slow but that's fishing and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our experience. We would certainly recommend this outfitter. The staff runs a great shop. Great shop and people."

Cirith

"This was the second time I have fished with Fly Fishing Outfitters and it was even better than before. Kevin was superb!"

Kyle O.

FFO,

I'm writing to commend one of your guides, Kevin Wildgen, for his excellent customer service and guiding skills. The fishing trip was a surprise birthday present from my parents. He was extremely patient with my rusty fishing skills, and he provided me expert instruction while helping me catch some nice trout. I learned a great deal on this trip and had a fun, relaxing time in the process, everything you'd expect from a top-notch guide. I'll use your services again and tell everyone I know to do the same.

Regards, Todd C.

"FFO runs a first rate shop and is always a source of great information. As a result, I recently purchased a TLS Rod from him and will soon be adding a reel."

Jerry P.

"Fly Fishing Outfitters is a very professional and well run operation."

Michael R.

"This is a first class operation. I understand why they were the Orvis Outfitter of the Year!"

Tom S.

"Everyone in the store and on the river were great at sharing information. We had a great time and a great fishing adventure."

Kenneth M.

"Fly Fishing Outfitters is a great operation! I used Kevin Wildgen last year, and he was so good. He is a great fishing partner!"

Michael R.

" This is my second trip with Fly Fishing Outfitters. They are world class! The total experience could not have been better."

Richard C.

"Fly Fishing Outfitters is a first class organization!"

Steven M.

Home About Us Book A Trip Fly Fishing Services Fishing Reports Schools Resources Contact

MEET OUR ORVIS ENDORSED FLY FISHING GUIDES

KNOWLEDGEABLE, LOCAL ORVIS ENDORSED GUIDES (THEY ARE THE BEST!)

Meet The Colorado Fly Fishing Outfitter's Guides:

John Packer

Kevin Wildgen

John Muir

Michael Moser

Norm Raffelson

Bryan Crossley

Ross Guillen

Kelly Bobye

Mike Devins

Jim Phillips

Dan Houck

Patrick Perry

Matt Kelsic

Jason Newell

Mike Salomone

Lisa Kraft

Marc Barnwell

Derek Delaney

Rick Agett

Matt "Fletch" Fletcher

Jeff Snyder

Rick Lewis

Bill Perry

Bill Sutila

Quick Links

Contact FFO

Have a Question?

Your Contact Information

Your Feedback

FFO Testimonials

MEET OUR ORVIS ENDORSED FLY FISHING GUIDES

KNOWLEDGEABLE, LOCAL ORVIS ENDORSED GUIDES (THEY ARE THE BEST!)

Meet The Colorado Fly Fishing Outfitter's Guides:

John Packer

Kevin Wildgen

John Muir

Michael Moser

Norm Raffelson

Bryan Crossley

Ross Guillen

Kelly Bobye

Mike Devins

Jim Phillips

Dan Houck

Patrick Perry

Matt Kelsic

Jason Newell

Mike Salomone

Lisa Kraft

Marc Barnwell

Derek Delaney

Rick Agett

Matt "Fletch" Fletcher

Jeff Snyder

Rick Lewis

Bill Perry

Bill Sutila

Quick Links

Contact FFO

Have a Question?

Your Contact Information

Your Feedback

FFO Testimonials

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