One thing I have learned about fly fishing:
The rod and reel you use are timeless. An old one will deliver the fly to the water just as well as a new one will.
Fish with what you have. Reading the water and choice of fly is where the skill/knowledge/luck really come in.
Most of all: just enjoy the process and be grateful to be able to do it.

I live in Durango part-time. One of the big events of fly season is float trips down the Rio Grande in June starting near Creede. This will be my first year doing it, but I have friends who have done this for decades. The local fly shop in Durango puts this together, and it fills up in November of the prior year. I'm told that you have to put your fly within an inch or two of the bank, and then hold on. Once the flow subsides so does the incredible action. I'll report back in early July.

I am very familiar with that stretch of river. What fly shop in Durango? I would like to inquire about taking that trip sometime. Most of that water is private water and staying there is to rich for my blood. My grandparents had a fifth wheel and would stay at a place called Hartman's Hideaway. That property had a Colorado State hatchery when I used to fish it. Next down stream is Wason Ranch. Its 600 a day to stay and fish that water today, and next down stream is Phipps water. The end of that is where the glaciation stops and the valley turns V shaped again. Cottonwood Cove and then Blue Creek Lodge.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by goose5:
I am very familiar with that stretch of river. What fly shop in Durango?

Duranglers.

Two "much older" friends, in their early 80's, are making this trip, one of them has to leave early to go to his 65th high school reunion, so I'm driving there to take his place. I'll be there on a Tuesday evening thru Saturday, 2 days on a float trip and 2 days on the streams.
Yeah, the accommodations are pricey....I'll cost it out by how much per trout......hopefully.

Thanks. If its less than 600 a day I'll consider it. I'd like just one more time on that stretch.