I recently (end of May 2015) took a guided trip with FRA's young guide Cody and can't recommend him or FRA enough. I first came across FRA about a year prior to this trip. I had read all the books I could find, watched the DVDs available, and studied as much as I could some of the European Methods of nymphing that were reportedly so productive. I was a fairly proficient indicator fisherman, but wanted to get to learn these methods and hook up with many more fish. After a few months' worth of trying on my own and not seeing much improvement over my indicator fishing, I began looking around for some very specific instruction on these methods. I asked several loose acquaintances in the fly fishing industry, outside of Colorado, to try and figure out who I could go to for this. Cody's name kept coming up. I contacted Jon and Zach at FRA with some hesitation in the late summer of 2014. I told them that I didn't necessarily want a "guided" trip, but more of a learning and educational trip, and described to them specifically what I wanted to learn. They told me that this Cody could accomplish what I was looking for and put me in touch with him. Cody and I sent many emails back and worth to the point that eventually my hesitations on if my specific "educational class" day would be what I was wanting were gone. Cody and I got out in November of 2014 (yes it took me that long to finally decide) on a local creek that was showing some low clear water at the time. I believe around 25 trout were caught, some much larger than I expected, and more importantly, I came away with some skills to put to use in the future and not just a day of memories. Over the following winter, I would stop into Front Range Anglers, buy a few odds and ends, and always get any questions on tying, water conditions, or finding what I was looking for, etc. answered with knowledge and patience. Rob would frequently spend as much time as I needed showing me how to use new unfamiliar tying materials, and Ben spent 20min with me a few times (I think on his off days when he was just stopping by FRA) at the tying vice with hands on instruction. Their holiday sales were fantastic, and the new rewards program they have is much appreciated. During that time, I would fish one or two days a week and put to use what Cody had taught me, and saw improvement each trip. Cody would also reply to my emails about specific questions on techniques that I had when I hit a plateau. One of those plateaus was when the water was starting to rise this spring, and I felt I should be hooking up with more fish. I contacted Zach and Cody about the possibilities of another "educational" day. My thoughts were that I had already learned some low water techniques in Euro nymphing, and if I could get some on the water instruction with high water, I should have no problem filling in the conditions between. I told Cody what I wanted to work on, and he said no problem. On this most recent trip Cody suggested some water on the Arkansas that he had fished a few days prior and told me would be perfect for what I wanted. I contacted Zach and Wallace at FRA less than 24hrs before I wanted to go out, and they got things arranged for me to get on the water. Cody is a fantastic fisherman, but more importantly to me and my needs, an outstanding teacher. Just as before, he adapted to my learning style and the result was instruction in my communication style that was easy for me to put to use. I landed over 29 trout on this day, losing at least half as many due on my own accord, and cannot wait to get out on the water again with this new amount of knowledge. I have very high standards for where I spend my money, and hold pretty demanding expectations. Front Range Anglers is my go to shop, and I wouldn't hesitate to send anybody their way for both service and products. read more

I'm not usually one to post recommendations on social media, but I feel compelled to share my experience with Front Range Anglers. Having recently moved from France to Colorado, I was keen to try my hand at fly fishing. I stumbled upon the Front Range Anglers store and decided to inquire about training sessions. The team welcomed me warmly and we had a great conversation. I signed up for a half-day session with Dawson Stewart, which took place last week at The Saint Vrain creek. They provided all the necessary equipment and started the session with a brief tutorial on the technique and how to tie the line to the leader and the flies. My first cast was followed by some helpful corrections from Dawson, and to my surprise, I caught my first brown trout! I hadn't expected to catch anything on my first session, so this was a pleasant surprise. We explored various spots, casting and drifting the line, sometimes from the bank, sometimes in the water. Dawson was constantly attentive, providing useful tips and helping me untangle my line when needed. Four hours and six caught (and released) trouts later, we returned to the store. I decided to purchase my first set of equipment, guided by the team's advice. They helped me choose a minimal set, offering various price points and options, and took the time to explain the pros and cons of each. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and while I may not be an angler just yet, I'm looking forward to more fishing adventures in the future. I wholeheartedly recommend Front Range Anglers to anyone interested in fly fishing. read more

Fished two days with Dawson in the Rocky Mountain NP area. Dawson is an excellent guide - professional, organized, flexible, helpful on the water. As we were camping in the NP during our trip with doubtful service, he reached out well in advance to ensure all details were covered. Dawson asked what my expectations were (and during our time on the water, he did everything to exceed those expectations). Also coordinated meet-up spots to maximize time on the water. I had very much wanted to fish NP waters, which we did on the first day. However, due to snow melt and cold water temps, the fish were holding tight and not as responsive. For the second day, Dawson provided a variety to options to meet my expectations, but also improve attracting more fish. So we fished outside the park and we had great success - with plenty of wild browns, rainbows, and cutbows. Given my experience, Dawson provided as much guidance and direction as I needed - and nothing more. In other words, a perfect balance to allow me to fish independent, but always there for questions and a hint or two. Also, very patient no matter the circumstances (and the times I'd have the inevitable wind knot or snag in a tree). He took the time to provide post-day fishing reports to recap our day, as well as pictures. On future visits to the area, I'll no doubt utilize Front Range Anglers and Dawson. read more

The Best Fly Fishing Guide Service! My son and I just finished our 7th annual fly fishing trip to Colorado. And as always, it was an awesome experience. We fished the Roaring Forks River near Carbondale in the Glenwood Springs Canyon with our guides, Antonio and Wallace, and we had the best time. Sure, spending the day on the river catching trout in the scenic Colorado mountains is, in itself, something spectacular. But, Front Range Anglers goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone has a good time. Their guides are experienced and knowledgeable. They will even challenge you to fish in some tight areas so you have an opportunity to catch some good size fish. I have used other guide services in the past, and I can safely say the are the best. There is a reason they get such great reviews and that we keep using them every year. They are definitely worth the money. If you are even thinking about planning a fly fishing trip, give these guys a chance. They are the best! read more

Had a GREAT full day fly fishing day with Front Range Anglers!- all at the shop were extremely helpful, knowledgeable and fun. George my guide, was recommended, and he provided a tremendous experience - although have many years brook trout and walleye fishing in Canada, this was first time fly fishing, and George was very helpful, knowledgeable, he really knew the water and locations very well- provided great instruction and advice on techniques, put me on great fishing spots, and then it was up to me. We had a great time, browns, brookies, and cutthrout.. tremendous experience with George and FRA- I can highly recommend them, this was something always I wanted to do and learning the basics was a blast- lot of fun and could not have had a better day. If you are thinking of doing this, you will not be disappointed! read more

Front Range Anglers is the place to shop on line for fly fishing equipment. I order gear from my home in Virginia, and the orders are promptly filled, with attention to detail and phone consultation to make sure it is done right. I recently ordered a Ross Animas 7/8 reel with Rio OutBound Short Freshwater 8 wt line. The first test outing proved this to be a perfect combination with a SAGE XP 8 wt rod, which I usually over line , but not in this case. It is an excellent line for shooting to greater distances on wide rivers, and it worked well with this relatively fast action rod. The recommendations regarding gear from the staff at Front Range are always right on the money. I highly recommend them as a source for gear, no matter what your location. Randy S. Alexandria, Virginia read more

Booked a half day fly fishing lesson for my husband and me during our recent trip to Boulder. Neither of us has been fishing in many years so we needed a very basic lesson, but still wanted to get out into the wilds of Colorado. Zack, who helped me book, was very responsive, friendly and helpful. He got us set up with JB, a 50 year fishing veteran, who was also incredibly responsive. We chatted on the phone a couple of time before our trip out. Instead of taking us to the nearby creek, he drove us all the way up into Rocky National Park for better fishing. He was a great teacher, funny and helpful. The only thing that could have made our day better would have been booking a full day of fishing instead of a half day. Next time.... read more

I have bought several rods/reels with Front Range Anglers. Jon & Steve are incredibly knowledgeable, they speak from experience! This is not like an Orvis store where the person waiting on you has never fished!!! They are happy to spend time with you. Most of the gear I have purchased is for saltwater.....they do it all! I receive tracking updates, thank you cards, and a kind email on every item they ship. I was having trouble with different knots, Jon emailed me a video tying the knot up close to help understand what I was doing wrong! I have personally never met Steve but feel like I know him well. I am joining him at Christmas Island in January.......this review is subject to change if I do not catch a monster GT! hahaha! read more

we dropped in at the shop for advice and some flies for our trip to RMNP. we were treated to a lot of local knowledge and pattern recommendations which paid off in the form of insane days on fern lake and the Big Thompson. then, my daughter and i went on a full day guided trip with Antonio and it was absolutely the best guided trip I've ever been on. we caught plenty of fish, well over 20, but most importantly we learned so much about fly fishing....how to read water, casting techniques, different presentations and the mental approach to fishing. we fished all day!! Antonio is an incredible instructor, guide and coach all rolled into one. can't wait for our next trip! read more

Having never been fly fishing before, I had no idea what to expect and kept my expectations to a minimum. Our guide Adam was wonderful, experienced and kind. My beau and I booked 2 half-days with him, and the afternoon of the first day was COLD, with lots of ice to break through as we found our spots in the creek. The second day was warmer and much more pleasant, especially since I caught 3 trout! Adam patiently unhooked the fish, let me take the necessary photo and released them into the stream, possibly to be caught again, possibly a little wiser and knowing to avoid that midge. My minimal success elevated my mood and I look forward to going again! read more

I fished again with Front Range Anglers over the Thanksgiving holiday. Best trip ever!!! This was the third time I fished with Wallace Westfeldt and each trip has been a productive fishing one, but most of all, a thoroughly enjoyable one. Wallace is a pro and delightful to spend the day with. We fished some private water (I hope no one else finds it!) and I caught more big fish than my best day trout fishing in Alaska! I am an experienced angler, but Wallace helped me fine tune my technique which I really appreciated! I know he's great with novices as well from an earlier trip where my son fished with us. I look forward to my next trip! read more

I did three full day guided trips with George from FRA. The Big Thompson below Lake Estes, Dream Lake, Fall River, and a number of streams in the Rocky Mountain National Park. We caught lots of Brookies, Brown, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout on dry flies and nymphs. George was a great guide with tons of knowledge of where to fish and how to get them on the line. He was very patient with my mistakes. I learned so much and felt my fly fishing improved immensely and I picked up some techniques that will help me on my home streams. I highly recommend Front Range Anglers and George for any trip you may be planning. Definitely top notch! read more

Hands-down one of the best fishing stores I have encountered. I am a novice fly fisherman and the staff here was incredible. They lead me to the right gear, nothing too advanced or outrageously priced for my needs. They have a large selection of flies and even suggest what to use on any given lake at any time of the season. I must've spent an hour just talking with the guys about fly fishing in Colorado. It is very apparent that these are not just salesman these are avid anglers with the experience and know-how to steer you in the right direction and be on the top of your game. I highly recommend Front Range Anglers. read more

What a fantastic experience! I took my 14 year old nephew for a 1/2 Day Guided Trip with FRA. We lucked out and Antonio Rodrigues ( sort like getting the Von Miller of Fly Fishing ) was our guide. Great instruction and information about fishing conditions, reading water, how to fish on a windy day---"bow and arrow" a fly line is now in my fishing vocabulary :-) We cut the trip short due to weather and we headed to the park for casting lessons and practice. Zach and Antonio thank you for the attention you gave to Jackson. Super fun and highly recommended as a memorable spring break activity! read more

What a great experience and guided trip from FRA. Cody our guide took the time and effort to help my 11yr old son have his best day fly fishing! I was very impressed how he communicated and relayed tactics that my son can build on for the future. I never felt rushed and or like there was a clock ticking down on our time. Cody was first class all the way and very eager to ensure our trip to the river was successful. I visit Boulder quite often and have visited the shop a few times and this was the first time I have used FRA guide services but certainly not the last. JOHN S read more

I took two guided trips through FRA and had an absolute blast! Dealing with Zach to get the trips set up was super easy. He called me about 10 minutes after I sent him an email requesting information on the trips they offered. Zach put me with Wallace Westfeldt who was an excellent guide. Not only did he put me on fish, but he was great to fish with. Very knowledgeable and very patient. I caught my biggest trout ever at least a dozen times during our time fishing together. I would highly recommend Front Range Anglers to anyone who's interested in fly fishing in CO! read more

I had never fly fished before and wanted to get some hands on lessons. I decided while we were vacationing in Boulder to give it a shot and FRA was just the place. I brought along my 16 year old son and 12 year old daughter with a bit of trepidation but our guide, Adam was fantastic! He quickly showed me the ropes and then for the most part focused on the kids so that they would have the best chance to catch a fish. It was an awesome morning and a memory my kids and I will remember for years to come! Thanks, Adam! read more

I am extremely pleased with FRA! From my first experience in the Intro class with Wallace, the help with equipment and where to fish that Wallace and Zach have provided, and the wonderful guide experience that Bryce curated I have been heartened by the entire experience and recommend FRA for anglers of all experience levels. The level of customer service, knowledge and generally happy demeanor create a customer experience that is rare these days. Thank you to the staff, your an amazing group of folks. read more

Front Range Anglers is a great outfit! George was our guide and got us onto fish right away. He gave us lots of tips and tricks that were helpful to us newer fly fishers. We both improved a lot over the course of the day and we almost had 30 fish! The shop is also great. I bought a reel somewhere else and needed a line and a rod to go with is. I went in with an idea of what I wanted but after some great advice and some casting on the front lawn, I ended up with an perfect new rod and line. read more