The guys at Galvin Guiding are the epitome of exceptional fishing guides. Chris Galvin and Mike Medina are both excellent fishermen and have years of fishing experience. You cannot go wrong with either of them, but that day I was guided by Chris Galvin. Our quarry that day was carp, a species that tests your angling skills and knowledge, as well as being one of the most challenging species to catch with a fly on the planet. Up until the trip, the only experience I've had fly fishing for carp were Internet articles and YouTube videos, but Chris was confident that I would get shots at fish, (how can you not walk on the water with a little swagger when you're sensei is a guide who has over a decade of guiding under his belt and has been placed multiple times and has won first place in the Platte River Carp Slam Tourney?) for a guy with no experience fly fishing for carp, I ended the day with a sucker and two carp, one of them being over 10 lbs! The thing pulled like a freight train and is the first fish in fresh water that has taken me into my backing. EPIC. That day, I didn't just catch some cool fish, I also walked away a better angler, Chris is an excellent teacher and is very patient. No matter your skill level, he is always ready to give a lesson and pass on his knowledge. His obsession is infectious and after that day I was ready to hop on the plane to go chase carp in my home waters. I also gained a friend that I hope I will fish and be guided by for years to come. If carp is too out there for you, Chris does guide for trout as well, and I'm positive your experience will be great no matter what species you choose. Whether an amateur or seasoned veteran to fly fishing, book Galvin Guiding if you're in the Denver area and come with an open mind and ready to learn. You won't be disappointed! read more

So everything I'm about to say comes with the understanding that Chris is a 5* guide, everything I want to point out details why he is above and beyond the other guides out there and the small things that made the experiences far beyond it's intrinsic and extrinsic "worth". Chris is a master of his craft, a true academic mind, Dead-set on applying the rampant need for knowledge and exploration to the passion of his life, fresh water fishing. When Chris teaches you techniques, he does not explain things in terms of repeatable actions, he breaks down the kinesiology of the human arm, the ecology of the south platte river, and the studied behaviors of trout- placing your actions in perfect symphony with the river to learn quickly and with reason. Chris completes 999 pieces of the 1000 piece puzzle studying and practicing in his own time, so that when you arrive he points you to the biggest fish in the river and hands you that last puzzle piece, at the moment when it will click for you. After exchanging pleasantries and getting dressed in the waders, the first thing Chris asks me was, "How do you learn Best?". That questions is a microcosm for the experience I had with Galvin Guiding. A master of his craft, a man who knows every rock at the bottom of the river, catering the million ways he knows how to dig fish out of the river to you, the lucky soul who gets to learn from him on that day. Don't go sign up to fish with a massive commercial outfitter, support the smaller local business. Even if both catch the same fish, it's worth it just to listen and learn from a master. I know I'm counting minutes until the next trip, I need to count how many we catch next time, because I started losing count around 15. read more

I could not have asked for a more idyllic mother daughter fly fishing adventure than the one we experienced with Galvin Guiding! Chris was professional and responsive from the moment I contacted him to inquire about his services. He provided clear information about how to acquire a fishing license and told us what to bring for our day out on the river. On the day of our outing, he met us on time with our gear and an eager attitude. We followed him to Bear Creek where we parked and he rigged our rods. Then the adventure began! We walked along a gorgeous trail to different fishing spots on the river. Chris demonstrated his skill and knowledge as he patiently taught us casting techniques as well as educated us about fish and river habits. He taught us how to identify where to drop our lines in order to create the best chance at successfully catching fish. We were successful indeed! We caught over twenty fish (including one rare wild rainbow) - not bad for two novices! I highly recommend Galvin Guiding. Chris was beyond patient with us when our lines and flies became caught in trees and under rocks/logs in the river as well as when we were just a little too slow to react to MANY bites. :-) Whether you are a beginner or an expert angler wanting to improve your craft, I can confidently say that Galvin Guiding will provide a memorable fly fishing experience for you. Book now! read more

The best!! We had the most amazing time with Galvin Guiding. Chris, the owner, is very responsive and worked with us to schedule a fly fishing trip for my son and I while we were visiting Colorado. He asked questions to tailor the trip to our needs/desires (total beginners looking for learning and lots of chances) and it was perfect. The communication and overall process was great and the highlight was our trip. My son had never fly fished before and I am a total fish novice. Our guide, Kirk, met us on time at a convenient location and we followed him to our fishing spot. Once there we donned our fishing outfits which were clean and in great shape. As he prepared the fishing gear we learned a little about his impressive fishing resume. Kirk was a good teacher showing us the basics and staying with us every step of the way. He worked really hard to get us fish including finding us new locations, changing flies, and giving tips. We caught so many fish and had an amazing, amazing time. We highly recommend fly fishing in Colorado with Galvin Guiding. Something I look forward to doing again someday soon. read more

Chris Galvin was a great guide, we fished a nice section of the South Platte that was full of fish and free of people. He was very helpful, with clear instruction and after a day with Chis my skills improved greatly. I called around and visited many websites before booking. I eventually chose Galvin Guides because it isn't a large outfitter with a bunch of twenty somethings working there but a small business driven by a passion for fishing. I was traveling from New England for a wedding and didn't want to bring my gear. Not only did Galvin guides have a selection of gear in my size, but Chris picked me up at my Air B&B so I didn't have the added expense of renting a car or gear. You can't go wrong with Galvin guides! read more

I just completed my third "day" fishing trip with Chris Galvin, owner of Galvin Guiding. Chris is expert in terms of fly fishing techniques and knows the waters he guides inside and out. His attention to detail is outstanding. Additionally, he really cares about his clients having a positive experience. Recently, on the upper Colorado River the day started slowly. I could tell Chris was a bit agitated. He said he is always nervous before the first fish of the day. Bottom line, he kept grinding and put us on active fish. He is a true professional. While I have not fished with any of Chris' other guides, I suspect they take the same approach. I absolutely recommend Galvin Guiding. read more

Great experience! Met Chris by accident, and scheduled a trip with him for my grandson who did not have any stream fishing experience. Chris was a patient but demanding instructor. He taught my grandson how to safely wade, how to read a stream, how to cast in tight tough situations, and more. Catching fish was just a bonus! I have been fly fishing for over 40 years and learned new things myself. My grandson thoroughly enjoyed the experience as did I. We even scheduled a second day the same week! The second day Davis joined us who is also a guide for Chris. Davis was great as well! I would highly recommend Galvin Guiding! read more

Been fishing with Chris Galvin as my guide for several years now. I won't use anyone else; it's like fishing with buddy that happens to know the creeks and rivers like the back of his hand. He taught me how to fly fish with his patience and is still teaching me new stuff every time I go with him. He tailors each outing for what you are looking for, if it is big fish or just constant action based on your experience level and current conditions. We have never had a bad day fishing and have always caught A LOT of trout. I strongly recommend Chris due to his professionalism, work ethic, and that he will find you fish.... read more

I had been trying for a Carp on the Fly Rod for 3 seasons but just didn't have the know how. I just spent a day with Chris from Galvin Guiding and my day was a very successful one. I managed to get 3 nice carp to the net with the instruction and guidance of a very knowledgeable fisherman. I highly recommend Chris Galvin of Galvin Guiding for a day on the river for Carp on the Fly or Trout on the rivers of Colorado. I learned so much information that I had not been aware of before. I am sure it will benefit me the rest of my life while pursuing carp and trout where ever I try. All I can say is it was a wonderful day out! read more

Chris is an excellent guide. I was looking for a fly fishing experience and wanted to learn and catch trout while on a trip to Colorado....Chris delivered! I had an awesome day on the water. Chris was very prepared and also patient as an instructor and guide. His competitive nature is welcomed as he keeps you on fish and prepares you for success. He said this a few times ..."Your first cast is your best cast". Thanks for a great trip Chris.....and oh yeah....he even picked me up that morning and took me to the airport after the trip. Russ R. read more

Fantastic Experience. I had never been to Colorado or fly fished before, so was not expecting a lot. Galvin picked me up at my hotel in denver and drove me to some incredible breathtaking spots on a river in the mountains, where he guided me step by step to catching 4 wild brown, and 4 wild rainbow trout. He supplied all the equipment/gear at no additional costs. Would highly recommend him, he has over a decade of experience fishing in those mountains, and seemed to genuinely enjoy sharing, teaching, and making sure I had a great day. read more

Fishing guides can be hit or miss. Galvin Guiding is definitely a hit. You'll be fishing with an experienced, knowledgeable guide and competitive angler who has spent many years on the water. They went above and beyond what I've encountered with other services to get me on some fish. I not only landed a lot of trout but came away with a deeper understanding of fly fishing in the process. Chris is a great instructor and is always ready to switch things up to maximize the bite. My experience with them was definitely money well spent. read more

Chris, Cam, and Jack's knowledge base, attention to detail, skill and in depth knowledge of the conditions and bite are unmatched. We fished 2 days in a row in 2 river systems that were 3 hours apart and smashed it both days. These guides are absolutely passionate about flyfishing and given that are all a competitive anglers, they are amazing dialed into the nuances of flyfishing that make the difference between Fishing and Catching. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to fish in Colorado. read more

We had an amazing experience at Galvin Guiding! We had the best guide Davis. He had great energy, was very patient and super helpful. He took us to the best spots where the fish were. We caught a lot of good looking fish. Also, the owner was very communicative and attentive towards us! Overall this was such an incredible experience and we are glad we went with Galvin Guiding. We will definitely be coming back to go fishing with Davis again! read more

I've fished with many guides, but Chris might be the best. He's far more knowledgeable than any guide I've worked with before. He took the time to teach our group Euro-nymphing techniques, which has helped our fishing tremendously. Moreover, he just worked his tail off to make sure we had a great experience on the water. Finally, I'd add that he is really smart and observant guy, which makes the drive to the river a little more interesting. read more

WE had a great time with Chris! We were celebrating a 70th birthday with first time fly fishing ! Chris did a great job giving us some training before we hit the river , he was on time and prepared. Chis was patient with us, all novices! We all caught fish and released immediately. A great day for our party of three fun loving 60 plus year old women!! THANKS FOR HELPING US MAKE MEMORIES CHRIS!!! read more

I have to say that my experience was INCREDIBLE! Chris was so great and even humored me with all my social media posts! Ha! I grew up lake fishing in the midwest and really wanted to try my hand for a second time at fly fishing. Chris was patient with me and it honestly felt like I was fishing with a friend I've known forever! Thanks so much for the great experience and I'll be back! read more

Another Great Trip! I was in town for a quick business trip and wanted to squeeze-in some fishing. Chris was able to make it happen...including airport pick-up AND drop-off. Didn't even have to rent a car. Despite my tight schedule Chris put me on good Rainbows and a bunch of wild Browns. Thank you! Looking forward to the next one! Matt Houston, TX read more

This was my first time fly fishing. Chris and cam (guides) picked my group up from our appt. Chris was a master at locating the fish as I caught 10+ fish with about 20+ bites... lol. Could not have asked for a better outdoor/fishing experience which was also extremely scenic. Chris supplied us with all high quality gear. read more