Guided Fly Fishing on Lees Ferry
Lees Ferry Fly Fishing Guides
One can always have a spectacular day on the river. The combination of fishing, scenic beauty, instruction, and bonding are hard to beat. We offer careful and caring teaching for beginners, but also can advance an experienced angler’s nymph fishing or casting technique. Enjoy a great lunch on a sunny beach, great conversation, and seeing a herd of bighorn sheep. Whatever shape the day takes, our only goal is to provide a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
The Lees Ferry fishery is the 15 mile tailwater below Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. Created in 1963, the Ferry provides a wonderful fly fishing experience in some of the most stunning scenery in the West. We utilize custom Koffler jet boats to access the riffles and runs. While we typically wade, we may also fish from the boat depending on conditions and angler preference.
Rates
1 ANGLER
2 ANGLERS
3 ANGLERS
*Please Note: While three anglers can be accommodated, it can be a challenge to the overall fishing experience. Many gravel bars cannot accommodate three anglers and casting from a drifting boat can be difficult.
Meet the Guides
Dave Foster
Dave Foster began his relationship with the Colorado River at Lees Ferry in 1967 as a very young angler sneaking away from work at his family’s Marble Canyon Lodge to search for trout. Since that time he has spent his life on the river as a Grand Canyon river guide, Park Service ranger, science researcher, as an owner of Marble Canyon Lodge, Marble Canyon Outfitters, Lees Ferry on the Fly and now Fly Fishing Specialties at Lees Ferry. He is the author of “Fly Fishing Lees Ferry” and was recently featured in the June 2024 issue of Arizona Highways. At 65 (2024) he continues to spend his time showing others his favorite place on earth.
Jackson Foster
Jackson Foster was raised on the river. From the vantage point of a backpack on back of Dave or Barbara, he observed flyfishing technique, good and bad, before he could walk or talk. He is a natural fly fisherman and a natural teacher. With a degree in English and History, he splits his time between the river and teaching high school in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Dave Trimble
Dave Trimble has partnered with Dave Foster for over 25 years, beginning the relationship as a commercial fly tier specializing in the bugs of Lees Ferry. He has fished the world and is one of the foremost authorities on fly fishing Mako sharks off the coast of California. But his first love are the red rocks of Glen Canyon. We work with Dave closely to accommodate groups visiting the Ferry. He can be reached at by visiting leesferryonthefly.com
Overview of Fishing by Season
Spring
March 1 – May 31, is our most popular time of year. Early in the spring, fish hold in deep and shallow water spawning areas providing sight fishing opportunities. Later, midge hatches increase as the river receives more sunlight and we fish the vegetated riffles and runs. Techniques are deep and shallow nymphing rigs and streamers with sink tip lines.
Summer
June 1 – August 31, can provide dry fly fishing opportunities. When temperatures climb to 100 degrees, cicadas, ants, beetles become more active and higher flows from Glen Canyon Dam wash these insects to waiting trout. Techniques include casting dries wading or from a drifting boat, nymphing, dry and dropper as well as streamer fishing.
Fall
September 1 – October 31, we look forward to lower flow releases from the dam and getting back to wading the riffles and runs. Flows are typically reduced October 1, and fish are condensed along newly formed holding water. This condition can produce some of the best fishing of the year. Techniques can include nymphing, dry and dropper and streamer fishing.
Winter
November 1 – Feb 28, are the most challenging months of the year, but still fish-able. The sun is below the canyon rim and the river is in shadow most of the day. It is cold and fishing is difficult. Anglers visiting this time of year, will very likely have the entire river to themselves. Techniques are nymphing and sink tip streamer fishing.