Added Date:
Tuesday, 16 Oct, 2012
Summary
People often ask me which camera is best for fly fishermen, and because I'm a smartass, I usually tell them it's the one you actually carry with you on the river.
Content
People often ask me which camera is best for fly fishermen, and because I'm a smartass, I usually tell them it's the one you actually carry with you on the river. For me, that equates to a waterproof point and shoot (and rules out my DSLR, which is bulky and maintains an intense dislike of water). Because my Pentax Optio is several generations old, I don't know enough to recommend any of the current crop of waterproof digital cameras.
Fortunately, I stumbled across a waterproof point-and-shoot camera "Shootout" article, and while they don't exactly deliver on the shootout premise (for example, they don't recommend a winner), they do provide a big picture view of six top waterproof point-and-shoot cameras (including the current version of my Pentax). Looking for a fly fishing camera? (click image to see review) Shopping for a fly fishing camera? Despite a slightly vanilla review style and lack of a winner, consider this article a starting point. If I was buying now, I'd probably ignore the Transformer-esque styling and grab the Pentax WG2, though the Olympus TG1 also impresses. [ UPDATE: based on the reader comments, there isn't much love for the new Pentax Wg1 or WG2. I'd skip it for now.]
I wish at least one offered a slightly wider angle lens (most go to 28mm, some to 25mm -- I used to shoot a lot in the 20mm-24mm range), but it's hard to argue with the price and quality of most cameras these days. In fact, usability is typically more important than a camera's technical specs; if it takes you forever to change modes or alter exposures or whatever, you're going to miss pictures. Any additions or recommendations from the Undergrounders? See you on film, Tom Chandler.
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Durango, population approximately 17,000, is a favorite destination for a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts, including cyclists, rock climbers, kayakers, white river rafters, skiers, ... morehorseback riders, zip-liners and just about anything else that can be enjoyed in scenic, mountainous terrain. Situated in the San Juan Mountains, the largest range in the Rockies, Durango is a genuine, old western town where a river, the Animas, truly runs through it.
Sizeable trout can be fished from the Animas, a tributary of the San Juan River, right from pedestrian footbridges in the heart of town. A short hour’s drive south from Durango is the San Juan River, a highly productive tailwater that attracts anglers from around the globe. A little farther west, about an hour ½ drive, is the challenging Delores River, and for those willing to drive a little over two hours, you can fish the alluring upper Rio Grande.
Ancestral home to early Native Americans, the surrounding area is filled with cliff dwelling archaeological sites, a perfect activity for anyone traveling with you not interested in fishing. Durango came to life in the late 1880’s with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad expansion, built to move travelers, miners and tons of ore from nearby mines. Today the town is home to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway Museum that offers a 9-hour railroad tour of the area and is a major tourist attraction.
Located near the San Juan National Forest, Durango is surrounded by high mountains and lush greenery. To the northeast is the Rio Grande National Forest while the Lizard Head, South San Juan and Weminuche Wilderness Areas are also close by. Add Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument and the Ute Tribal Park to the list of things to see and do and it’s easy to see why Durango is such a popular place to fish and explore.
There are many options for getting to Durango, including:
Fly to Denver International Airport and drive for approximately 6 hours
Fly to Grand Junction Regional Airport and drive for approximately 3 ½ hours
Fly to Four Corners Regional Airport (Farmington, NM) and drive for 1 hour
Fly to Albuquerque International Sunport (NM) and drive for about 4 hours
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Where can you find a fly fishing haven that is oddly urban in character yet runs through 3 ghost towns, is a winter home to migratory bald eagles and you have to take a train to get ... moreto some of the best water? Well the answer is Durango, Colorado where the Animas River flows right through it. Here it’s possible to successfully cast off a pedestrian bridge in the middle of town, wander down stream on well-marked trails to wade, or take a train through the mountains to fish.
High in the San Juan Mountains, at the ghost town of Animas Forks and the confluence of the North and West forks, this tributary of the San Juan River begins. It continues on past the ghost towns of Eureka and Howardsville and at Silverton, flows into Animas Canyon, a steep walled passageway. After Durango, the river flows south into New Mexico where it joins with the San Juan River at Farmington.
North of Silverton the Animas is more stream than river. It gathers momentum as it nears Hermosa but because of a steep gorge, getting to the waters above Hermosa requires taking a train, a route once used to transport ore from nearby mines. Past Hermosa the river opens up, and at times is more than a 100 feet wide with rifles, long runs and deep pools.
At Purple Cliffs, approximately 3 miles downstream from Durango, the river is regulated but very accessible and the boulders and rifles here provide ideal habitat for trout. In 1997, this section of the river was classified by the State of Colorado as a Gold Medal River, meaning it contains a minimum of 60 pounds of trout and more than 12 trout over 14 inches per acre. Fish ranging from 16-20 inches are not uncommon here.
Animas Valley Anglers offers a guided float trip down the Colorado river. Schedule your adventure today!
Book a float trip on the Colorado River and experience some of the best fishing the river has to offer.
We are the best, that's right, the best guide service that is based out of Durango Colorado and fishes the entire southwest. We are strickly a guide service, no retail operations to ... moredistract us from what is truly important, the trout. We offer custom and peronalized fly fishing trips on all the great waters of the southwest. That includes the San Juan Quality Waters (plus the mid and lower river), Rio Grande, Animas, upper San Juan, Dolores (upper and lower), Pine, Florida, mountain creeks, Root Pond trophy trout lake, headwaters and more!
We are open, and more than willing to fish 365 days a year. We offer killer spring wade and float trips, solid summer hatches, fall adventures and very consistent winter angling. Great guides, all with the knowledge and personalities to make sure your time on the water with Animas Valley Anglers is special and rewarding. No pressure guiding, great teachers, stunning scenery and a few nice trout will help make memories that will last a life time time (year after year)!
Based in Durango Colorado, we are a full service fly shop and outfitter providing guided san juan river fly fishing services as well as guided fly fishing services to local rivers ... moreincluding the Animas and other local waters. We also provide san juan river fly fishing reports.
The San Juan Angler is located in historic downtown Durango. We offer guided trips in the Durango area, including the San Juan River (below Navajo), the Animas River, private water on the Pine River (Los Pinos) below Vallecetio Reservoir, and numerous small streams in the area. We have over 2000 fly patterns in stock and offer gear from Orvis, Hardy, Grays, Winston, St. Croix, Redington, Ross, Rio, Scientific Angler & more.
We offer Denver and Boulder, Colorado's most affordable, all-inclusive, convenient and professional fly fishing guide trips. We offer the best in Colorado fly fishing trips and strongly ... moreencourage you to shop our competitors as we guarantee that you will not find an accredited guided fly fishing trip of equal or greater value at a better price. Our trout fishing guides are all expert fly fishers and we have access to the best fly fishing in Colorado. We utilize the best fly fishing gear in the industry and our guides are the most professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced in the business. We are committed to keeping you close to Denver or Boulder as we understand that your time is valuable and you should spend more time fly fishing and less time driving. This is why all of our fly fishing locations are located within a convenient and scenic drive from Denver or Boulder. On our trips you can easily learn how to fly fish and we provide all the equipment, gear and flies that you need for the day.
We have access to some of the best fishing in Colorado and our fully guided fly fishing trips are conducted on some of Denver and Boulder's most scenic and pristine waters. Our fly fishing guides are on the water nearly every day so are dialed into the fishing condition. They know where the fishing is the best so that they can ensure you and your guests are fishing the best location to maximize your time on the water. We are pleased to feature fly fishing trips on the following waters.
Fly Fishing Trip Locations: Clear Creek Bear Creek South Boulder Creek Boulder Creek St. Vrain South Platte
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