Dog Friendly Fly Fishing

A couple months back, I reached out to Sasquatch Fly Fishing to schedule a fly fishing lesson in Estes Park the day before my Colorado workshop began. Closing out my email, I asked them if they had any guides with a dog that might be interested in a having some photos taken of them while I was in town.

And that's how I met Ali and Dolly!

Ali reached out, letting me know she was open to having a session of her own and in exchange, she would give me a free private fly fishing lesson!

Obviously, with Ali being a guide and fly fishing for nearly 20 years, I trusted her with finding us a good location and she did not disappoint.

When we got there, she provided me with the gear I needed and I asked her a million questions about all the gear she had strapped to her.

She taught me about reading the water, different insects, flys, and how to set my hook depending on the direction of the current.

She turned over a rock and told me the first thing she does when she gets to a spot is flip over rocks in the water to see what insects are under them which determines what she is going to be fishing with.

With my camera gear sitting on the bank beside us, she shows me a thing or two and hands me the pole to try myself.

It's a bit tricky at first to get the hang of it but then it becomes incredibly gratifying when you get it and your fly lands in the water, exactly where you aim it. I had quite a few bites but nothing landed at first.

So we switched and now Ali was fishing and I was photographing.

Now this is where Dolly really shines. She was by Ali's side, watching the fly go in and out, in and out. When Ali would show the smallest bit of excitement by tugging up on the line to set the hook, Dolly would lurch forward anticipating a fish would come flying out of the water.

And then finally, Ali lands one and Dolly is inches from the fish trying to get in on the action.

Her Mom lets her get a good look at it and then Dolly watches as the fish is set back in the water and swims away.

And this was a repeated process as Ali caught more and more and I eventually caught 2, 1 of which may take the record for worlds smallest!

One of my favorite things in this world is having new experiences. And this was definitely one I won't forget.

Outfitter: Sasquatch Fly Fishing

Guide: Ali Bair @babyybair on IG

Hat: Sasquatch Fly Fishing

Jacket: The North Face

Pants: prAna

Net: Wind River Gear, Erie CO

Gear bag: Patagonia

Fly Line: Scientific Anglers