LODGE-BASED FLY FISHING TO REMOTE WATERS ON HORSEBACK

Access to Budge’s Wilderness Lodge is by high-clearance 4WD only. Stock pickups and SUVs with about 9” of clearance can make the trip, just take it slow. After September 1st or anytime snow is in the forecast, well-fitting tire chains with tensioners are required.

Most guests flying to Colorado choose to rent an SUV to drive to the lodge. Whether you’re flying into Denver or Eagle, all major rental car companies offer high clearance pickups and SUVs.

If you not have a high-clearance vehicle or prefer not to drive the high-clearance 4WD section, we offer pick-up at a point that’s about 8 miles from the lodge for $440 round trip per vehicle (max 4 passengers). This requires driving on improved dirt roads for about 28 miles.

If you’d prefer to avoid dirt roads altogether, we offer pick-up at the Eagle County Regional Airport for $650, round trip per vehicle (max 4 passengers).

For detailed directions and other info, please see our Guest Information Page.

In this remote and rugged wilderness area, anglers can expect steep banks, thick willows, high altitude, extreme weather, slippery stream beds, and overall challenging conditions. We have a few spots with easier river access that are good for young kids or those with limited mobility. However, most of the places we fish are like this landscape - rugged and wild. The weight limit for horseback riders is 250 lbs. Upon booking, please fill out our Health and Medical Questionnaire so that our guides and crew can do their best to create a fun and memorable experience.

A valid Colorado fishing license is required for all anglers ages 16 and up. This is not included in the cost of your trip. Youth under the age of 16 are not required to purchase a license. Fishing licenses can be purchased online from Colorado Parks and Wildlife or at any license vendor throughout the state.

For a suggested packing list, what to expect and directions to the lodge, please see our Guest Information Page.

EQUIPMENT RENTAL

Guided fly fishing trips include fly rod, reel, flies and tackle, or guests may bring their own.

Guided trips do NOT include wading boots, waders or wet wading socks. Guests may bring their own, or we have rentals available in Men’s and Women’s sizes:

Wading Boots: $32 per day

Neoprene Wet Wading Socks: $15 per day

Waders: $48 per day

We ask that all guests staying with us at the lodge practice catch and release fishing. This helps maintain the quality of the fishery for everyone. We also ask that guests staying in remote camps practice catch and release, returning cutthroat, rainbow, and lake trout immediately. If guests staying in wilderness camps wish to keep a fish or two to cook over the campfire, we ask that you only keep brook trout under 10” and in strict accordance with Colorado Parks & Wildlife bag and possession limits. Not only are brook trout the best eating fish in these waters, but high populations of small brookies compete with native cutthroat trout. Removing a limited number of smaller brook trout is the best way to help manage these waters while enjoying a wild-caught harvest.

FISH HANDLING TIPS

We ask our guests to use single barbless hooks only. Land fish using a net with a rubber basket to prevent injury.

Avoid beaching fish on rocks, sand or dirt. Hold the net in the water while carefully removing the hook with a set of forceps or needle-nose pliers. If you’d like to snap a picture, continue holding the net in the water until you’re ready. Then cradle the fish under the belly and lift it over the net. Never put your fingers in the gills of a trout. After you’ve taken a picture, lower the fish into the water and point it upstream. There’s no need to rock it back and forth, as a trout’s gills are designed for water to move one direction. Cradle the fish until it swims away under its own power.

Our native Colorado River Cutthroat trout are a treasure. Take a moment to admire their beauty and treat them with respect as you carefully release them. Thank you!

The minimum recommended age for horseback riding is 12 years old, depending on the child and previous riding experience. However, we offer fully-guided wilderness fishing trips on foot for younger kids or those who would prefer not to ride a horse. Kids 11 and under are eligible for discounted rates. Please contact us for details.

Tips are customary and certainly appreciated. We recommend tipping 20% of the cost of your trip. On fully guided trips, it’s customary to tip the guide roughly 1/3 of the total tip amount and divide the remaining 2/3 between wranglers and lodge crew (kitchen and housekeeping). Cash is preferred and we have envelopes available at the lodge.

Owing to a brief season, remote location, the highest safety standards and industry leading service, our wilderness experiences are operationally cost-intensive. For that reason, our payment and cancellation policies are as follows:

Deposits & Payments:

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm all reservations. The balance is due 30 days prior to arrival and is non-refundable. All payments are non-refundable under any circumstances. If full payment is not received by the due date, you may forfeit your deposit and your space may be offered to our wait list.

Cancellations:

You may cancel your trip at any time, but all payments, deposits and fees paid to Budge’s are 100% non-refundable. No exceptions. If a fishing or horseback riding trip is cancelled with more than 60-days notice prior to the arrival date, the non-refundable deposit may be credited toward other guests or dates within 12 months of the date of the original reservation, subject to availability. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the arrival date, the exact reservation may be transferred to another guest, or the payments received will be forfeited. For these reasons, we strongly advise guests to purchase vacation cancellation insurance through your local provider. These are the standard operating policies of Budge’s and are subject to change without notice.