Whatdoes fly fishing mean to you?
To me, fly fishing means a vehicle to the outdoors. It presents a constant set of challenges that keep me physically and mentally engaged. It allows me to focus on the present and my surroundings.
Favorite species to target? Why?
My favorite species to target are jumbo Brown trout. There is something amazing about a giant Brown destroying a mouse fly on top water in the dead of night. The same goes for watching a seven pound brown peel off the bank in broad daylight to destroy a 6" streamer in the blink of an eye.
Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I grew up bait and spin fishing for warm water species on the Huron River in Southeast Michigan. When I was a late Teenager my Father introduced me to fly fishing during the Hex hatch in Michigan. I was instantly hooked. From there I fished for pretty much every species Michigan had to offer, just now on the fly rod. I became a guide in 2020 after quitting my summer job for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. I love fly fishing and I love teaching people to fish.
What does fly fishing mean to you?
Peace of mind, an Escape. When I was younger it was what kept me out of trouble. I owe a lot of successes in my life to Fly Fishing. It means everything to me. I do not know where I'd be without it.
What does fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing to me is all about fishing in the most fun way possible. There is nothing better than seeing a trout sip on a dry fly or see a big brown chase a steamer. Getting to do this while exploring new places, enjoying the outdoors and meeting great people is what fly fishing is about for me.
Hey, my name is Chris Burger, and I'm a born and raised Colorado Native. I have been fly fishing for about 8 years now. I've had the privilege to fish all around the U.S all the way from saltwater to the freshwater streams here in Colorado. I just completed my first season as a fly fishing guide despite being the "baby" of all the guides here in the shop, and I enjoyed every minute of it and I plan on continuing to guide as the years come!
What does fly fishing mean to you?
I see fly fishing as an escape from anything going on in my life. Fly fishing is a great way for me to escape the stress of life, and to just go out and get lost somewhere in the mountains to fish for some beautiful fish. When I'm fly fishing, I feel so at peace especially when I'm fighting a fish. At that moment my mind is only focused on one thing.
Favorite species to target? Why?
My favorite species of fish to target on the fly are backcountry Cutthroat Trout. I love targeting Cutthroat especially up in the high country. I love fishing small streams and alpine lakes for those Cutthroat. I love it because I know that I could be the first person and the last person to catch those wild fish. And who doesn't love an aggressive hopper take in the summer?
What song are you listening to when you roll up to the river?
When I'm pulling up to the river, I need to get a little "pregame" hype going to get me pumped up to slay some fish. I will always pull up to the river listening to Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers. This song will always hit the spot for me.
Favorite river beverage?
As the baby of all the guides, my go to river beverage would easily have to be a classic Strawberry Kiwi Caprisun. No matter when and where, those Caprisuns will always satisfy me and keep me going on a slow day of fishing.
I was born here in Colorado, in Denver, and raised in Westminster. My Grandfather took me fishing for the first time when I was four years old. He was fly fishing, and I had a Zebco, push button bait setup with an earthworm. He caught one fish, and I caught none, it was so fun I have been fishing now since 1962.
The majority of my fishing has been here in Colorado searching for trout of all sizes. A small creek has trophy trout in there, which would be the largest fish the environment of the creek can support, as small as 8 inches, yet the largest fish in the water. My largest trout is a 34 inch Brown Trout.
I enjoy working with fly fishers of all levels of experience. It is very enjoyable to introduce clients of all ages to the world of fly fishing, and I hope they like it enough to keep fishing. Those with more experience are also great to take and search for large fish. I get very excited when my clients hook and land a beautiful trout.
What does fly fishing mean to you?
Fly fishing is more than just a hobby to me; it's a way of connecting with nature and leaving the busy outside world behind. It's about patience, precision, and understanding the environment. When I'm fly fishing, I feel a sense of calm and focus that's hard to find elsewhere. It's not just about catching fish, it's about the entire experience.
Born and raised in Vermont, I do not have the most typical journey of becoming a fly fishing guide. I have over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry in the roles of chef and bartender. After reigniting my love of fly fishing on the small mountain streams of eastern Tennessee six years ago, I decided to dedicate my time to guiding with a goal of creating positive experiences for those interested in the sport.
What does fly fishing mean to you?
There are a lot of factors that come together for a fish to connect with your fly. There will always be more to learn and more places to explore. I want to create space for anyone to pursue their passion, step onto a riverbank, and feel welcome there.
Favorite species to target? Why?
Colorado has an incredible diversity of species to target that I will not pick just one - every fish is a representation of land stewardship and conservation and that is always special to me.
Dale and Chris guided a group of 4 of us on the Eagle River. Amazing day. These guys really know how to treat their clients, and make the experience special. Dale even cooked us a burger lunch on the bank of the river!
Tryston was a fantastic teacher on the river. After winning some fly gear through my work I decided I needed to learn. I decided to hire Tryston as my fly guide and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. He was patient and explained everything very well. He made my first day on the river fun and exciting. Highly recommend him if you want a great guide.
Thanks again Tryston.
I was in town on a work trip and decided to stay an extra day and fish. I called Golden Fly Shop and spoke with Conor who connected me with Tryston for a guided day on Clear Creek. Tryston was super knowledgeable, patient and put us into the fish. I got the "trifecta", brook, rainbow, and a brown. It was a great day and having a guide like Tryston really made a difference. The shop itself is amazing! I've been into a lot of fly shops but Golden is up on the higher echelon of shops. They have everything and the folks that work there are super helpful and friendly, even offered me a Coors while I waited for my UBER :-).
Cannot say enough good things about Golden Fly and Tyler for guided fly fishing. Got in early to an awesome location, all gear and some amazing sandwiches provided, and Tyler helped us land as some beautiful brown trout. We gained so much knowledge and had the BEST time. 10/10 would recommend.
It is no surprise that the Clarkson Golden Knight Hockey team has a very large presence on campus. For the majority of the year, every weekend is spent packed inside the Cheel arena cheering on the teams. Before coming to Clarkson, many students have never been to a hockey game or not one on the college level. For a new freshman already on a new campus and in a new state, the hockey games seemed pretty daunting to me, but after that first game against SLU (St. Lawrence), I was hooked. The first week, I was in a class with mostly upperclassmen and when they found out I was a freshman who was interested in hockey, the advice started pouring in. The one tip that stuck with me to most was getting there early, not by twenty or thirty minutes, but by hours, and while that may sound extreme I am glad I listened!
Experiencing your first hockey game is always better when you have someone else who is in the same boat as you, and trust me there are plenty of freshmen and even some upperclassmen that are with you. I was lucky enough to have a roommate and friend that grew up going to games and who already wanted to go, but sometimes your roommate or friends may feel apprehensive. My advice is to you if you have no one to go with is to check with your RA to see if they are organizing to bring the floor over to the game.
My RA was the best! For the first month of classes any campus event that was going on we would go as a floor. This is a great way to meet the people who you will be living with for the year, and a bigger group is much less scary than going by yourself. However, if your RA is on duty or may not be going to the game you can always text the floor GroupMe. GroupMe is a text messaging app that every floor has in order for the RAs to communicate with the residents and for the residents to ask questions. My floor would use this group chat to ask about where things on campus were but also see if anyone wanted to go to on-campus events. I guarantee you someone else is in the same position as you, wanting to go to a hockey game without having someone to go with.
So now you have your group and your outfit planned, but what should you be bringing to the game? The most important thing to remember is your Clarkson student ID. This is the way you get into every hockey game for free! I like to keep mine in the back on a clear phone case, or a lanyard, a wallet works well too. Besides your ID everything else you bring is optional, there are concession stands where you can buy some food and drinks, but you can also bring in your own. I usually brought a water bottle to keep me hydrated and my voice prepared to cheer. My roommate and I also brought our class of 2025 pom poms to use to cheer. At some games, they do have rally towels at the entrance which are always a great way to cheer the team on and a great souvenir to bring home with you.
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