Michael Salomone has lived in the Eagle River valley since 1992. He started his professional guiding career in 2002 and currently guides for Vail Valley Anglers. He lives on the bank of the Eagle River with his wife, Lori, his youngest daughter, Ella and a yellow Labrador named Poppy. His published writing has appeared in Southwest Fly Fishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, On the Fly, FlyLords, the Pointing Dog Journal, Upland Almanac, TROUT, American Fly Fishing, USA Today Hunt & Fish and Fly Fisherman magazines.
August holds transitions that range along extremes. From high heat temperatures to chilled night winds, the mountains feel the change and are starting to show it. Waning insect hatches are noticed by fly fishers and...
My first personal connection to Phil Shook happened when I was looking for information about fly fishing in the Exumas, Bahamas. Phil has traveled everywhere with a fly rod, and he offered some advice before...
A dry-dropper rig is an extremely effective presentation tool that benefits from a highly visible dry fly and a subsurface fly. The large dry fly serves a dual purpose when incorporated into this fly-fishing rig....
There is a short list of stillwaters in our area and the locations are not secrets. A high percentage exist within view of Interstate 70. Those places not along the I-70 corridor are only a...
Fly fishers who feel a bit of intimidation thinking about fly fishing in stillwaters often wonder how to get to the fish. Lakes and reservoirs are big. Reaching depths and anything beyond the stretch of a...
Stillwaters such as lakes, ponds and reservoirs seem like foreign landscapes to fly fishers. The water appears devoid of any structure with no surface indication, current seems non-existent. Underwater vegetation and structure leads to predictable...
Summertime opens new opportunities in the mountains. People who possess a familiarity with angling as well as complete newcomers should consider embracing the subtle serenity found in fly fishing. Learning to appreciate the skillset necessary...
Fly fishers gain proficiency through experience. Those that embrace the fly rod and do not feel encumbered by its limitations learn how to expand their skillset to maximize potential. One way to increase your fly-fishing...
Nowhere is the old adage about “variety being the spice of life” more accurate than when fly-fishing in South Florida. The region’s unique proximity to both freshwater and saltwater puts anglers in the best place...
All across the valley, schools are letting out for the summer. It’s time to get your river mindset flowing. Summer is when memories are made that last a lifetime. An excellent summertime kick-off starts with...