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.
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...
Vail holds many world-class events but none stick out in the warmer months more than the GoPro Mountain Games, June 4-7. The outdoor recreation community revels in the sponsors, swag items and events, from off-the-ground...
A recent visit home for my mother’s birthday gave me a chance to exercise my inner child while fly fishing in a variety of waters for bluegills and largemouth bass. For visitors to Vail, an...
Fly fishers fantasize about epic encounters with unimaginable hatches on famous waters. The most notable events fill books, adorn magazine covers and fuel dreams. With the Colorado River’s low water flows, salmonflies have already jumped...
Watching water temperature helps to determine when to fish certain insect imitations. If fly fishers haven’t seen the bugs, water temperature can still tell you they are there. With the way water temperatures have been...
Even when you’re far from home waters, new fishing opportunities can surface at a moment’s notice. Urban angling opportunities exist everywhere. Frequent travels — around metropolitan Florida on the East Coast and southern California’s urban...