Solitary Angler

I had a great day of fishing on Culebra Creek with David. He was a most pleasant and knowledgeable guide. I caught 15 trout, 14 of which were large and fat. They were consistently the healthiest fish I have ever seen. All but one was over 15 inches, with the largest rainbow measuring 21 inches, and the largest brown being 20 inches. David kept one of my rods rigged with a dry fly setup, and one with wet flies. I never stopped fishing except to rest a second, take a fish off the hook, or to eat and drink. It was a dream day.

Want to fly fish during the summer and not be elbow to elbow with other fishers? Contact Solitary Angler for trips to New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. My fishing buddy and I had a memorable trip to Culebra Creek in June. Guides are very good, and you will have a great time. All private waters and the fish aren't pounded like at the San Juan.

Don't waste your time. Our guide was stoned and slow with the net. We smelled his dab pen all day and saw him failing to hit it discreetly throughout the day. I support legalization but this was extremely unprofessional. Guide also provided very poor instructions on fighting the fish and facilitating getting it into the net. Only two fingerling rainbows were landed. Owner did provide many flies at cost which was generous and he cut the access fee in half, which was a good start, but overall the experience was no where close to how it was marketed based on the owner's description of Culebra Creek, his guides, his services, and the over all Solitary Angler experience. Culebra Creek is a glorified irrigation ditch. The price we paid is ridiculous to land only two fingerling trout. I've caught bigger stockers on the fly. Owner and guide said they miss 2 out of 3 strikes and only land 1 in 3 fish they hook into. Sounds like they should work on their fishing skills before continuing to guide. Go with an outfitter that's more successful and professional. Highway robbery.

Just had the best day fishing with Richard, hands down the best day on the Culabra, small stream with excellent chances of catching. I’m a novice but Richard was so helpful!! I landed a 20” brown Solitary Anglers is the best!!

Van's Solitary Angler has consistently produced the best trophy trout experience in and around Taos New Mexico for me for the last 25 years. Lots of different options depending on time of year, runoff, hatches, etc.. Show up with your skills and ye shall be rewarded!

We had two memorable days with Solitary Angler. Our guide Richard put two fishers with not a lot of experience onto some very nice browns and rainbows.

Great shop. The Culebra creek is a bucklist fly fishing location.

This is a Top Quality Experience! The guides are excellent and the private water is second to none! If you enjoy catching large trout, without a crowd, this is the answer! I highly recommend booking a trip with any guide at the Solitary Angler! You wont regret it.....

If I could give six stars I would - we fished the Holy Waters with Rick today! It was my first time fly fishing and Rick was so patient with me, funny, and just a blast to hang out with!! I can't wait to go fishing with him again!!!

My most recent bucket list adventure was fly fishing in New Mexico. Not to be disappointed I called and spoke to Van Beacham the man that literally wrote the book 'Fly Fishers Guide to New Mexico'. 575-758-5653. Van set me up with the most patient and and learned instructor for all ages and abilities in Mr. Conner Cooper who is also a middle school teacher of social studies and art and history, play by ear musician, (Upright Bass) and classically trained artist at the Pratt Institute in NYC, and UNM adjunct professor, originally hails from Amarillo, Texas (I knew I liked him for a reason) and now living in New Mexico of course. He has been to Argentina 4 times fly fishing and has studied the fly casting techniques of Joan Wulff ,who at 21 years in 1951, she became the first woman in history to win the Fisherman's Distance Event, casting 131 feet against all-male competition, a truly remarkable achievement. I had only fly fished for Bass in stock ponds or "tanks" as we call them in Texas and had a self taught fly casting technique about as rough as Park road 102 in Kit Carson national forest. (You better have Jeep if you want to try that one. Glad we did cause I told my wife it was short cut, got in trouble for the underestimation of comfort even a Grand Cherokee can provide) What you will learn is the "DRIFT" how to place cast, the power snap, , the double haul and other techniques (don't expect to master these right away it does a bit a bit practice but no worries you not be casting but a few feet most of the time, and to use the correct amount of line, the correct stroke, to use the lanes or clock approach to covering a body of water and rising the line as it comes towards you while only keeping just enough line in the water so your fly or nymph does not speed to fast because you had too much line in the water. Et al. It is those little things that make the difference. It is all about finesse fishing. The art and beauty of the presentation of a perfectly placed lure that nets a catch. Ah.... the essence of the physical beauty of the stroke up and then wait for it then forward right into the lair of the waiting trout! It is truly a gift of motion and fishing and surroundings and the air, the place, the drive in, lunch in the open air, even bottled water tastes better for some reason, the knowledgeable guide, all the tiny techniques if you listen to Conner no matter what you think know about fly fishing, peace and be still and listen to make you a better fisherman a better person, patience enhanced human that takes the day back to the family and celebrates the event as it relates in some way to some area of your life. Look for it and you will find how it has that meaning. WOW - you got all that out of a guide fly fishing day. Yes and more. A lifetime memory that cannot easily be diminished all to the thanks of Conner Cooper teacher of young minds, musician, artist, fly fishing guide extraordinaire. Do yourself a favor. If you have not fly fished and want a guide with the patients of Job (and I don't mean Dr. Job) that can put you on the fish here is the man, the legend, outstanding in the field (but will come inside for dinner) the one, the only Conner Cooper.

I called Solitary Angler for my first time to go fly fishing. I couldn't be happier. My guide was Todd. Todd was very knowledgeable, patient and a great teacher for a newbie. My experience definitely leads me to want to learn more about fly fishing. I will certainly call the Solitary Angler the next time I'm ready to go fishing around Taos NM. Their staff is also very helpful and courteous.