Aspen Outfitting Company — Local services in Aspen

I had high expectations booking a trip with this Aspen guide service, but unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had on the water.

Poor Fishing Experience Despite Ideal Conditions As experienced anglers, we came prepared and excited to fish what was supposed to be world-class fly fishing. Conditions could not have been better—local reports even noted that fishing was optimal. Yet, the guide brought us to a location that was poorly chosen, without evidence of scouting or planning. While we struggled to catch anything, other anglers in different spots were landing fish consistently. This made it clear the issue wasn’t the river or the conditions—it was the lack of knowledge and preparation from the guide service.

Lack of Effort and Professionalism in Guiding A professional guide’s job is not just to stand nearby, but to adapt, relocate, and strategize when fish aren’t biting. That never happened here. Instead, we were left in a spot with little chance of success, and no effort was made to move or adjust the plan. For a company advertising premium, world-class experiences, this was deeply disappointing.

Inappropriate Handling of Gratuities To make matters worse, after the trip ended, the owner personally told us how much we should tip the guide—even though we had already tipped. This was unprofessional and left us feeling pressured. Tipping should always be voluntary and based on the quality of the service provided, not dictated by the owner after the fact.

Overall Value Given the cost of this service, the return was abysmal. Poor location choices, no scouting, a lackluster guiding experience, and pressure over tipping all combined to turn what should have been a memorable Aspen fishing trip into a frustrating waste of time and money.

Conclusion This was a terrible experience from start to finish. Despite ideal fishing conditions and our own experience as anglers, the guide service failed at every level—planning, execution, and professionalism. I cannot recommend this company to anyone looking for a true fly-fishing...

I've had the best summer thanks to Aspen Outfitting Company! My experience with them has been two-fold: first, they run a series of free flyfishing clinics for women, and their guides have been so supportive of my new hobby for weeks on end. It never ceases to amaze me how patient they are, plus how excited they are for me whenever I get a fish on the line. Second, I gifted my parents a private guided trip during their visit from out-of-state, and our guide Flinn Pomeroy was top-notch. She made sure both my parents were having fun and made their safety a priority (very helpful during high run-off). My family had a blast and it was a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to bond. I am very grateful to Jarrod Hollinger and his whole team for helping me to get involved in a new hobby and for giving me the confidence to build my skills...

What an amazing memory! Don’t think twice about a fly fishing adventure when in Aspen. Jarrod and his crew are top notch professionals. From my initial question with many questions since I’m a newbie he was enthusiastic about my curiosity. We arrived on a crisp sunny Friday and the grin never left my face. Tom was our guide and he was patient in explaining all the right techniques and sharing best practices for our morning together. I didn’t have the oomph to reel one in but that didn’t erase the grin on my face. As an urban dweller the four hours on the beautiful rock river was the meditation I needed. I will be back, not sure when. This memory will be in my top ten. Don’t miss out. After the excursion go to woody creek for a margarita to toast natures...