Fish & Chips: Private Clubs

Colorado’s exceptional waters invite golfers to land a fly as skillfully as they would an approach shot.

Colorado's exceptional waters invite golfers to land a fly as skillfully as they would an approach shot. These private clubs offer exclusive access to some of the best golf and fishing spots:

The Club at Cordillera (Edwards) Homeowners, club members and guests of The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera (in that order) have private access to 1.6 miles of the Eagle River. A one- or two-day Orvis Colorado Fly-Fishing School covering casting, fly selection, how to read currents and how to safely release fish is available in Edwards June through September. Members of Cordillera and Lodge guests receive a 15 percent discount on all fly-fishing trips.

Roaring Fork Club (Basalt) With eight stocked trout ponds, the Gold Medal waters of the Roaring Fork River flowing though the Roaring Fork Club and a mile long stretch of Spring Creek, an offshoot of the river that flows through the golf course, the club is among Colorado’s top private fly-fishing venues. There are more than 2,000 trout on property and a Kid’s Pond for fishing with bait and lures. Members also have access to a 14-mile stretch of the Frying Pan River that enjoys Gold Medal distinction as well.

Rio Grande Club (South Fork) The club has one mile of private Gold Medal fly-fishing on the Rio Grande River and three-quarters of a mile on Alder Creek. Members and guests can also fish and take casting clinics on a twoacre pond adjacent to the clubhouse. Rod fees for non-members staying with a Rio Grande Club member or in a member-owned townhome run $35 per day and guides are available through South Fork Anglers.

Ironbridge Golf Club (Glenwood Springs) Open to the public for golf, Ironbridge Golf Club reserves fly-fishing for members who may fish two ponds on the course stocked with rainbows between 16 and 18 inches long. Members and guests renting properties within the community benefit from access to the ponds as well as a Gold Medal stretch of the Roaring Fork River, which is approximately a mile and a half away.

Adam’s Rib Ranch (Eagle) This secluded enclave provides fly-fishing on five ponds stocked with rainbow and brown trout. The ponds are a great place for beginners, children or casting tune-ups. Members can fish a four-mile stretch of Brush Creek that runs through the community that offers open fishing as well as more technical areas. Fish in the ponds range between 14 and 24 inches, and from eight to fourteen inches in the creek.

The Glacier Club (Durango) Members teeing up here won’t find fly-fishing on site, but the nearby Animas River buddies up with tributaries Hermosa, Lime and Cascade Creeks so anglers can get their fishing on. The better lake fishing is on Electra, Little Molas and Andrew Lakes, and there are more small mountain streams than someone could fish in a lifetime. Further satisfying members are guided trips on the Southern Ute Reservation who try their luck on tribal portions of the Animas, Los Pinos, Piedra and San Juan Rivers.

More of Colorado's best “fish and chips”…

Golf Resorts

Public Courses

Get Hooked: Find an Outfitter Near You!

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.

GET COLORADO GOLF NEWS DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX