Dates: April 20-23, 2026Location: Edwards, COHost: Eagle River Outfitter
4 Days, 11 Kids, One Awesome Week on the Eagle
What an awesome week for ERO and 11 local kids from Gypsum to Vail. This wasn’t just a kids fly fishing camp – it was a crash course in becoming self-sufficient anglers.
The group went hands-on with everything:
- Rigging & Knots: Every kid learned to rig their own rods and tie the knots that actually hold fish
- Casting: Worked on both nymph and dry fly setups, and got real river time to dial it in
- Entomology: Positively ID’d Eagle River aquatic macro-invertebrates and the fish that eat them. We even caught a sculpin!
- Fly Tying: Tied Woolly Buggers and stoneflies, then took them straight to the water to fish
- River Skills: River etiquette, safe wading, netting each other’s fish, and picking up trash along the trails
The Experience: Most importantly, we fished every day – even in the wind. The crew kept the environment positive and fun the whole time. Between sessions we still managed games of sharks and minnows, basketball, and frisbee. It was the right mix of focused learning and just being kids outside.
Why It Worked: The instruction was patient, the expectations were high, and the kids rose to it. By day 4 you could see it: they were helping each other net fish, fixing their own rigs, and actually reading the water. That’s the goal.
Final Word: If you’ve got a kid anywhere from Gypsum to Vail who’s curious about fly fishing, this is the camp. Dave and the crew at Eagle River Outfitter built something special. We’re already excited for the 2027 session.
We are very excited to be investing in the next generation of river stewards, right here in the Vail Valley where we live and raise our own.
