This month we will be traveling figuratively to one of our favorite tail water destinations in the western United States. Lees Ferry is only a day’s drive away and has to be one of the most scenic places to fish in the world.

In addition its gin clear water and phenomenal fish population serve to make it a popular fishery.

But don’t let its beauty and productivity fool you, Its fish can also be some of the most demanding you’ll ever find. Perfect long deaddrifts, propertechniques, and fl y selection are crucial to your success or failure.

We’ve invited Dave Foster from Marble Canyon Outfitters to visit us this month to share some of his secrets and not so secrets about successful fishing of Lees Ferry. His presentation is designed to give an overview of  the Lee’s Ferry fishery including a brief history, discussion of the fishery throughout the year and the various techniques and flies commonly employed. Emphasis is not on a Lee’s Ferry “sell job”, but instead on understanding of the fishery and what makes it unique. Integrated within this is a discussion of common casting, line handling, rigging and general on the water mistakes that he observes on a daily basis as a guide. This aspect of the program is designed to be a “day on the river” with Dave and to identify and remedy common mistakes that many anglers do not even realize they are making.

Dave Foster has spent the better part of his 45 years on and around the Colorado River between Glen Canyon dam and Lake

Mead. He began fishing the upper river in the late 1960’s just after the Glen Canyon dam was completed forming Lake Powell. At age 13 he began running Grand Canyon raft trips and continues to do so today. In 1988 Dave founded Marble Canyon Outfitters, providing guide service on the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry. As a Federation of Fly fishers certified casting instructor and Orvis endorsed guide and product tester, Dave has spent nearly 3,000 days guiding this stretch of river. He is the author of two books on the history and fishing of this stretch of river: The Lee’s Ferry Angling, Boating and Historical Guide and The No Nonsense Guide to Flyfishing Lee’s Ferry. He lives In Marble Canyon, Arizona with his wife Barbara and family in a house perched on the edge of the Grand Canyon, See you at the meeting: