Episode 99: Kyle Holt - Trout Fishing The Roaring Fork Valley

Kyle Holt is Taylor Creek Fly Shop’s head guide, whose favorite saying is "Fish Hard and Die Rich.” Having been raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kyle became heavily involved in fishing, hunting, and trapping the "flatlands" surrounding his home. As fortune would have it, Kyle's family decided to take regular vacations to Rocky Mountain National Park where he hooked his first browns, rainbows, and brookies - subsequently becoming hooked himself. In 1983 Kyle packed up all of his worldly possessions (which he relates were few) and moved from the cornfields to the Rockies in pursuit of any trout that would take a fly. Holt has been fishing in the Roaring Fork Valley & Frying Pan River for over 29 years, and is now considered a sub-god by many of his clientele because of his skill and knowledge of the area waters. Many years back, after taking a trip to the Bahamas with a group of clients, Kyle returned to Colorado in a sorry state. He realized his addiction for salt water fly fishing is an itch he can’t get rid of. Fast forward many moons, Kyle has been to Mexico, Belize, the Seychelles, Christmas Island, the Amazon, Costa Rica, Louisiana, and of course the Florida Keys targeting his dream catches on fly. On today’s podcast, we speak about the state of the fishery in the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan River, the challenges they face, etiquette on the river, and the Guide Alliance that Kyle helped start in 2014. We hope you enjoy.