If you've never fished our 11 miles of private water on Culebra Creek, our crown jewel, then picture this: Miles and miles of exclusive, isolated, pristine tailwater in an emerald green valley rimmed by some of the highest mountains in Colorado and New Mexico. Meander after meander of big holes, undercut banks and sparkling riffles. No people, cars, bikers, beer cans or salmon egg jars, no trees festooned with yards of monofilament and treble-hooked Christmas tree ornaments. Big, clean fish lurking everywhere. Your river, your fish, your own piece of the Rocky Mountain West.

You're not dreaming; you're fishing the Culebra, your home water as a member of Solitary Angling Club.

Get on the phone and get into the picture. Call me, Van Beacham, at 575-776-5585, for access to all this:

• 1.  Cimarron River New Mexico – 1 section – large bows and browns – cabins and B&B on the property
• 2.   Culebra Creek Colorado – 10 sections on over 11 stream miles – large bows and browns
• 3.   Trinchera Ranch Colorado – 3 creeks and 3 ponds with 10 sections on over 30 stream miles – Wild bows, browns, brookies and cutthroats
• 4.   San Luis Creek, Colorado – 3 sections on over 5 miles and one pond – Wild browns in creek and large bows in pond
• 5.   Trophy Ponds Colorado – Two trophy ponds – One with trout up to 12 pounds and bigger and one with huge, toothy Northern Pike
• 6.   Fontenelle Creek Wyoming – Medium size stream - 5 sections on over 10 miles with large bows, browns and cutthroats
• 7.   Smith’s Fork Wyoming – Small river with 5 sections on over 6 stream miles – browns and Bonneville Cutthroats – small B&B on the property

Our primary fishery, Culebra Creek, is fishable year round. In fact trout feed on midges every day all winter long and in recent years, more members have been venturing out to see if they can fool the midge-eating browns and bows that stack in the deeper holes. During the spring, when most streams are too high to fish, the Culebra remains fishable because its flow is controlled at Sanchez Reservoir. Of course summer and fall fishing is spectacular and the trout average larger than any stream in the region. 

After 25 years of guiding on the magnificent 180,000-acre Trinchera Ranch (formerly Forbes Ranch) we finally got a deal that will allow SAC members access to a great deal of the fishing opportunities available on the ranch. Trinchera Ranch has a short season and starts fishing well just after run-off, usually about mid-June, and continues to fish well through about mid-October. There’s no need for droppers here! All three streams (Ute Creek, Sangre de Cristo Creek and Trinchera Creek) offer great dry fly fishing using medium to large-sized attractors like hoppers, madam x’s and stimulators. This is wild trout fishing at its best! It’s like having 180,000 acres of wilderness all to yourself except that you have roads to provide you with great access to over 30 miles of streams and 3 ponds with bigger fish.

This will provide Members a first rate alternative to lodging in Taos or San Luis and it’s only 25 minutes from the lodge to the Culebra. In fact, the lodge is the ideal clubhouse for SAC members fishing any of our waters in southern Colorado. Only members of the SAC (and a handful of the ranch's personal guests) can fish the ranch waters without a guide and no rod fees. All others must have a guide from the Solitary Angler and pay full rod fees (that’s $500.00 per day more than SAC members pay for two anglers).

Trinchera Ranch Lodge

This is rustic lodging at its best!! The lodge has deluxe 5-star accommodations and exquisite fine dining (all inclusive) in a mountain setting with views in all four directions that will “blow you away”!! The laid back atmosphere will make you feel like it’s yours, yet the service is outstanding and the dry fly fishing is simply superb. The main stream, Trinchera Creek, runs along on one side of the lodge and a small pond is on the other side so you can fish early and late and still not miss your meals. Compare to other high-end lodges and you’ll agree this is a bargain at just $250 per night!

I just got confirmation of access to two fabulous trophy ponds just a few miles northwest of Monte Vista Colorado. One pond has gigantic trout up to 15 pounds and some bigger, believe it or not! The other has huge, toothy northern pike that are very willing to take a fly. The ponds are about 45 minutes from the lodge at Trinchera Ranch or about an hour and a half from Taos. It is about a half hour from the ponds to San Luis Creek so it’s very easy to plan an extended trip that includes any combination of Culebra Creek, Trinchera Ranch, San Luis Creek and the Trophy Ponds. 

One of the Tow Boats ... er... 'Bows

Nice Pike

Fontenelle Creek - Prime Habitat and Lots of It

A Typical Inhabitant About To Be Released

Join Solitary Angling Club Now and Save $$’s – Offer Expires April 30th, 2010

Now you can purchase one of the few available SAC Annual Memberships for over 20% off the normal price.  There are only a few left so don’t wait! For prices and to request an application, contact me at 575-776-5585 or van@thesolitaryangler.com

Sincerely, Van Beacham

As a Solitary Angling Club member, you'll visit or call Tailwater Gallery & Flyshop in Taos at 575-758-5653 or 1-866-502-1700 to reserve your own private water on Culebra Creek, Cimarron River Holy Water, Trophy Lakes, Trinchera Ranch, and San Luis Creek. We are located at 204 B Paseo del Pueblo Norte, one block north of the Plaza (right across from Kit Carson Park) in Taos, New Mexico. 

Please drop in next time you're in town.  Open 9 to 5 seven days.