Spring Rainbows on Colorado's Taylor River

When you hear tales of sight casting to 10+ pound trout, most fly fisherman dream of New Zealand’s fabled rivers, or perhaps of some remote, unfished Alaskan stream. Unfortunately, for most fishermen such grand excursions are a distant fantasy. What if I told you, however, that you needn’t spend a fortune nor bushwhack Alaska for miles to catch 30+ inch trout on light fly tackle? The catch and release section of Colorado’s Taylor River is easily accessible, and you’re odds of landing a whopper rainbow trout are far from fantasy... [View Article]

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May Fly of the Month - Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear

Ever hear of the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch?  In May, you'd better tie on a caddis, and this fly is a perfect match! ...[View Article]

Preparing for an Elk Hunt (Part 2) - "Pre-Scouting" Scouting

Elk hunting Rule #1: you cannot shoot an elk if you can’t find one. Unless the laws of physics have changed recently, we’re pretty certain you’ve got to locate one of these large critters before you shoot it. Here’s where your scouting pays off. The better idea you have of where to locate elk on your hunt, the better your chance of success. The average elk hunter, however, has at best limited time to get on the ground and physically... [View Article]

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 Preparing for an Elk Hunt (Part 1) – “Adjusting” Your Eating Habits

You’ve already applied for your elk license.  Now what do you do?  To answer that question, we’re starting this series, “Preparing for an Elk Hunt”, to give you lots of important information and suggestions about the many things you can and should do to get ready for your hunt.  We at American Sportsman Outfitters believe that luck favors the prepared, especially when elk hunting.  Follow our series of articles and tips and I guarantee you’ll have a much better chance of harvesting your elk in the fall... [View Article]

Backpacking Colorado's Wilderness

Colorado holds a little more than 3,390,635 square acres of designated wilderness area.  That designated wilderness is unpaved, untamed, and unbelievably beautiful.  Translation: Colorado is to a backpacker like cake is to a fat kid... [View Article]

Backpacking Articles/Video

Snowshoeing Colorado - A How-To Guide

As I sit down to write this article in my home in Colorado Springs, we’ve just received a coat of fresh snow like a thin white blanket.  It’s the beginning of March, and in the mountains here in Colorado’s Front Range, it’s a snowshoer’s paradise.  The sun shines on March afternoon days enough to sometimes snowshoe the white and green mountain trails in a swimsuit!  So if you haven’t yet tried one of Colorado’s most... [View Article]

Family and the Outdoors - "An Editorial"

For nearly a week, I’ve been pondering what to include in this article on family and the outdoors. As I reminisce to past adventures, I realize that I’ve spent a good deal of time doing outdoor activities over the course of my life, none of it more fun than fly fishing in the Rocky Mountain backcountry. I think of fond memories in the mountains, camping with an old girlfriend, and worrying nothing more than...[View Article]

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Top Ten Reasons to Get Outdoors with your Family

Many Americans have lost touch with their outdoor heritage.  It was a big part of the lives of our early settlers, and it should still be an important part of our lives today.  With all the fun there is to be had outdoors, we've got every reason to get off the couch and take our family with us.  Check out our top ten reasons you should get outdoors today ... [View Article]