About Pagosa Troutfitters
A small guide service by design.
Pagosa Troutfitters is Max Stratton, the water around Pagosa Springs, and a simple idea: fishing should feel personal.
Max guided several seasons in Colorado’s Vail Valley before moving to Pagosa Springs more than a decade ago. Today he guides four-hour walk-and-wade trips on the San Juan River through town and private water south of Pagosa Springs.
The day follows the angler.
No fixed script. No pressure to perform. Max meets each angler where they are. First cast, family day, or better technique.
Trips are limited to three anglers per guide. That means more instruction, more room, and an unhurried day on the water. Rods, waders, and boots are included.
Fish like you live here.
Catch your first trout. Sharpen your cast. Spend a quiet morning on private water. Leave knowing the river a little better, and already thinking about the next trip.
Local knowledge for visiting anglers
Choosing a guide is easier when you know the water, the trip style, and what your group needs from the day. These resources explain how Pagosa Troutfitters thinks about local trips.
San Juan River
Easy-access water right through town. Ideal for first casts and short half days.
Private water
Quieter stretches with room to fish. Better when solitude is the priority.
Beginners & families
First casts, kids on the water, and which half day fits a mixed group.
When to fish
Spring runoff, summer with families, quieter fall, and when to book.