It's Springtime in the Rockies 2020! A New Year & A New Fishing Season!!! @SWCO

LATEST SACRED WATERS CO BLOG POST - EXCITING NEW PROGRAMS, EVENTS, DONOR INFORMATION AND OF COURSE COVID-19 CONCERNS.
Conservation Advocacy Rehabilitation Education 

Howdy All,

Spring has Sprung here in SW CO and COVID-19 sprung up here too. What's going to happen? What's in the future for the Pagosa Springs Area? When is SWCO going to start Guiding Trips? Well I do Not know any of these answers... But, what I can tell you now is Sacred Waters CO is still here and Thank you, for making this all possible, always understanding and supporting the Sacred Waters CO Mission we could not do this without you.

We are excited as we can be about going into our 4th year/season here for Sacred Water CO. Inc. & Charity Foundation. We have survived these last 3 years of late & unplanned start-up, droughts, floods, a few other hiccups along the way and now the start of our 4th year a pandemic, quarantines, economic uncertainties, etc. with the COVID-19 (corona virus) outbreak. We've been through Hell & High Water and everything in between and we're still here. We’ve done this all too with 100% Donor Financing by generous people like you and are only growing let’s keep it that way…… We're in the business of making Memories & Mission Goals not money! But that being said money is a necessary evil in this day & age. For example it costs us a minimum of about $6000.00 (in government red tape of permits, licenses, bonds, insurances, & communication expenses) just to legally operate annually most of all of these bills due between Jan.- April which is still a good month to two months before the peak fishing/guiding season ramps up. We are paid-up, legal, and ready but we need YOU to keep us going well into the future. We understand in these crazy chaotic times of uncertainties that you may be just as confused or worried as we are but for sure certainty is we have and can do great things for our environment, our veterans, our kids, and for you & yours'. And a Huge Thank You, Past, Present, & Future Donors.  

We hope you all receive and read our Email Newsletters, Blog Posts, &/or can check out our social media pages on Facebook & Instagram to see what’s going on at Sacred Waters CO daily. But if you hadn’t, we are really expanding our Free Youth Programs & Events through the “off-season” AKA: Late Autumn, Winter, Early Spring. We have had (4) very successful and ridiculously fun Fly Tying classes, a fly casting class, and (2) full days of Guided Ice fishing clinics & BBQ’s with the Jr. High Kids from the Ignacio/Southern Ute Afterschool program, with many more classes, events, and trips schedule from now through May 2020. All on the SWCO Calendar on the websites, on our social media pages as well as in our last newsletters, and blog posts. As of present unfortunately all large group events & SOCOCAA Youth Events are Postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and safety precautions. I had been in contact with the teachers about our free youth events schedule and at present 3/21-22 camping/fly-fishing trip has been cancelled, with 4/15 Fly tying class and 4/18 guided fly-fishing field trip on a TBD status for the moment. Our ultimate Goal by 2020-2021 School year would be for us to have these programs, classes, and events in every school district here locally (Ignacio, Bayfield, Durango, Pagosa Springs, & Dulce) we can only do this with you and other donors selfless support. With new classes/events being planned with a Pagosa Girl Scout Troop in the works just this month but yeah too delayed due to our current situation with COVID-19. I’m not going to write a detailed breakdown every Mission Goal accomplishment in the last 4 years because that’d be an even longer read but as always you can find tons of information on our websites and social media pages.

Southern Ute/Ignacio Jr. High SoCoCaa Events Schedule for 2020.
January 2020
1/18/20 – Ice fishing Field Trip
1/22/20- Fly-Tying Class
February 2020
2/8/20- Ice Fishing Day Trip
2/19/20- Fly-Tying Class.
March 2020 – TBD
3/21/20-3/22/20- Overnight- XC ski trips, Chaco Canyon tour, &/or Fly Fishing Trips- CANCELLED!

All TBD at present due to COVID-19 safety precautions.
April 2020
4/15/20- Knots/Rigging & Fly tying
4/18/20- Fly Fishing Day Trip- Location TBD on Water & weather Conditions
May 2020
5/2/20- Whitewater Rafting- Location- San Juan River Pagosa Springs, CO.

Pagosa Springs Girl Scouts Troop:
Scheduling delayed due to current COVID-19 concerns.

Veterans Groups/Events:
PHWFF of DFW- To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties.
PHWFF of Ft. Hood- To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties.
Patriot Anglers of N. TX & S. OK - To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties.
Dark Horse Marines- To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties.

Important Donor Info:  2019 Donor Members you should have received your Donation receipt from 2019 Season for your possible tax-deductions via USPS Mail in January 2020.  If not our if another copy is needed please feel free to contact me joe@sacredwaters.co , (970)731-1443 and I can mail out another or email you a copy.

Those of you who Donated to SWCO via Facebook Donate Button or through any of our Facebook Fundraisers we do not have access to that data from Facebook as those donations are listed as anonymous donation. To get your Donation receipt from Facebook for possible Tax-Deductions Log-in to your Facebook Account and follow these instructions below.

1. Click the arrow in the top right of Facebook and select Settings.
2. Click Payments in the left column.
3. Click a payment to view and print your receipt.

Donor Gifts: Most all Donor Gift Packs had been mailed out and most of you should have received your gift pack by now. If you had not please contact me and I can track the shipment.

Fishing, Water, Weather Report:  Ice out and the start of the Spring/2020 open water fishing season for the most part in the last few weeks. We went from Winter to Spring like overnight and a little early with most everything icing out in about a week or so period of time. At present we have got some bump ups of flows here & there lately with some rain and snow and daily warm up & nightly cooldowns. Those of you that may take advantage of some fishing opportunities or the trend of #socialdistancing here locally at present or throughout pre-runoff season here’s what’s going on currently and what to expect throughout the Spring months. We do have some Baetis/Blue-winged Olive Mayflies hatching when conditions are right for them to hatch and of course at this time of year the nymphs are always more active and available to the fishes. Of course, there’s always midge activity daily. Egg patterns starting to pick back up due to pre-spawn & start of spawning of rainbows, cutt-bows, and cutthroats egg patterns have been producing better daily and will continue to as the fishes will get used to eating eggs and looking for them now.  Best fly patterns for myself and the other PA’s have been Baetis/BWO type nymphs #16-22, #14-18 egg patterns, #10-14 stonefly type nymphs are producing as well as midge larva & pupa patterns. All dependent on water conditions of course on the colder, lower, clearer water days all the smaller sized fly patterns mentioned above are best but a bump in flow & added color from rain, a warm-up, snowmelt up sizing those flies, darker colored, flashier variations will produce better than smaller more natural patterns and now too streamer fishing is getting better. We’re starting to see a pickup of activity on larger stonefly nymphs #2-8 producing better, as real live stonefly nymphs are getting closer to maturity with Early Blackstone/Needle flies hatching, then Skwalas any day, early brown stones, and finally Salmon Flies. And with boost in flows and/or added turbidity worm patterns can be extremely productive at these times too. 

Most all moving waters are free of ice now and some lakes are opening up in areas (inlets, outlets, springs, highly sun exposed, low elevation). Most days lately we have fairly average flows and good color in the streams but on a few of the rainier &/or warmer days we are getting full-on blown out especially lower down the river systems. Just normal Spring fishing conditions…...

The weather on the other hand is much more unpredictable, nothing too strange about this simply Springtime in the Rockies. We’ve definitely seen a lot of far from average, nothing of normal weather & water issues especially in the past 5 years. One trend that seems to be continuing, showing a pattern and becoming the norm has been the majority of our yearly snowfall arriving later in the Winter or early Spring with at least ½ or more of our total snowpack falling from March through May. So, on an optimistic note as this is looking to be the trend this year too we may see closer to average or hopefully above average snowpack/water for those who may have been concerned of low snowpack reports.

Weather Forecasts/Outlook: Click Links 
 Present week's forecast
8-14 Day Extended Weather Outlook​​


What is Sacred Waters CO? Sacred Waters CO is comprised of two non-profit organizations. Sacred Waters CO Inc. is a 501©7 Fly-fishing Conservation Social Club and Sacred Waters CO Foundation Inc. is a 501©3 Charity Foundation.

SWCO Paying Back…...Giving back to Disabled US Military War Veterans that have sacrificed so much for All of us. Helping our local environment, fisheries, & their fishes that bring us so much enjoyment, a clean healthy place to live, and sustainable careers.

SWCO Paying it Forward…... Not only helping our local environment, fisheries, & their fishes that bring us so much enjoyment, also a clean healthy place to live & hobby, and sustainable rewarding careers. But for Future Generations.

But, What about the Children? Paying it forward for future generations of anglers, but also future conservationist, environmentalist, and to grow up with a healthy lifestyle in the great outdoors. And hopefully to keep passing on & protecting our outdoor traditions & heritage to their children, grandchildren and beyond …

How do we accomplish these goals?
1.) Through our selfless generous Donors Donations. We are in our 4th year now and have been 100% Donor Financed since day #1. Even through one of the worst droughts in recorded history in 2018 to one of the biggest snowpack/water years in over a decade in 2019 we not only survived but preserved, protect &/or enhanced 100+ miles of streams & lakes. Provided memorable therapeutic educational outdoor experiences with Sacred Waters CO. 
300+ local & visiting anglers have enjoyed what we have to offer here at SWCO in the past 3 years we have served around 150+ adult male anglers & 50+ female anglers and these 200+ men & women had financed our budget to proudly serve 70+ children 2yr old-17 year old, and 30+ men & women US Armed Forces Disabled Combat War Veterans for Free. Not only in free guided fishing trips, but fly-tying classes, free gifts &/or fishing/fly-tying gear for them all, and the budget to lease 12+mls of private waters, afford all proper permitting, licenses, bonds, insurance, and all other general operating costs.
We are in the business making memories & mission goals not making money…...
2.)  Conservation- We strive to preserve, protect, and enhance our local waterways and environment not only because it provides us with enjoyable quality fishing experiences and some of us very rewarding careers. But because we all only have one Earth and we all must live here don’t we all want to live and raise our children in a healthy environment.
3.) Advocacy- We advocate for our area fauna, flora, & water with local, state, and federal agencies for better regulations and protections for our local ecosystem. As well as advocating for education of area anglers, outfitters, & outdoor enthusiast to hold the highest standards of outdoor ethics & morals.
4.) Rehabilitation- We do as much as possible to rehabilitate the damages done to our area be it natural causes or man-made. Doing conservation & rehab work by cleaning up litter, planting trees & native grasses, stocking the proper fishes the proper ways, stream-habitat improvements, etc.… But to rehabilitate ourselves as well as many other who may suffer &/or struggle be it socioeconomically, disabilities, trauma, abuses, addictions, etc. through outdoor therapy.
5.) Education- teaching the general public, our donors, local youth, veterans not only top-notch fishing skills & techniques through our Charity Events, Classes, & Clinics and professionally Guided trips. Which in-turn provides not only survival skills, but an entire skill set on which to catch many fish if not many trophy sized fish providing fun, therapeutic qualities, and much much more… But too we believe those who enjoy the outdoors and fishing will have a passionate desire to protect what they love now & well into the future.

How to get involved &/or donate. –
New or Renewing Donor Fishing Memberships:  ​Interested in #flyfishing #sacredwatersco or #fishing 🎣 in the #pagosasprings area all while Helping the Environment, Disabled Peoples, US Combat #veterans and local #youth. Check out Sacred Waters CO, Inc. & Sacred Waters CO Charity Foundation. Donate, Join, receive Tax-Deductions, Free Gifts, and/Guided Fly-Fishing Trips on awesome waters with some of the best, most ethical experienced Professional Anglers as your guides.

Donation amounts for 2017 Charter Donors are set for Life at the discounted rate if renewed annually as shown in your emails & member agreements/contracts packets.

2017 Charter Donors that have not renewed annually will not get the 2017 discounts in the future.

For New/1st Time 2018, 2019, &/or 2020 Donors/Members their rate will be set for 3 years at discounted rates listed below. It is to your benefit to renew annually if we ever must raise the rates in the future.
Thank You past & present Donors & Donor Fishing Members for making this all possible for the last 3 years…

Early Bird- Discounted Rates for 2020: (if paid by July 1st, 2020, will go back up to original rates on July 2nd, 2020.)
Pre-season/Early Bird Rates for New Donor Levels for 2020:
Bronze Level #1: (Private Waters/Lands & Floats) Was $150.00. Now Only: $100.00 tax-deductible donation once annually to SWCO Foundation, Applicable Guide Fees Apply and less (-) $25.00 on total Guide Fee on Bronze Level Donor Trips for all your trips in 2020 up to December 31st of 2020.
*(An Additional Discount -20% Off All Bronze Level Fees for Active Duty & Honorably Discharged US Military Members & Veterans with Military I.D. &/or DD-214 form.) *
Bronze Level #2: (Public Waters/Lands): Any donation amount of $25.00 or more tax-deductible donation once annually to SWCO Foundation and standard fair market Guide Trip fees per day/trip.
*(An Additional Discount -15% Off All Bronze Level #2 Fees for Active Duty & Honorably Discharged US Military Members & Veterans with Military I.D. &/or DD-214 form.) *
Silver Level: Was $3500.00. Now Only: $3400.00, Less (-) $25.00 off for Guest Guide Fees for all trips in 2020. $2040.00 tax-deductible donation to SWCO Charity Foundation and $1360.00 Private Conservation Fly-fishing Club Membership fee to SWCO, Inc.
Gold Level: Was $5500.00. Now Only: $5200.00, Less (-) $25.00 off for Guest/s Guide Fees per person per trip for all Trips in 2020.  $3120.00 tax-deductible donation to SWCO Charity Foundation and $2080.00 Private Conservation Fly-fishing Club Membership fee to SWCO, Inc.
Platinum/Corporate Level: Was $10,000.00. Now Only: $9500.00. Less (-) $25.00 off for Guest/s Guide Fees per person per trip for all of 2020. $5700.00 tax-deductible donation to SWCO Charity Foundation and $3800.00 Private Conservation Fly-fishing Club Membership fee to SWCO, Inc.

*(An Additional Discount -10% Off All Silver, Gold, & Platinum Level Fees for Active Duty & Honorably Discharged US Military Members & Veterans with Military I.D. &/or DD-214 form.) *

For more Details or to become a Donor Fishing Member please review SWCO Donor Contract, Rules, Regulations, and Procedures Booklet by visiting our Join Us / Donate Pages or www.sacredwaters.co .

*Please keep in mind if you do donate at the early/preseason Discounted Rate in 2020 this will also be your membership renewal level for up to 3 years if you consecutively renewed annually. *

(*After July 1st of 2020 all Donor Member Level Packages will go back up to Original Pricing, Guest/s Fees will also return to original pricing, and all level prices are subject to increase as we expand through the future. *)

Please​ review the FB & IG Social Media Pages and our Websites. I hope it can help show you all more easily and clearly the Efforts and Accomplishments SWCO has put forth with you and other donors’ generous donations. These Social Media Pages are updated with the most up to date need to information almost daily.

Donate Today and help us protect our local fisheries and provide the healing benefits of outdoor therapy to as many people as possible. We can't really predict or control/change the weather, but we can provide the best fishing at the best times and protect our waters and fishes at the worst times. We can only accomplish this with your generous donations. 

Thank You, Tight Lines;

Joseph Eichelberger   

Founder, President of Sacred Waters Co
Professional Angler, Custom Fly Tyer/Designer
Freelance Outdoors Writer, Photographer, & Fisheries Consultant 


​We want to hear from you. Email us at admin@sacredwaters.co​
or give us a call (970)444-2187 or (970)731-1443
and we’ll be in touch! Thank you for your interests & support of SWCO.

(* Sacred Waters CO, Inc. and Sacred Waters CO Foundation are Equal Opportunity Employers and Service Providers working through Special Use Permits from USDA San Juan National Forest Pagosa District and the State of Colorado. Licensed/Permitted, Bonded & Insured Outfitter in Colorado #OUT.0003217 * ) ​

LET'S BE BUDDIES