Hog Heaven on the Taylor River with John Evon

Episode 178 of the Destination Angler Fly Fishing Podcast – Aug 27, 2026. 

Our destination is Colorado's Gunnison Valley and the Taylor River to crack the code on one of the West's great technical tailwaters. Known for large trout this Gold Medal tailwater is a graduate school for the advanced fly angler where light tippets, long leaders and perfect drifts are a must.  And if you get it right, the rewards can be a legit shot at the trout of a lifetime. 

Joining me is head guide and fly shop manager, John Evon, Taylor River Anglers in Almont, Colorado.  John gives us the low down on the Taylor from top to bottom and along the way, we hit the famous hog trough and hear stories about epic hatches, banner 50 fish days, and a broken reel, an abandoned rod, and one very big rainbow. 

In this episode:

•       Why the Taylor River is considered graduate school for fly anglers
•       The legendary Hog Trough—and the monsters that live there
• ·        A 40¼-inch Colorado record rainbow from a river barely 50 feet across
• ·        Fishing the Taylor with light tippet, long leaders, and perfect drifts
• ·        Exploring the Upper Taylor, pocket water, undercut banks, and high-country trout
• ·        Big summer caddis hatches and terrestrial fishing
• ·        Where to find miles of public access away from the crowds
• ·        How a nine-year-old caught roughly 50 trout in three hours—then got tired and quit
• ·        The bizarre story of a broken reel, an abandoned rod, and one very big rainbow
• ·        Why experienced anglers sometimes get humbled on the Taylor
• ·        John's unlikely journey from a Chicago office job to Colorado fishing guide
• ·        What John has learned about teaching beginners on one of Colorado's most technical trout streams
• ·        And why the Taylor River's combination of big trout, technical fishing, and spectacular mountain country keeps anglers coming back

With host Steve Haigh | Destination Angler Podcast — THE podcast for anglers who travel.

Connect with John Evon:  @harmelsonthetaylor and @taylorriveranglers | https://www.harmels.com/fly-fishing

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Comments & Suggestions:  host, Steve Haigh, email shaigh@DestinationAnglerPodcast.com

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Recorded Aug 6, 2026