The Blue Quill Angler
The Blue Quill Angler is a privately held Colorado fly fishing guide service and retail fly shop founded in 1988 in Evergreen, offering guided trips, classes, destination travel, and premium gear retail to recreational anglers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersEvergreen, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Blue Quill Angler does
The Blue Quill Angler is a privately held fly fishing guide service and retail fly shop founded in 1988 and headquartered at 1532 Bergen Parkway in Evergreen, Colorado, serving recreational fly anglers on the Denver front range and beyond. Its core service is expert-guided fishing — walk/wade trips and float trips on public and private Colorado waters — staffed by a team of 25+ professional guides led by co-owner Pat Dorsey, a published author on Colorado fly fishing. The company also operates a multi-instructor fly fishing school offering tiered paid classes (Introduction to Fly Fishing at $325, European Nymphing Clinics at $525–$625, Spring Clinics, Kids Classes, and Intro to Fly Tying) and free Saturday Orvis 101 seminars from June through September.
Revenue is generated across five streams: professional guiding fees ($500–$875 per trip), retail fly shop sales (flies, tying materials, rods, reels, lines, waders, footwear, apparel, and accessories from Orvis, Sage, Simms, Patagonia, Hatch, Ross, Abel and other premium brands), paid classes, all-inclusive international destination travel packages (Patagonia, Belize, Chile, Alaska, San Juan River, and Mexico), and a tiered QuillPoints loyalty program (Bronze/Silver/Gold with 5–10% back and referral bonuses). The business combines a physical storefront with a Shopify-powered e-commerce site shipping within the U.S., supported by educational content marketing including weekly river reports and a blog. Distribution is direct-to-consumer, supplemented by corporate outing bookings.
Underlying technology is minimal and conventional: standard Shopify e-commerce, a Judge.me review integration displaying 455+ customer reviews, and a QuillPoints loyalty platform. The most strategically significant asset stack is the company's Licensed River Outfitter permit (#552), BLM floating permits for the Upper Colorado River (Pumphouse to State Bridge), and the brand authority of its head guide as a published author — collectively creating durable barriers to entry for competing Colorado front range fly shops.
The Blue Quill Angler firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Blue Quill Angler
- Legal name
- The Blue Quill Angler
- Website
- https://bluequillangler.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Blue Quill Angler is a privately held Colorado fly fishing guide service and retail fly shop founded in 1988 in Evergreen, offering guided trips, classes, destination travel, and premium gear retail to recreational anglers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Blue Quill Angler industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fly Fishing Guide Services
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fly Fishing Specialty Retail (CRAMALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fishing Charters & Angling Experiences (Deep Sea, Sportfishing, Fly Fishing) (THAJAJAC), Lures, Flies & Terminal Tackle Specialty Retail (CRAMALAJ), Fishing & Angling Charters / Guides (THAAALAD)
Keywords
Where The Blue Quill Angler is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Evergreen
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Blue Quill Angler business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Guided Fly Fishing Trips: The company offers guided walk/wade trips and float trips on public and private waters in Colorado. Walk/wade trips range from $500-$850 depending on duration and group size. Float trips are priced at $825-$875. Additional rod fees apply for private water destinations. The company is a Licensed River Outfitter with permits allowing access to rivers others cannot guide.
- Fly Shop Retail: Full retail operation selling flies, fly tying materials, rods, reels, lines, waders, footwear, apparel, packs, bags, nets, terminal tackle, tools, eyewear, and accessories from major brands including Orvis, Sage, Simms, Patagonia, Hatch, Ross, Abel, Umpqua, and Rio Products.
- Education and Classes: The company offers multiple class formats including Introduction to Fly Fishing ($325), European Nymphing Clinics ($525-$625), Spring Clinics with Bob Dye ($275), Kids Fly Fishing Classes ($175), Intro to Fly Tying ($125), and free Saturday Orvis 101 Classes. Classes include gear provision and are limited to small group sizes for personalized attention.
- Destination Travel: International fly fishing travel packages to destinations including Patagonia, Belize, Chile, San Juan River (NM), and Alaska. These all-inclusive trips handle food, lodging, travel, and beverages, allowing customers to focus on fishing. The company takes care of all logistics.
- Loyalty/Rewards Program: Blue Quill Angler Rewards Program allows customers to earn QuillPoints on purchases. Bronze tier earns 1 point per $1 (5% back), Silver tier ($500-$999 spend) earns one-time 500 bonus points, and Gold tier ($1000+) earns 2 points per $1 (10% back). Additional bonus points available for referrals, social media follows, and birthday rewards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Walk/Wade Trips - Full Day |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Walk/Wade Trips - Half Day |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Water Trips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Float Trips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Introduction to Fly Fishing Class |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | European Nymphing Clinic (Group) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | European Nymphing Clinic (Private) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Spring Clinic with Bob Dye |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids Fly Fishing Class |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Intro to Fly Tying Class |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Saturday Orvis 101 Class |
| Other | Monthly | Bronze Tier - Loyalty Program |
| Other | Monthly | Silver Tier - Loyalty Program |
| Other | Monthly | Gold Tier - Loyalty Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Blue Quill Angler product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Blue Quill Angler is a fly fishing guide service and retail fly shop operating since 1988 in Evergreen, Colorado. The company provides guided walk/wade and float fishing trips on public and private Colorado waters, structured fly fishing classes for all skill levels, all-inclusive international destination travel packages, and a comprehensive retail e-commerce operation selling flies, rods, reels, waders, apparel, and accessories from over 20 premium brands.
Product overview
The Blue Quill Angler is a fly fishing guide service and retail fly shop operating since 1988 in Evergreen, Colorado. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio combining guided fishing services with an extensive retail e-commerce operation. Guide services include guided walk/wade trips, float trips, private water access, fly fishing classes, and international destination travel. Retail offerings span flies, fly tying materials, rods and reels, terminal tackle, waders, footwear, apparel, packs, tools, and accessories from over 20 major outdoor brands. The business operates through a Shopify-powered e-commerce platform with a loyalty rewards program (QuillPoints), river condition reporting services, and corporate outing packages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Guided Walk/Wade Fly Fishing Trips
Quantifiable outcome
- 455+ verified customer reviews
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Blue Quill Angler
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Blue Quill Angler technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Blue Quill Angler partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Blue Quill Angler competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AvidMax: Online-first fly fishing retailer offering flies, rods, reels, apparel, and accessories from many of the same premium brands carried by Blue Quill. Closest pure e-commerce peer in the fly fishing retail category.
- Anglers All: Denver/Boulder-area fly fishing outfitter providing guided trips, retail gear, classes, and travel services. Directly comparable multi-revenue-stream model serving Colorado front range anglers.
- Yellowstone Angler: Montana-based fly fishing outfitter and retail shop offering guided trips on the Yellowstone region rivers and retail gear sales. Comparable regional guide-plus-retail business model.
- Trout's Fly Fishing: Long-established Denver/Colorado fly shop offering guided trips, retail gear, and classes in the same Front Range market as Blue Quill Angler. Most direct local competitor with overlapping customer base and guide services.
- Grizzly Hackle Fly Fishing: Missoula, Montana fly shop and guide service offering guided trips, retail gear, classes, and travel. Similar multi-revenue specialty fly fishing business model in a different regional market.
- Tailwaters Fly Co: Texas-based fly fishing retailer and guide service with both brick-and-mortar presence and online store. Directly comparable omnichannel specialty fly fishing retailer with guided trip offerings.
- The Fly Shop: Iconic Redding, California fly shop combining retail, guide services, and international destination travel. Closely mirrors Blue Quill's combination of physical retail, guided trips, classes, and destination packages.
Broad incumbents
- Orvis: The largest U.S. fly fishing brand operating its own retail stores, guide/endorsed outfitter program, destination travel, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Both a major brand Blue Quill retails and a broad incumbent that overlaps in retail, guides, and travel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Blue Quill Angler social profiles
Digital presenceThe Blue Quill Angler financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Blue Quill Angler leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Blue Quill Angler funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Blue Quill Angler M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Blue Quill Angler
What does The Blue Quill Angler do?
The Blue Quill Angler is a fly fishing guide service and retail fly shop operating since 1988 in Evergreen, Colorado. The company provides guided walk/wade and float fishing trips on public and private Colorado waters, structured fly fishing classes for all skill levels, all-inclusive international destination travel packages, and a comprehensive retail e-commerce operation selling flies, rods, reels, waders, apparel, and accessories from over 20 premium brands.
Is The Blue Quill Angler a public or private company?
The Blue Quill Angler is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Blue Quill Angler founded?
The Blue Quill Angler was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Blue Quill Angler based?
The Blue Quill Angler is headquartered in Evergreen, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Blue Quill Angler make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Guided Fly Fishing Trips are the primary driver. The others are fly Shop Retail, education and Classes, destination Travel and loyalty/Rewards Program.
Who are The Blue Quill Angler's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AvidMax, Anglers All, Yellowstone Angler, Trout's Fly Fishing, Grizzly Hackle Fly Fishing, Tailwaters Fly Co and The Fly Shop. Orvis is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Blue Quill Angler have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Blue Quill Angler.
What industry is The Blue Quill Angler in?
The Blue Quill Angler's product category is Fly Fishing Guide Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMALAD, Fly Fishing Specialty Retail, with a secondary code of THAJAJAC, Fishing Charters & Angling Experiences (Deep Sea, Sportfishing, Fly Fishing). Its SIC code is 7990.