Gabriel Colon

Gabriel J. Colon was born on November 12th, 1994 in Aurora, Colorado and was raised in a military family. Growing up, he spent his time on multiple wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu competition teams in-between his time working on a horse ranch as a ranch hand. During this time, Gabriel began fly fishing at an early age and has kept advancing his fly-fishing knowledge for the last 21 years.

After eleven years of military service, Gabriel is currently a sophomore in college pursuing a Wildlife Biology degree at CSU Pueblo, Colorado.

• Successfully completed 1,229 free-fall jumps.
• Pro-rated on 2 different canopy sizes (235 sq.ft. And 150 sq.ft.)
• U.S.P.A D-license
• Sergeant Audie Murphy Award
• Army Commendation Medal with C-Device
• Army Achievement Medal awarded 5 times.
• Army Good Conduct Medal awarded 3 times.
• National Defense Service Medal
• Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Parachutist Badge
• Expert Marksmanship Badge
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• Backcountry Hunters and Anglers - North Carolina chapter board member and social media manager.
• Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing - Volunteer and Participant.
• Quail Forever
• Pheasant Forever
• Ducks Unlimited
• North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA)
• American Kennel Club (AKC)
• National Shoot To Retrieve Association (NSTRA)
• United Kennel Club (UKC)

• 6+ years of dog training experience ranging from scent detection to bite-work development and scenario work. As well as sport dog development and advance obedience techniques.
• 4 years of Upland Bird Dog development and hunting techniques.
• 4 years of competitive bass angling
• 21 years of successful Fly Fishing experience throughout the United States to include: Colorado, Utah, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina and Virginia. Throughout these states I have successfully caught a multitude of different species utilizing different techniques.
• I am most familiar with areas and rivers such as: 11 Mile Canyon, Deckers, Spinney Mountain Reservoir, Pueblo Resevoir, Cheeseman Canyon, and The Arkansas River both below and above Pueblo Reservoir up to Salida. However, I have also had great success on bodies of water much further away like The Big Thompson, Rio Grande, The Blue River, The Animas River and the San Juan River.
• During this time period I have learned advanced fly-fishing techniques such as: euro-nymphing, indicator fishing, and dry fly fishing. I am consistently striving to learn different techniques within these areas in order to maximize success.
• I have been tying flies since I was 15 years old and I am confident in my abilities ranging from saltwater redfish, snook, tarpon and bonefish flies. As well as both well known trout flies as well as my own flies that I tie from nearly any size up to a size 24.
• I have an intermediate knowledge of rowing and have rowed for approximately 30 hours out in the rivers of North Carolina, and I plan to attend a more advanced rowing and boat fishing course this summer.
• I have taken a few casting courses and casting coaching courses (uncertified) through Project Healing Waters as well and feel very confident in assisting both new fly fisherman and women in their casting.