Pushing Limits, Chasing Species: Riversmith at the 10th Annual 25 On the Fly

This year, Team Riversmith hit the road (and the water) to compete in the 10th Annual 25 On the Fly

—a one-of-a-kind fly fishing tournament hosted by our friends at Anglers All, in partnership with Flylords, Orvis, NRS, Costa, Fulling Mill, and Scientific Anglers. The Tournament benefits Denver Trout Unlimited in its efforts to preserve and maintain the urban South Platte River. As both a sponsor and competitor, we were stoked to represent and put our gear (and ourselves) to the test across the great state of Colorado. 

If you're not familiar with the tournament, the concept is wild: catch 25 different fish species over one weekend, all on the fly. Sound easy? Think again. It’s a race against the clock, the terrain, and your own fatigue. 

The Journey Begins... with a Breakdown 

We rolled out Friday evening with a loose plan sketched between work meetings. Mountain-bound and hopeful for a strong Saturday start. But just 45 minutes into the trip, our car began smoking. A quick roadside fix gave us hope, but that was short-lived. The engine locked up, smoked again, and we found ourselves calling for a tow back to the Front Range. Not exactly the momentum we envisioned. 

A vehicle swap and a few hours later, we were finally rolling again—sleep-deprived, but fired up. 

Day One: High Altitude, High Reward 

Running on less than 4 hours of sleep, we kicked off our first full day chasing coldwater species. With stops across high-elevation waters and plenty of windshield time (roughly 5–6 hours of driving), we landed: 

The action was fast, the pressure was on, and time management was key. Pro tip: in this tournament, the clock is your biggest competitor. You think you have all day, but between drive time and dialing in new water, every decision counts. Skip one stop, and you might be sacrificing a species. We were guilty of giving it just “10 more minutes” at a few spots. 

The highlights of the day were landing a northern pike and the ever elusive Tiger Musky. As the day was winding down and with only seconds left on the clock, John landed a Tiger Trout right at the buzzer.

We wrapped up Day One sitting in 3rd place—right in the mix and feeling the momentum. Species count isn’t the only metric in this competition. Points are weighted by how difficult each species is to catch, so a few challenging fish can score more than a pile of easy ones.  

Day Two: Warm Water Grind 

Sunday’s strategy? Warm water targets, on one of the hottest days in Colorado so far this year. With the summer sun scorching, we headed north in search of white bass and lucked into a buddy with a boat—an unexpected bonus. While the white bass eluded us, we managed to hook into: 

We also had shots at bass and even a late-breaking white sucker that popped off—classic tournament heartbreak. But hey, that’s part of the game. 

When the dust settled, Team Riversmith held strong in 3rd place overall—a finish we’re proud of, especially given the rough start and whirlwind pace. 

Gear That Carried Us 

The Riversmith products we relied heavily on: 

Final Thoughts 

If you’re looking for a way to challenge yourself as an angler and explore the diversity of Colorado’s fisheries, 25 On the Fly is it. It’ll push your skills, your planning, and your stamina. Sleep? Minimal. Stories and memories? Guaranteed. 

We’re honored to have sponsored and competed in this incredible event—and we’ll be back, no doubt.