Legacy to Lifestyle: Jeff McKenna on Guiding, Family, and Fly Fishing in Colorado

With: jeffmckenna29flyfishing

We caught up with Jeff McKenna, the heart and soul behind Colorado West Slope Fly Fishing, between spring storms and early hatches. Jeff’s one of those guys who lives and breathes the river — the kind of guide who’ll row you into fish, pour you a hot cup of coffee riverside, and share stories that'll stick with you longer than any grip-n-grin photo. In our chat, he opened up about his journey from fishing with his dad and grandpa to building a thriving outfitting business with his wife Rebecca. It’s a story rooted in family, passion, and the pursuit of something deeper than fish

Jeff, how did you first get into fly fishing, and what was it about the sport that drew you in?

I had a passion for fishing from an early age. Spurred on by my dad and grandpa, my formative years on the water were educational and memorable. Coming from the conventional world of fishing, my Dad thought I was trying to make my life harder by fly fishing, but he finally gave in and gave me the opportunity to own my own fly rod - and nothing has been the same since. I was hooked (pun intended)!

You started Colorado West Slope Fly Fishing—what inspired you to create the business, and what has the journey been like so far?

Honestly, my Dad, John Reid McKenna, suddenly passed away in 2012. He left us way too early but influenced me so much in my pursuit of fly fishing so I wanted to continue on with the passion of fishing and make it my journey to allow him to look down on me and see that fishing still lives on even when he is gone. I hope that what I do makes him smile as I know it makes me 100% happy to do what I'm doing to follow my passion of fishing and be on the water most days. My wife and I wanted to create a positive environment where people come to us and leave with that grin or that desire to always return to the water with the amazing things it can provide. We founded CWSFF in 2022 and it has been an amazing journey so far. My office window is awesome and I truly feel blessed to have this opportunity/career to support my family and feed my passion. Not only do I feel like I have a great job but in it and through it I get to share it with others over and over again and watch clients grow in this amazing sport!

The journey wouldn't be possible without my wonderful, supporting, and hardworking wife, Rebecca McKenna, who handles a lot of booking calls, permitting, other legalities of running an outfitting business in Colorado. We have seen growth in day-to-day operations and hope that continues throughout the years to come. We also desire that our outfit can support our local guides as much as possible while creating positive experiences, respecting our environmental surroundings, and instilling in our future generations the value of being good stewards.

As a fly fishing guide, what are your top three tips for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps and become a guide themselves?

Get out there on the water and practice casting. Become super familiar with your local waters, be hands-on, and always be open to checking out new water, even if that means going outside your comfort zone. There are all kinds of fish that can be caught on the fly rod and the journey is yours to share and explore.

Listen to others and take in as much information as possible and follow through with people that encourage you. If you really want to become a guide, you've got to invest in yourself and be willing to take that next step. Commit to a Guide School and become friends with a guide/outfitter and start to build a trustworthy relationship. Stay positive in all lights of life and this amazing sport that can take you to amazing places! Respect your local surroundings -- be that other humans, the environment, the water, and/or the fishing community.

PRACTICE, LISTEN, LEARN, RESPECT, ENCOURAGE, MAINTAIN POSITIVITY.

You juggle being a dad and a guide. How do you balance family life with your passion for fly fishing, and what advice would you give to other parents who want to make time for the sport?

Engage your family in what you do -- make it fun! You don't want to force fishing on them but always be willing to learn from them, or their ideas. You have to help your family develop the necessary skills and if possible, you need a supportive partner that will allow you time to do what you love. My season of guiding ebbs and flows so with time off, I definitely take advantage of being home and spending time with my sons and wife. At the end of a long day, connecting around the dinner table and being available to play a game of UNO, Texas Hold'Em, or Five Crowns together!

What’s next for you, Jeff? Any exciting projects or plans you’re working on for the future?

I just joined an outdoor recreation board to help grow our community. I hope to continue growing our local CWSFF business, create outreach opportunities for the upcoming/younger anglers, and help grow the sport through positive experiences on the water and beyond. Hosting travel and fishing opportunities around the globe is amazing -- from trips to South America and fly fishing Patagonia, Chile, to saltwater fishing on the Texas coast, and catching trout in the famous White River in Arkansas (Trout Capital USA), all while working to create a couple new places for hosted trips in the future. As my boys get older, I'm hoping to get them individually in the boat with some single anglers to start learning the process  -- that is a goal for the future and a legacy I want to give my sons.