For Orvis Endorsed Guide Pat Dorsey, fly fishing is a way of life. Pat’s enthusiasm for fly fishing is unmatched and his ability to share his knowledge with others is part of what makes Pat so unique. From the complexities of fooling large trout on tiny nymphs to dry fly fishing under the most challenging conditions, Pat loves to instruct and introduce anglers to the heart of the sport.
When fishing with Pat, his passion for fly fishing quickly becomes apparent. “Fly fishing is a problem-solving exercise—the more you know about our Western game fish, their environment, and the specific techniques required to catch them—the better angler you will become.”
Pat hooked and landed his first brown trout with his father, Jim Dorsey, on the East River near Gunnison over 35 years ago. Pat’s family made annual pilgrimages to the Gunnison country fishing on the Taylor, East and Gunnison rivers. Family vacations revolved around the adage ‘catch selective trout’, the driving passion behind the Dorsey family going back to Pat’s grandfather, John T. Dorsey.
A native of Colorado, Pat has been guiding for over 17 years. He spends around two hundred days a year on the water, enjoying a unique quality of life both personally and professionally. “I am blessed to be able to make a living as a fly fishing guide and I will never lose sight of how fortunate I am to really love my job.”
In addition, Pat is Guide Director and partner in the Blue Quill Angler fly shop. He oversees and trains more than thirty guides and helps to set the standard for integrity and professionalism in the Blue Quill guide operation. Pat, also, writes the Central Rocky mountain stream report that monitors stream flows on the Blue, Colorado, South Platte, North Fork of the South Platte, and Williams Fork rivers.
Pat is the Southwest Field Editor for Fly Fisherman Magazine. In 2005, Pat authored the book, “A Fly Fisher’s Guide to the South Platte River”, a complete how-to fly fishing manual for the entire South Platte River drainage. It encompasses a thorough look at each section of the river detailing the hatches and recommended fly patterns for each of the four seasons of the year.
Pat is an accomplished fly tier and has originated a number of very effective patterns such as the Mercury series, UV scud, Limeaid, Cherry-Limeaid, Top Secret Midge, Medallion Midge and the Black Beauty Midge. Although Pat no longer has the time to tie flies commercially, he once produced over 28,000 flies in a year. Many of his flies are produced by Umpqua Feather Merchants and are available at the Blue Quill Angler.
Another of Pat’s interests is photography. He produces many digital slide show presentations used in his speaking engagements at fishing clubs throughout the Central Rocky Mountain region. He is, as well, a Celebrity Speaker for the International Sportsman’s Exposition in Denver and is very active in Trout Unlimited and the conservation of cold-water fisheries.
Pat is the proud father of three wonderful boys, Forest, Zachary, and Hunter. They, like their dad, enjoy fly fishing. Pat’s wife, Kim, is an avid angler and often appears with Pat at trade shows and speaking engagements. Kim and Pat, also, host a yearly trip to Northern Lights Lodge in central British Columbia each September.
