Meet the Blue Quill Team
Barney Cohen
Fly Fishing Guide
Barney Cohen has been fishing Colorado waters since 1983 and brings more than 25 years of guiding experience to every day on the river. A longtime instructor as well as a guide, Barney enjoys helping anglers of every experience level learn, improve, and simply have a great time fishing.
About Barney
Barney's connection to fishing is straightforward: if it has fins and feeds, he wants to catch it. He began fishing the area in 1983 and, after retiring from his first career, turned a lifelong passion into part-time professional guiding.
Over more than 25 years as a guide, Barney has worked with anglers across a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. His experience has taught him that a successful day is not measured only by fish caught, but by what each guest learns and how much they enjoy the experience.
At The Blue Quill
Barney brings experience, patience, and enthusiasm to the Blue Quill guide team. Every trip is shaped around the guest in front of him, from first-time fly fishers learning the basics to experienced anglers looking to sharpen techniques and make the most of a day on the water.
His goal is simple: understand what each client hopes to get from the trip, help them reach those goals, and make sure the day remains relaxed, educational, and fun.
A Teacher on the Water
During his guiding career, Barney also served as an instructor for one of Orvis's national fly-fishing schools, teaching students ranging in age from 8 to 80. That teaching background continues to shape the way he guides today.
Barney enjoys explaining the why behind a technique, giving anglers practical ideas they can understand and use long after the guided day is over.
Built Around the Angler
No two clients arrive with exactly the same experience, expectations, or goals. Barney adjusts the pace, instruction, and focus of each trip accordingly, making the day as useful to a beginner as it is enjoyable for someone who has been fly fishing for years.
Experience, Enthusiasm & Fun
Barney may no longer teach formal Orvis fly-fishing classes, but he has never stopped sharing what he knows. His enthusiasm for the sport is contagious, and he is always happy to talk fishing, explain a technique, or help someone become a more confident angler. For Barney, a great guided trip combines learning, laughter, good company, and the chance to make a few memorable connections on the water.
Every trip is different because every angler is different. Barney's goal is to help each guest have fun,
learn something new, and leave the water a little more confident than when the day began.