Williams Fork
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges, yellow sallies, caddisflies and pale morning duns.
Effective Patterns: #20-22 Jujubaetis, #20-22 Top Secret Baetis, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Micro San Juan Worm, #16 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Buckskin, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #24 Parachut Adams, #22 Pat's MIdge, and #18-20 Sparkle Dun.
Measurements
Fly Fishing Tips from Pat Dorsey for the Williams Fork River
The Williams Fork River is a top-notch fishery of its own. This beautiful fishery is nestled between the Williams Peaks and Middle Park and is truly a fly-fishing paradise. The two-mile stretch between the upper boundary of the Kemp Unit and the confluence of the Colorado River is a mixture or riffles, runs, and pocket water with one of the best populations of brown trout in the “west”. A 30-minute hike to the river keeps the crowds to a minimum. Anglers can catch trout with a variety of methods including nymphs, streamers, and dry flies. The hatches include caddis, blue-winged olives, midges, Tricos, and red quills. Being a tributary of the Colorado River-spring and fall-spawn runs bring some “lunkers” into the stream. Ideal flows for the “Fork” are between 100 and 250 cfs. The regulations are flies and lures only and all fish must be returned to the water immediately.
The Williams Fork is one of the prettiest places on the planet. This Williams Fork is proof that trout don't live in ugly places.
Tips & Other Information:
Denver Water reduced outflows below Williams Fork Reservoir to 188 cfs and increade outflows on the Blue River to 800 cfs to meet downstream demand. Conditions are now perfect on the “Willies Fork” which makes this a good option if you can tolerate the bugs. Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of yellow sallies, caddisflies and pale morning duns. Anglers are catching a decent number of medium sized brown trout. Williams Fork Reservoir is at 52% capacity so this is bump in flows is a bit concerning. Granby Reservoir is very too low, which is also prombematic. Don’t forget your long sleeved shirts, a buff and sun gloves and a can of Deep Woods off! Revised 7/9/26