Colorado River
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges and sporadic blue-winged olives
Effective Patterns: #10 Pine Squirrel Leech, Pat's Rubber Legs, #6-8 Bitch Creek, #6-8 Halfback Nymph, #6-8 Kaufmann Stone, #14 Pink San Juan Worm, #10 Chamois Leech, #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18-20 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Jujubaetis, #20-22 Top Secret Baetis, #18-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Micro Egg, #20 Mercury Midge, #20 Miracle Nymph, #16-20 Buckskin, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22-24 Medallion Midge, #22-24 Top Secret Midge, #24 Parachute Adams, #20-22 Pat's Midge, #22-24 Mole Midge, and #22 Griffith Gnat.
Measurements
Stream Report, Effective Patterns, & Expert Information for Fly Fishing the Colorado River
The Colorado River begins its journey in Rocky Mountain National Park and heads west offering anglers several opportunities to sample this great stream. Near the small community of Granby is the confluence of the Fraser River. At this point the river is a meandering, meadow stream flowing through lush ranchland and the river remains this way until it hit Byers Canyon. Byers Canyon is only about 3/4 mile long and this section is tough to negotiate, especially during higher flows. Below Byers Canyon the river is “as good as it gets” with many access points including Paul Gilbert, Lone Buck, Kemp-Breeze, Sun Set Ranch, Powers Unit, Reeder Creek and the Pump House to Radium stretch. The Colorado is lined with cottonwood trees and willows and is a dry fly paradise. Anglers can expect to catch a mixed bag of both browns and rainbows. The regulations in this area are flies and lures only and all fish must be returned to the water immediately.
Fishing the Colorado River should be on everyone's bucket list. Whether you're a walk/wade fisherman or prefer float-fishing, this river has something for everyone!
Tips & Other Information:
The Colorado River below the confluence of the Williams Fork is a good option right now. Egg-midge combos are an effective strategy as of late in the mileage below the confluence. Dry fly enthusiasts can find a few rising fish in the Parshall Hole is their hearts so desire to fool some surface feeders. The lower river is also fishing okaygood with egg-midge combos. Don’t be afraid to lead off with a stonefly pattern either, it’s a great attractor this time of year. We’re only a few weeks away from the Salmon Fly hatch. The lower river is starting to get rise however. Warm weather trends are effecting the clarity so be prepared for the start of spring run-off and change your tactics as needed. Revised 4/23/24