Williams Fork
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges, PMD's, yellow sallies, Tricos, red quills, and caddis
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 Bead Head Breadcrust, #10 Pat's Rubber Legs, #16 Trigger Nymph, #18-20 Buckskin, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, #14 Stimulator, #18 Barr Eemerger, #16 Graphic Caddis, and #16-18 Sparkle Dun.
Measurements
Fly Fishing Conditions & 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:
Outflows below Williams Fork Reservoir are perfect right now. Currently, Willliams Fork Reservoir is at 93 percent capacity which is great news. Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of midges, PMD’s, Caddis, Trico, red quills, and yellow sallies. The mosquitoes are really bad so make sure you take plenty of Deep Woods Off and wear a buff, sun gloves, and wide brimmed hat. Revised 8/19/25