Williams Fork
14 Day Forecast: Look for sporadic hatches of caddis, yellow sallies, green drakes, and PMD's
Effective Patterns: #14 San Juan Worm, #12 Pat's Rubber Legs, #18 Buckskin, #18 Graphic Caddis, #16 Bead Head Breadcrust, #20 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #18 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18 Jujubaetis, #18 Top Secret Baetis, #20 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #16-20 Parachute Adams, #12-14 Yellow Stimulator, #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis, and #16 Matthew's Comparadun.
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 on the Williams Fork are low now as inflows have shrunk to 42 cfs. Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of yellow sallies, PMD’s, green drakes, and caddis. Make sure you wear a long sleeved shirt, Buff, sun gloves, etc. and take plenty of Deep Woods Off as the mosquitoes are really, really bad! Revised 7/17/24