Williams Fork
14 Day Forecast: Look for sporadic hatches of midges.
Effective Patterns: #20-22 Mercury Midge, #22-26 Black Beauty, #22-26 Top Secret Midge, #20 Rainbow Warrior, #20 Pale Olive Larva, #22-24 Bling Midge, #20 Red Larva, #20 South Platte Brassie, #20 Buckskin, #24 RS 2, #24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Micro Egg, #18 Red Flossy Worm, #22-24 Matt's Midge, #22 Pat's Midge, #20-24 Griffith Gnat, and #24-26 Parachute Adams.
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:
Flows are excellent on the Williams Fork considering the time of year. It’s time to concentrate your efforts in the slow, deep pools where trout overwinter. Trailing two midge patterns (one larva and one pupa) off an attractor is a great strategy for this time of year. Late afternoon often brings out some surface feeders in the slow, deep tailouts, so make sure you bring plenty of surface offering to imitate newly hatched midges. A size 24 Parachute Adams works very well during the height of the hatch!