Williams Fork
14 Day Forecast: Look for sporadic hatches of midges.
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 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 is currently 66 cfs which is normal for this time of year. There is hardly any snow in the hayfields right now which simplifies things. Currently, Willliams Fork Reservoir is at 56 percent capacity which is a huge concern going into the winter. The best advice I can give you is to target the slower runs and deeper pools where the trout are overwintering. An assortment of midge imitations dropped off an attractor (i.e. egg pattern, leech, etc.) is your best bet right now. Savvy anglers are finding a few “midging fish” in the tailouts of the slower pools. The dry fly fishing can be productive this time of year if you target the right locations. The best fishing is between 11 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Revised 2/3/26