Williams Fork
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives.
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 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 91 cfs. As you might imagine, the river is low and fishing is technical. Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives. Anglers are catching a few medium sized brown trout and the occasional “good sized” rainbow. I’m not seeing the normal push of brownbs and there are very few redds. This all stems back from the East Troublesome Creek Fire which has impacted the return rate and recruitment on the Colorado River. Williams Fork Reservoir is at 24% capacity as of this morning. Pray for a ton of snow…otherwise this drainage is in a world of hurts… Revised 10/19/26