Williams Fork
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges, blue-winged olives, yellow sallies, 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 not too shabby considering the drought and low snow pack. Currently Williams Fork Reservoir is at 92% capacity and filling by the day. Inflows are 646 cfs and outfllows are 96 cfs, so that is good news. The bad news is the mosquitoes get really bad this time of year. Water temps are not a concern right now so if you opt to fish this stretch come prepared for hatches of midges, BWO’s, Caddis, and yellow sallies. Revised 6/12/25