Colorado River
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches midges and sporadic blue-winged olives.
Effective Patterns: #20-22 Jujubaetis, #20-22 Top Secret Baetis, #22 Black Beauty, #22 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #20-22 Mercury Blood Midge, #20 Mercury Midge, #20 Buckskin, #22 RS 2 Sparkle Wing, #20-24 Parachute Adams, 22 Parachute Blue-Winged Olive, #22 High Vis Baetis, #20-22 Pat's Midge, and #22 Griffith Gnats.
Measurements
Stream Report, Effective Patterns, & Expert Information for Fly Fishing the Colorado River
The Colorado River begins its journey in Rocky Mountain National Park and heads west offering anglers several opportunities to sample this great stream. Near the small community of Granby is the confluence of the Fraser River. At this point the river is a meandering, meadow stream flowing through lush ranchland and the river remains this way until it hit Byers Canyon. Byers Canyon is only about 3/4 mile long and this section is tough to negotiate, especially during higher flows. Below Byers Canyon the river is “as good as it gets” with many access points including Paul Gilbert, Lone Buck, Kemp-Breeze, Sun Set Ranch, Powers Unit, Reeder Creek and the Pump House to Radium stretch. The Colorado is lined with cottonwood trees and willows and is a dry fly paradise. Anglers can expect to catch a mixed bag of both browns and rainbows. The regulations in this area are flies and lures only and all fish must be returned to the water immediately.
Fishing the Colorado River should be on everyone's bucket list. Whether you're a walk/wade fisherman or prefer float-fishing, this river has something for everyone!
Tips & Other Information:
The Upper Colorado River above Parshall is locking up with ice. The river remains open below the confluence of the Williams Fork for quite some distance. In and around the Parshall area, the river is fishing fair to good. Anglers can expect to find reliable hatches of midges and the occasional blue-winged olive. The dry fly fishing in the slower pools and bailouts has provided some excitement in the afternoon with small midge offerings. Revised 11/27/24