Fly Fishing the Colorado River

The upper Colorado near Kremmling and Glenwood offers float and wade fishing for wild trout through dramatic canyon water.

29 shops nearby

See fly shops ↓

When to fish

July–October

Best months: July–October

Best
Off-peak

Blue-winged Olive: spring & fall. Caddis: early summer.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the Colorado River

Basalt3 shopsAvon2 shops

Carbondale2 shopsBreckenridge2 shops

The Upper Colorado near Pumphouse and through Gore Canyon is mainly a float fishery; Glenwood Canyon and the Roaring Fork confluence offer roadside wade access off I-70.

The water

Freestone

Key hatches

Blue-Winged Olive
Caddisfly
Salmonfly
Golden Stonefly
Pale Morning Dun

Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Hatch calendar

Months each hatch is active on the Colorado River, with hook sizes and local timing notes.
Hatch · hook	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O
Blue-winged Olive(mayflies)hook #16–20spring & fall	March	April	May				September	October
Caddisfly(caddis)hook #10–18early summer		April	May	June	July	August	September
Salmonfly(stoneflies)hook #4–6			May	June
Golden Stonefly(stoneflies)hook #8–10summer				June	July	August
Pale Morning Dun(mayflies)hook #16–18summer				June	July	August
Midge(midges)hook #20–24							September	October