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River guide · Colorado

Fly Fishing the Eagle River

Colorado's longest true freestone river, the Eagle runs cobblestone-fast through the I-70 corridor from Camp Hale to the Colorado River at Dotsero: prolific caddis hatches, wild rainbows and browns up to 20 inches, and easy roadside access for over 40 miles.

When to fish

Year-round

Best months: year-round

  • Best

Midge: winter–early spring. Blue-winged Olive / Baetis: March–April, October.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Wolcott to the Colorado River confluence

Long stretches of public water run along I-70/Highway 6 through Minturn, Avon, Edwards, and down to Dotsero. CPW and Eagle County have developed ample angler access points from Wolcott to the Colorado River confluence; BLM land covers most of the lower river. Walk-wade accessible year-round.

The water

Freestone

Key hatches

  • Midge
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis
  • Caddis
  • Pale Morning Dun
  • Yellow Sally Stonefly
Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

  • Midge (winter–early spring)
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis (March–April, October)
  • Caddis (May–June, prolific)
  • Pale Morning Dun (June–July)
  • Yellow Sally Stonefly (July)
  • Hopper / Terrestrials (August–September)

Fly shops near the Eagle River

Shops and guides that fish the Eagle River. See all 114 Colorado shops →

From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Eagle River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

Gear up on the Eagle River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

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Flies that work

The flies that work on the Eagle River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

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