River & Run
Home/Rivers/Rio Grande (Colorado)

River guide · Colorado

Fly Fishing the Rio Grande (Colorado)

The upper Rio Grande runs out of the San Juan Mountains past Creede and Wagon Wheel Gap, a freestone river of browns and rainbows that is fished on foot and by drift boat. Snowmelt drives it hard in late spring, and it fishes best once flows settle in summer and fall.

See fly shops ↓

When to fish

Year-round for the hardy

Best months: year-round

  • Best

Salmonfly: early summer, after runoff. Golden Stonefly: summer.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

South Fork to Creede

Colorado Highway 149, the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, follows the upper river from South Fork through Wagon Wheel Gap to Creede, with Rio Grande National Forest access points along the way. Much of the water downstream of Creede is private, so check land status before you wade.

The water

Freestone

Key hatches

  • Salmonfly
  • Golden Stonefly
  • Pale Morning Dun
  • Caddis
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis
Hatch calendar

Conditions

Loading river conditions

6-day forecast

Loading forecast

Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

  • Salmonfly (early summer, after runoff)
  • Golden Stonefly (summer)
  • Pale Morning Dun (summer)
  • Caddis (summer evenings)
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis (fall and spring)

Fly shops near the Rio Grande (Colorado)

Shops and guides that fish the Rio Grande (Colorado). See all 114 Colorado shops →

4 fly shops shownRio Grande (Colorado) at Creede

Species on this water

Trout

Nearby towns

CreedeSouth Fork

Rivers nearby

Gunnison RiverArkansas RiverCrystal RiverRoaring Fork River
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Rio Grande (Colorado)

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

Browse patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

Gear up on the Rio Grande (Colorado)

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

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the Rio Grande (Colorado)

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

Find your flies