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Fly Fishing the Williams Fork River

A small, technical tailwater flowing cold and clear from Williams Fork Reservoir through the Arapaho National Forest to the Colorado River near Parshall, the Williams Fork rewards patient anglers with wild brown and rainbow trout in a quiet, off-the-beaten-track setting that rarely sees the crowds of Colorado's more famous tailwaters.

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When to fish

Year-round

Best months: year-round

  • Best

Salmonfly — late May through June: brief but exciting on the tailwater reach.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the Williams Fork River

Access via County Road 3 from Parshall (off US Highway 40 between Granby and Kremmling), with a Colorado Parks and Wildlife parking area and approximately a half-mile walk to the productive water. The Kemp and Breeze State Wildlife Areas provide the public lease access. Catch-and-release, artificial flies and lures only from the dam to the Colorado River confluence.

The water

Tailwater

Key hatches

  • Midges
  • Blue-winged Olive
  • Pale Morning Dun
  • Caddis
  • Golden Stonefly / Yellow Sally
Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

  • Midges — year-round, dominant September through April
  • Blue-winged Olive — September through April
  • Pale Morning Dun — June through mid-September
  • Caddis — May through October
  • Golden Stonefly / Yellow Sally — June through August
  • Salmonfly — late May through June (brief but exciting on the tailwater reach)

Fly shops near the Williams Fork River

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

3 fly shops shown · 2 farther away in the listWilliams Fork River

Species on this water

Trout

Nearby towns

FraserSilverthorneShawnee

Rivers nearby

Blue RiverGore CreekEagle RiverBig Thompson River
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Williams Fork River

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Gear up

Gear up on the Williams Fork River

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The flies that work on the Williams Fork River

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