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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.

  • 5 shops nearby
  • tailwater
  • Year-round
  • Colorado
  • 6 key hatches
See fly shops ↓

The best time to fly fish the Williams Fork River is Year-round. Key hatches include Midges, Blue, Pale Morning Dun, Caddis. 5 fly shops near the Williams Fork River can outfit your trip.

Fly shops near the Williams Fork River

Shops and guides that fish the Williams Fork River. See all 122 Colorado shops →

Winter Park FlyfisherCutthroat AnglersMile High Angler, LLCLet it Fly, LLCWilliams Creek Angler
5 fly shops shown

Species on this water

Trout

Nearby towns

FraserSilverthorneShawnee

Rivers nearby

Blue RiverGore CreekEagle RiverBig Thompson River
Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the Williams Fork River

River typetailwater
Best seasonYear-round; best September through April for midges and BWOs. May–June can run high and off-color. The catch-and-release tailwater below Williams Fork Reservoir fishes consistently all year.
AccessAccess 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.
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)
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

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 Williams Fork River

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Updated June 2026