The Colorado River begins its journey in Rocky Mountain National Park and heads west offering anglers several opportunities to sample this great stream. Near the small community of Granby is the confluence of the Fraser River. At this point the river is a meandering, meadow stream flowing through lush ranchland and the river remains this way until it hit Byers Canyon. Byers Canyon is only about 3/4 mile long and this section is tough to negotiate, especially during higher flows. Below Byers Canyon the river is “as good as it gets” with many access points including Paul Gilbert, Lone Buck, Kemp-Breeze, Sun Set Ranch, Powers Unit, Reeder Creek and the Pump House to Radium stretch. The Colorado is lined with cottonwood trees and willows and is a dry fly paradise. Anglers can expect to catch a mixed bag of both browns and rainbows. The regulations in this area are flies and lures only and all fish must be returned to the water immediately.

Fishing the Colorado River should be on everyone's bucket list. Whether you're a walk/wade fisherman or prefer float-fishing, this river has something for everyone!

Updated 9/11/25

The Colorado near Kremmling is at 954 cfs. Water temp issues should no longer be a concern here thanks to the recent cold front.

Some of the hatches you might encounter include red quills, blue wing olives, midges and tricos. Two Bits, RS2s, Juju Baetis, and Zebra Midges have been some productive patterns for us here recently.  

Updated 7/11/25

The Colorado around pumphous is at 825 cfs and the fishing has been good. It's that time of year where there's a lot hatching.

We're seeing PMDs, yellow sallies, caddis and midges. Dry/Dropper rigs are fun to throw right now, with either an Amy's Ant or Chubby Chernobyl on top. Drop off a beaded pattern of whatever is hatching.  Streamers are always a great option, especially during low light conditions like mornings or evenings.

Summer on the Upper Colorado River means match the hatch!

Here are some fly patterns to consider:

Midges: Opt for midge patterns like Zebra Midges, Disco Midges, Mercury Midges, or RS2s in sizes ranging from #18 to #24.

PMDs: Pheasant Tails, Split Backs, Barrs Emergers all work great. Sparkle Duns in PMD variety for dries.

Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs): These may hatch during warmer periods. Carry patterns like Sparkle Duns, Parachute Adams, or Pheasant Tails in sizes #18 to #22 to imitate BWOs.

Terrestrials: Hoppers, ants, beetles, you name it! Amy's Ants, Chubby Chernobyls, and Bionic Hoppers are some favorites. Drop beaded emergers off these.

Stoneflies: When the Salmonflies hatch, hit banks and structures with a large, buoyant dry, like an Amy's Aunt in #8, with a Pat's Rubber Leg as a dropper.

Streamers: Larger fish might respond to streamers, even in colder weather. Woolly Buggers or small articulated patterns in natural colors can be enticing.

As always, adaptability is crucial when fly fishing. Observe the water and the behavior of the fish. Present your flies naturally and consider adjusting depth and retrieval rates to match the fish's activity level.