Colorado Fly Fishing

10 curated Colorado waters span the state's headwater freestones, Gold Medal tailwaters, and high-country spring creeks — from the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan to the South Platte's Cheesman Canyon and the dense fish counts of the Taylor and Gunnison.

Arkansas River
Salida to Cañon City · Browns Canyon
The Arkansas hosts the Mother's Day caddis hatch — one of the most prolific caddis emergences in the West, with billions of grannom caddis lifting…
Central Colorado, USA
Blue River
Below Green Mountain Reservoir
Despite running through a ski resort town, the Blue River's dam-regulated flows produce remarkably consistent fishing even during peak summer tourist…
N Colorado, USA
Cache La Poudre River
Fort Collins Canyon
The Poudre is Colorado's only federally-designated Wild and Scenic river, protected from damming for the entirety of its trout-bearing canyon stretch.
N Colorado, USA
Dolores River
McPhee Tailwater · Cahone · SW Colorado
The Dolores below McPhee remains one of the most controversial fisheries in the West — when flows allow, it's exceptional; in drought years, ongoing…
SW Colorado, USA
Frying Pan River
Ruedi Reservoir to Basalt
A survey section near Ruedi Dam once recorded over 4,000 trout per mile — one of the densest wild trout fisheries in the Rocky Mountain region.
W Colorado, USA
Gunnison River
Black Canyon · Blue Mesa Tailwater
Black Canyon of the Gunnison's walls reach 2,700 feet — the deepest narrow canyon in North America — making the trout water below among the most…
W Colorado, USA
Rio Grande
Creede · Upper Box Canyon
The Rio Grande's headwaters in the Weminuche Wilderness include some of the highest-elevation wild trout water in the lower 48 — small streams above…
SW Colorado, USA
Roaring Fork River
Aspen to Basalt
The Roaring Fork's confluence with the Frying Pan near Basalt creates exceptional fishing year-round — both rivers contribute cold, clear…
W Colorado, USA
South Platte River
Deckers · Cheesman Canyon
Cheesman Canyon is widely regarded as one of the toughest pieces of trout water in America — fish here are extraordinarily selective even by…
Central Colorado, USA
Taylor River
Below Taylor Park Reservoir
The Taylor's Hog Trough produces documented rainbow and brown trout exceeding 30 inches and 15 pounds annually — among the most reliable trophy water…
W Colorado, USA