Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Colorado River In
Colorado
Looking at the beautiful alpine meadows of the Colorado
River headwaters in Rocky Mountains National Park, It's
difficult to imagine it's the same river that supplies
Southern California, and many other areas, much of
their water. Even in the state of Colorado, it's
appearance and character changes drastically. Fly
fishing the Colorado River varies greatly from its
beginning to where it enters the state of Utah.
There are other sections of the Colorado River outside
of the state of Colorado where the river can be fished
for trout. Those are included in separate sections of our
site. Inside Colorado, the Colorado River is a great trout
fishery. Trout exist in the entire length of the river within
the state's boundaries. It is all a freestone fishery. There
are no dams on the Colorado in Colorado.
Rainbow trout grow to large sizes. Browns can be huge
and exist throughout much of its waters. There are also
populations of cutthroat and brook trout. There are
various types of water in the River depending on where
you are fishing. It is a large river that gets larger in size
and flows the further west you fish it. The size of the
Colorado River, as stated to the left, is the best
description of the river within the state of Colorado we
can provide because it grows from a very small stream
where it begins in Rocky Mountains National Park, to a
large river over a hundred feet wide in the western part
of the state. Many small and several large tributary
streams increase the size along its way westward.
The upper section of the river flows through several
reservoirs. Even though much of it flows through private
property, from its upper section to Kremmling you will
find several places you can access the river.
Many areas, especially around Hot Sulphur Springs,
provide good wading opportunities. Probably the best
section to wade is from the Fraser River confluence
near Granby downstream Kremmling. Numerous pulloffs
and exits along state Route #40 provide access to this
section. There are long riffles and runs in this section of
the stream which averages about 50 feet in width. Most
of the water is moderate flows and easy to wade. Near
Hot Sulphur Springs, Byers Canyon offers much faster
flowing pocket water.
Westward of Kremmling, the river receives water from
one of its largest tributaries, the Blue River. That
increase the size of the Colorado to the point that
floating the river becomes the primary option and the
only option in many places. There are numerous boat
launches along the river and access is easy.
The river can be swift in areas and caution is needed if
you attempt to float this section of the river without an
experienced person at the oars. Certain areas cannot
be safely floated. There is some wading opportunities at
the boat launches but other than that, wading is limited.
State Route #1 follows this section of the river along with
the Colorado River Road. It generally follows the river
from Kremmling to Dolsero but access points along it are
few and far between. Route #70 follows the Colorado
from Dotsero through the Glenwood Canyon. There are
some very good fly fishing opportunities in this section
but the water is usually too deep to wade. There are
also some boat launch ramps in this section.
It is important to check the water flows and levels in the
lower section of the Colorado River. It is often high and
off color. The USGS link on your left should give you a
good idea of the flows.
Seasons:
The Colorado River can be fished anytime.
Winter:
Although you can fish during the winter, fishing is
generally slow and tough.
Spring:
Except for the late spring runoff, Spring is great.
Summer:
All things considered, the Summer is probably the best
for fly fishing the Colorado River.
Fall:
Autumn provides one of the most scenic times to fish.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Colorado River:
The methods and techniques used for fly fishing the
Colorado River are as diversified and the river itself. It
strictly depends on where you are fishing the river.
(Click Here to Continue)
Colorado
Looking at the beautiful alpine meadows of the Colorado
River headwaters in Rocky Mountains National Park, It's
difficult to imagine it's the same river that supplies
Southern California, and many other areas, much of
their water. Even in the state of Colorado, it's
appearance and character changes drastically. Fly
fishing the Colorado River varies greatly from its
beginning to where it enters the state of Utah.
There are other sections of the Colorado River outside
of the state of Colorado where the river can be fished
for trout. Those are included in separate sections of our
site. Inside Colorado, the Colorado River is a great trout
fishery. Trout exist in the entire length of the river within
the state's boundaries. It is all a freestone fishery. There
are no dams on the Colorado in Colorado.
Rainbow trout grow to large sizes. Browns can be huge
and exist throughout much of its waters. There are also
populations of cutthroat and brook trout. There are
various types of water in the River depending on where
you are fishing. It is a large river that gets larger in size
and flows the further west you fish it. The size of the
Colorado River, as stated to the left, is the best
description of the river within the state of Colorado we
can provide because it grows from a very small stream
where it begins in Rocky Mountains National Park, to a
large river over a hundred feet wide in the western part
of the state. Many small and several large tributary
streams increase the size along its way westward.
The upper section of the river flows through several
reservoirs. Even though much of it flows through private
property, from its upper section to Kremmling you will
find several places you can access the river.
Many areas, especially around Hot Sulphur Springs,
provide good wading opportunities. Probably the best
section to wade is from the Fraser River confluence
near Granby downstream Kremmling. Numerous pulloffs
and exits along state Route #40 provide access to this
section. There are long riffles and runs in this section of
the stream which averages about 50 feet in width. Most
of the water is moderate flows and easy to wade. Near
Hot Sulphur Springs, Byers Canyon offers much faster
flowing pocket water.
Westward of Kremmling, the river receives water from
one of its largest tributaries, the Blue River. That
increase the size of the Colorado to the point that
floating the river becomes the primary option and the
only option in many places. There are numerous boat
launches along the river and access is easy.
The river can be swift in areas and caution is needed if
you attempt to float this section of the river without an
experienced person at the oars. Certain areas cannot
be safely floated. There is some wading opportunities at
the boat launches but other than that, wading is limited.
State Route #1 follows this section of the river along with
the Colorado River Road. It generally follows the river
from Kremmling to Dolsero but access points along it are
few and far between. Route #70 follows the Colorado
from Dotsero through the Glenwood Canyon. There are
some very good fly fishing opportunities in this section
but the water is usually too deep to wade. There are
also some boat launch ramps in this section.
It is important to check the water flows and levels in the
lower section of the Colorado River. It is often high and
off color. The USGS link on your left should give you a
good idea of the flows.
Seasons:
The Colorado River can be fished anytime.
Winter:
Although you can fish during the winter, fishing is
generally slow and tough.
Spring:
Except for the late spring runoff, Spring is great.
Summer:
All things considered, the Summer is probably the best
for fly fishing the Colorado River.
Fall:
Autumn provides one of the most scenic times to fish.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Colorado River:
The methods and techniques used for fly fishing the
Colorado River are as diversified and the river itself. It
strictly depends on where you are fishing the river.
(Click Here to Continue)
| Type of Stream Freestone Species Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Cutthroat Trout Brook Trout (Wild Trout) Size Small to Large Location Central/Western Colorado Nearest Towns Kremmling Glenwood Springs Season Year-round Access: Fair Non-Resident License State of Colorado Weather National Weather Service Link Hatch Chart Coming Soon Fly Fishing Guide Hatches and Flies Fly Fishing Gear Stream Flow Data: Real Time USGS Data (Kremmling) |
Colorado River Colorado
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Colorado River near Rocky Mountains National Park
Colorado River above Glenwood Springs
| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |