Colorado Fly Fishing Rivers

Front Range, Colorado

Colorado's most popular trout river. Technical dry fly water at Deckers, diverse sections from Eleven Mile Canyon to Cheesman Canyon.

Central Colorado

World-class Gold Medal water through Salida and the Royal Gorge. One of Colorado's most popular guided river destinations.

Pueblo County, Colorado

Don't sleep on the lower Arkansas. The 8-mile tailwater below Pueblo Reservoir is one of Colorado's most accessible year-round trout fisheries — regulated flows, trophy-class rainbows in the first 4 miles below the dam, and a legitimate Mother's Day caddis hatch that draws anglers statewide every April. Multiple city parks and the Pueblo Riverwalk mean you can park and be in the water in 5 minutes. Tailwater fish are selective, though — they've seen every pattern.

Summit County, Colorado

Underrated tailwater below Dillon Reservoir. Consistent flows year-round thanks to reservoir regulation — a selling point for beginners.

Denver Metro, Colorado

Denver-area gem. Short drive from the metro, smaller and approachable. Perfect for beginners learning to wade and read water.

Grand County, Colorado

Yes, THAT Colorado River. Big water, big fish near Kremmling. Float fishing opens up at higher flows — a different experience than the mountain rivers.

Pitkin County, Colorado

World-famous tailwater below Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt. Produces trophy-sized rainbows year-round. Extremely technical — small flies, light tippet, selective fish.

Pitkin / Garfield County, Colorado

From Aspen to Glenwood Springs through one of Colorado's most scenic valleys. Freestone upper, canyon lower — strong caddis and PMD hatches mid-summer.

Larimer County, Colorado

Colorado's only National Wild and Scenic River. Poudre Canyon is 30 minutes from Fort Collins — the closest quality trout water for the Northern Front Range.

Gunnison County, Colorado

World-class tailwater below Taylor Park Reservoir near Almont. Trophy rainbows and browns in a remote mountain canyon — year-round fishing thanks to reservoir regulation.

Gunnison / Montrose County, Colorado

Gold Medal water through the dramatic Black Canyon and Gunnison Gorge. Trophy brown and rainbow trout — but access requires a serious hike. Not for the timid.

Eagle County, Colorado

The I-70 corridor river — runs through Minturn, Avon, and Gypsum. Consistent public access, strong fall caddis and PMD hatches. Surprisingly underrated for its location.

Routt County, Colorado

The Yampa is Northwest Colorado's best-kept secret — strong Salmonfly and Golden Stonefly hatches, large brown trout, and a fraction of the pressure of the Front Range rivers.

Rio Grande / Mineral County, Colorado

Gold Medal water through Wagon Wheel Gap near South Fork and Creede. Remote, beautiful, and overlooked. The long drive is the point — fewer people, bigger fish.

Pitkin / Gunnison County, Colorado

Small, clear, and scenic through Crystal Valley below Marble. Wild rainbow and brown trout in a canyon few anglers bother with. Bring stealth — the fish spook easily in clear water.

Montezuma County, Colorado

Tailwater below McPhee Reservoir in Southwest Colorado. Year-round fishable flows, large rainbows and browns, and a fraction of the crowds of Northern Colorado tailwaters.

Jackson County, Colorado (North Park)

Colorado's most overlooked wild trout fishery. Two very different rivers in one: a slow, meandering meadow stretch through the high-altitude North Park basin near Walden, and Northgate Canyon — a remote Gold Medal/Wild Trout gorge just south of the Wyoming border with almost zero angler pressure. Big wild brown trout. Artificial flies and lures only in the canyon.

Gunnison County, Colorado (Crested Butte)

Crested Butte's backyard creek. Flows right along Slate River Road (CO-734) north of town — walk out your truck door and start fishing. Wild brown, rainbow, and brook trout in classic small-stream pocket water. Public land is north of CB; south of town the land goes private until the confluence with the East River at CB South.

Archuleta County, Colorado (Pagosa Springs)

The Colorado section of the San Juan near Pagosa Springs is a legitimate freestone fishery that most anglers blow past on their way to New Mexico. Wild rainbow and brown trout right through town, strong summer caddis and terrestrial hatches, and easy public access along the Riverwalk. The East and West Forks above Pagosa add alpine headwater options.

La Plata County, Colorado

Colorado's only Gold Medal freestone river. A 7-mile designated stretch runs right through downtown Durango — from Lightner Creek to Purple Cliffs. Big San Juan snowmelt drainage means heavy spring runoff, but summer and fall fish well. Brown and rainbow trout, strong caddis and PMD hatches.

Gunnison County, Colorado

Crested Butte's backyard river. Wild cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout in a high-altitude freestone stream flowing south from Gothic through Crested Butte to Almont, where it meets the Taylor to form the Gunnison. Fewer crowds than the tailwaters, excellent caddis and PMD hatches mid-summer.