Colorado River
Middle (Pumphose to Dotsero)
Recent Guide Reports
Forecast
Trending Flies in Recent Reports
- RS-2
- San Juan Worm
- Pheasant Tail
- Prince Nymph
- Zebra Midge
- Woolly Bugger
- Griffith's Gnat
- Baetis Nymph
- Black Beauty
- Psycho Prince
Current Conditions
Gauge Flow
High Water Warning
Gauge Height
Water Temperature
Water Temperature Over 68°F
Condition Graphs
Fly Shop Directory
Recent Guide Reports
Feb 16
FlyCast River Forecast
Technicality: 2/5
At this point, much of the Middle Colorado is covered in ice and with sub-freezing temps this week youre going to have a tough time finding open water. As such, we recommend fishing elsewhere. We recommend fishing the lower Colorado below Glenwood springs or in Parshall at the confluence of the Williams Fork as there is more fishable water. Here you will want to go with small and imitative nymph rigs. We like to lead with a searcher pattern like a Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Pats or Egg pattern followed by one or more smaller midges like a Black Beauty, Miracle Midge or Bling Midge. Focus on the banks with large cut-offs as well as the slow runs and deep pools. Streamers have been productive on mild and cloudy days, but wait for the late morning or afternoon before you go this route
Ideal Days to Fish: NA
Go to flies:
Surface - Parachute Adams (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24)
Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Electric Caddis (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).
Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)
At this point, much of the Middle Colorado is covered in ice and with sub-freezing temps this week youre going to have a tough time finding open water. As such, we recommend fishing elsewhere. We recommend fishing the lower Colorado below Glenwood springs or in Parshall at the confluence of the Williams Fork as there is more fishable water. Here you will want to go with small and imitative nymph rigs. We like to lead with a searcher pattern like a Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Pats or Egg pattern followed by one or more smaller midges like a Black Beauty, Miracle Midge or Bling Midge. Focus on the banks with large cut-offs as well as the slow runs and deep pools. Streamers have been productive on mild and cloudy days, but wait for the late morning or afternoon before you go this route
Ideal Days to Fish: NA
Go to flies:
Surface - Parachute Adams (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24)
Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Electric Caddis (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).
Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)
Feb 09
FlyCast River Forecast
Technicality: 2/5
Sub-freezing temps have led to increased ice accumulation leaving little to be fished on this section of the Colorado. Comparatively higher air temps this week coupled with increased flows should break up some of the ice in the coming days, but dont expect much. We recommend fishing the lower Colorado below Glenwood springs or in Parshall at the confluence of the Williams Fork as there is more open water. Here you will want to go with small and imitative nymph rigs. We like to lead with a searcher pattern like a Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Pats or Egg pattern followed by one or more smaller midges like a Black Beauty, Miracle Midge or Bling Midge. Focus on the banks with large cut-offs as well as the slow runs and deep pools. Streamers have been productive on mild and cloudy days, but wait for the late morning or afternoon before you go this route.
Ideal Days to Fish: NA
Go to flies:
Surface - Parachute Adams (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24)
Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Electric Caddis (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).
Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)
Sub-freezing temps have led to increased ice accumulation leaving little to be fished on this section of the Colorado. Comparatively higher air temps this week coupled with increased flows should break up some of the ice in the coming days, but dont expect much. We recommend fishing the lower Colorado below Glenwood springs or in Parshall at the confluence of the Williams Fork as there is more open water. Here you will want to go with small and imitative nymph rigs. We like to lead with a searcher pattern like a Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Pats or Egg pattern followed by one or more smaller midges like a Black Beauty, Miracle Midge or Bling Midge. Focus on the banks with large cut-offs as well as the slow runs and deep pools. Streamers have been productive on mild and cloudy days, but wait for the late morning or afternoon before you go this route.
Ideal Days to Fish: NA
Go to flies:
Surface - Parachute Adams (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24)
Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Electric Caddis (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).
Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)
Feb 04
Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
February 4, 2020
FLOW: 1300 cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear and low.
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 10 but this can vary from day to day. Warm nights yield great days after!
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, worms, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: FYI- Two Rivers Boat Ramp in Glenwood Springs is closed until April, so plan accordingly! This river can vary from day to day and surprise you if the night before you fish it is warm.. Daytime hatches consist of mostly midges.
For you streamer junkies, break out that six or seven weight and get after it!. You'll get even luckier if there is a bit of wind and cloud cover, Colorado fish love a windy day for a hot streamer bite, and calmer days will provide decent dry fly and nymph fishing.
Nymphs of note this week are San Juan Worms, small beaded princes, RS2s and pheasant tails. If streamers are your thing, utilize a sink tip and get that streamer down in the zone quickly.
HATCHES: Midges 16-22
Appropriate Patterns
DRIES: CDC Transitional Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 18-22, Sprout Midge 20-22, HOH Spent Midge 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22.
NYMPHS: Prince 16-18, BLMs 18-20, San Juan Worm 10, Tung Bead Baetis 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, RS2s 20, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Imposters 20-22, Assassins 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, Biot Midge 20-22, Copper John Red 14-18, San Juan Worm 10
HINTS: If the fish aren't eating deep, shallow up those nymph rigs and see if they're suspended.
Link to Real Time
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09085100
FLOW: 1300 cfs in Glenwood Springs
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear and low.
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 10 but this can vary from day to day. Warm nights yield great days after!
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Midges, worms, sculpins
THE LOW DOWN: FYI- Two Rivers Boat Ramp in Glenwood Springs is closed until April, so plan accordingly! This river can vary from day to day and surprise you if the night before you fish it is warm.. Daytime hatches consist of mostly midges.
For you streamer junkies, break out that six or seven weight and get after it!. You'll get even luckier if there is a bit of wind and cloud cover, Colorado fish love a windy day for a hot streamer bite, and calmer days will provide decent dry fly and nymph fishing.
Nymphs of note this week are San Juan Worms, small beaded princes, RS2s and pheasant tails. If streamers are your thing, utilize a sink tip and get that streamer down in the zone quickly.
HATCHES: Midges 16-22
Appropriate Patterns
DRIES: CDC Transitional Midge 20-22, Griffiths Gnat 18-22, Sprout Midge 20-22, HOH Spent Midge 20-22, Hatching Midge 20-22.
NYMPHS: Prince 16-18, BLMs 18-20, San Juan Worm 10, Tung Bead Baetis 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, RS2s 20, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Imposters 20-22, Assassins 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, Biot Midge 20-22, Copper John Red 14-18, San Juan Worm 10
HINTS: If the fish aren't eating deep, shallow up those nymph rigs and see if they're suspended.
Link to Real Time
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09085100
Feb 03
FlyCast River Forecast
Technicality: 2/5
Youre in for another cold week on the Middle Colorado with sub-freezing air temps and snow throughout the week. Ice remains along the banks through much of this stretch making for trick and dangerous fishing conditions. That said, you can still manage to make it work. Wade fishing is really your only option at this point, but if you can navigate the ice and find some slow runs you should be in luck. If you are looking for more open water, we suggest fishing the Lower Colorado below Glenwood Springs. Nymphing is the name of the game and small midges are the key ingredient to success. We like to run a double or triple nymph rig with a #18 Hares ear ot #10 Pats Rubber Legs at the lead followed by one or more smaller midge patterns like a #20-22 Zebra Midge, Mercury Midge, Top Secret or Black Beauty. Streamers will be productive in times of cloud cover, but expect trout to be generally slow moving this week with cold temps.
Ideal Days to Fish: Thursday through Sunday
Go to flies:
Surface - Parachute Adams (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24)
Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Electric Caddis (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).
Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)
Youre in for another cold week on the Middle Colorado with sub-freezing air temps and snow throughout the week. Ice remains along the banks through much of this stretch making for trick and dangerous fishing conditions. That said, you can still manage to make it work. Wade fishing is really your only option at this point, but if you can navigate the ice and find some slow runs you should be in luck. If you are looking for more open water, we suggest fishing the Lower Colorado below Glenwood Springs. Nymphing is the name of the game and small midges are the key ingredient to success. We like to run a double or triple nymph rig with a #18 Hares ear ot #10 Pats Rubber Legs at the lead followed by one or more smaller midge patterns like a #20-22 Zebra Midge, Mercury Midge, Top Secret or Black Beauty. Streamers will be productive in times of cloud cover, but expect trout to be generally slow moving this week with cold temps.
Ideal Days to Fish: Thursday through Sunday
Go to flies:
Surface - Parachute Adams (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24)
Subsurface - Pat's Rubber Leg (#8-12), Electric Caddis (#16-18), San Juan Worm, Olive RS2 (#20-22), Stalcups Baetis (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Hare's Ear (#18 - 20), Psycho Prince Nymph (#18 -20), Pheasant Tail (#18-20), Black Beauty (#20-22), Zebra Midge (#18-20).
Streamers - white Sparkle Minnow (#6), black Wooly Bugger (#4-5), Cheech Leech (#6)