Colorado River
Middle (Pumphose to Dotsero)

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Recent Guide Reports

Trending Flies in Recent Reports

  1. Parachute BWO  

  2. BWO  

  3. Prince Nymph  

  4. Pheasant Tail  

  5. Sparkle Dunn BWO  

  6. Green Drake  

  7. Pat's Rubberlegs  

  8. Zebra Midge  

  9. PMD  

  10. Sex Dungeon  

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Fly Shop Directory

Recent Guide Reports

Apr 13 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 3/5

Colorado River Report

April 13, 2025
FLOW: 2530 CFS below Glenwood Springs and rising
WATER CLARITY: Like the Fork, brown after hot days, good vis after cool days.
OVERALL RATING: 6 out of 10
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue winged olive nymphs, emergers and adults, caddis pupae, emergers and adults, small green drake and PMD nymphs, sculpins, Midges
THE LOWDOWN: Annual spawning closures are in effect at Grizzly, Canyon, Castle and Elk Creeks, you'll see the signs where fishing is off limits until June 1st. These areas a just a small portion of the greater river.

Changes are coming fast- now we are seeing a quasi-decent caddis hatch in addition to spring baetis (blue winged olives) and midges. We've seen a few blowouts now that we have a few hot days under our belts, and the river has been yo-yoing a bit like it tends to do in spring.

Streamers have been productive on overcast days, guides are moving away from eggs and baetis and switching up to stoneflies and caddis rigs.

The Colorado is a big, brawling river- ideal for a drift boat but it can be accessed on foot. This river is a bit more of a quality than a quantity fishery, so be prepared to hook onto some pissed-off fish that will dump your reel in a few seconds.

Wade-fishers should exercise caution in the biggest river of the valley, but popular wading spots include the confluence with the Roaring Fork, Dino Boat ramp (both above and below the ramp) and upstream of South Canyon rapid.

Hatches: Blue winged olives 18-22, midges 16-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Irresistible Adams 18-24, Parachute Adams 16-18, TC Custom BWO Sparkledun 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20, Sprout Midge 20, Griffith's Gnat 20
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly Nymph 6-12, Stott's Raisinette 20, Stott's Bad Carl 20, Magnymphico 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Tungsten Redemption 16-18, Iron Lotus 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Prince Nymph 14-18, Jigged Tungsten Guide's Choice Hare's Ear 14-18, Hot Orange Bead Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail 16-18, Perdigon 16-18, Jigged Tungsten Blow Torch 14-18, Copper John 16-18, BTS Baetis 20-22
STREAMERS: Craven's Double Dirty Hippy, Dali Lama, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor, Carlton Banks, Stott's Conehead Ziwi, Craven's Swim Coach, Hansen's Meal Ticket
HINTS: Fish are likely to be holding deep where they can still find cover in the low and clear water.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09085100/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D

This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Apr 06 Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen
Rating: 5/5

Colorado River Report

April 6, 2025
FLOW: 1870 CFS below Glenwood Springs and rising
WATER CLARITY: Clear but we will see color here and there as we warm up
OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10!
FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Blue Winged Olive nymphs, emergers and adults, small green drake and PMD nymphs, caddis larvae, sculpins, Midges
THE LOWDOWN: Annual spawning closures are in effect at Grizzly, Canyon, Castle and Elk Creeks, you'll see the signs where fishing is off limits until June 1st. These areas a just a small portion of the greater river.

We haven't seen it yet, but we'd bet our bottom dollar there will be a caddis hatch in the coming week as we string together a few warm and bright days in a row. For now, plenty of BWOs and midges to keep you and the fish busy.

The Colorado is a big, brawling river- ideal for a drift boat but it can be accessed on foot. This river is a bit more of a quality than a quantity fishery, so be prepared to hook onto some pissed-off fish that will dump your reel in a few seconds.

Wade-fishers should exercise caution in the biggest river of the valley, but popular wading spots include the confluence with the Roaring Fork, Dino Boat ramp (both above and below the ramp) and upstream of South Canyon rapid.

Hatches: Blue winged olives 18-22, midges 16-26
APPROPRIATE PATTERNS:
DRIES: Irresistible Adams 18-24, Parachute Adams 16-18, TC Custom BWO Sparkledun 20-22, Roy's Special Emerger 20, Sprout Midge 20, Griffith's Gnat 20
NYMPHS: Cat Poop Stonefly Nymph 6-12, Stott's Raisinette 20, Stott's Bad Carl 20, Magnymphico 16-18, Bead Head Swiss Straw Emerger 16-18, Tungsten Redemption 16-18, Iron Lotus 16-18, Double Down CDC PT 16-18, Prince Nymph 14-18, Jigged Tungsten Guide's Choice Hare's Ear 14-18, Hot Orange Bead Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail 16-18, Perdigon 16-18, Jigged Tungsten Blow Torch 14-18, Copper John 16-18, BTS Baetis 20-22
STREAMERS: Craven's Double Dirty Hippy, Dali Lama, Tim Heng's Autumn Splendor, Carlton Banks, Stott's Conehead Ziwi, Craven's Swim Coach, Hansen's Meal Ticket
HINTS: Fish are likely to be holding deep where they can still find cover in the low and clear water.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09085100/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D

This report was written by Taylor Creek Fly Shop - Aspen: http://www.taylorcreek.com
(970) 920-1128

Fly Shop Directory

Website: http://www.almontanglers.com/
Phone Number: 970-641-7404
Address: 10209 Highway 135, PO Box 513, Almont, CO 81210
Website: http://www.roaringforkanglers.com
Phone Number: 970-963-9245
Address: 995 Cowen Dr. Ste. 102, Carbondale, CO 81623
Website: http://www.anglersall.com/
Phone Number: (303) 794-1104
Address: 5211 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
Website: http://www.breckenridgeoutfitters.com
Phone Number: 970-453-4135
Address: 100 N. Main St., Ste 206, Breckenridge, CO 80401
Website: http://www.buckingrainbow.com
Phone Number: 970-879-8747
Address: PO Box 774832, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Website: http://www.fishcolorado.com
Phone Number: 970-262-2878
Address: PO Box 2540, 400,Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, CO 80498
Website: http://eagleriverflyfishing.com/
Phone Number: 970-328-2323
Address: 25 Eby Creek Road, Eagle, CO 81631
Website: http://www.flyfishingoutfitters.net
Phone Number: 970-845-8090
Address: 1060 W. Beaver Creek Blvd., Avon, CO 81620
Website: http://www.fryingpananglers.com
Phone Number: 970-927-3441
Address: 132 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt, CO 81621
Website: http://www.kirksflyshop.com
Phone Number: (970) 577-0790
Address: 230 East Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517
Website: http://www.minturnanglers.com
Phone Number: (970) 827-9500
Address: 102 Main Street, Minturn, CO 81645
Website: http://www.mountainangler.com
Phone Number: 970-453-4665
Address: 311 S. Main St., Breckenridge, CO 80424
Website: http://www.rfanglers.com
Phone Number: 970-945-0180
Address: 2114 B Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Website: http://www.rockymtanglers.com
Phone Number: 303-447-2400
Address: 1904 Araphoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
Website: http://www.taylorcreek.com
Phone Number: (970) 920-1128
Address: 408 E Cooper Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
Website: http://www.taylorcreek.com
Phone Number: 970-927-4374
Address: 183 Basalt Center Drive, Basalt, CO 81621
Website: http://www.bluequillangler.com
Phone Number: 303-674-4700
Address: 1532 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen, CO 80439
Website: http://thecoloradoangler.com/
Phone Number: (970) 513-8055
Address: 249 Summit Place, Silverthorne, CO 80498
Website: http://troutsflyfishing.com
Phone Number: 303-733-1434
Address: 1303 E. 6TH Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Website: http://www.vailvalleyanglers.com/
Phone Number: 970-926-0900
Address: 97 Main Street Unit E102 Edwards, CO 81632
Website: http://www.westernanglers.com
Phone Number: 970-244-8658
Address: 413 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501