The best places for trout fishing in Colorado offer a rich variety of angling experiences, with both popular destinations and hidden gems providing excellent opportunities to catch wild trout amidst breathtaking scenery. We love fly fishing in Colorado because it’s a chance to connect with nature and find people in mountain streams.
While listing all the spots is impossible, our selection of eight of the best trout fishing rivers in the state will guide you to some of the best places to fly fish in the state.
Jump To A River
Animas River
Colorado River
Roaring Fork River
South Platte River
Arkansas River
Gunnison River
Taylor River
Yampa River
In this article, we will detail eight of the best trout fishing locations in the state, along with the best flies for each river in 2024, and a recommended local fly shops and guiding outfits.
Here are eight top river destinations for Colorado trout fishing.
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Animas River
Located near Durango, the Animas River is known for its brown and rainbow trout. The Animas River flows south from its headwaters near Silverton, CO, to its confluence with the San Juan River in Farmington, NM.
From its headwaters high in the San Juan Mountains to Durango, the Animas is a freestone river, meaning it is not controlled by a dam upstream.
The best fishing on the Animas is in Durango. There is a seven-mile stretch of accessible water from the 32nd Street Bridge in north Durango to the Rivera Bridge at Dallabetta City Park.
In recent years, there have been concerns of the Animas river having dangerous levels of pollution, affecting the wildlife within the watershed. However, according to a study released in 2022, the health of the river has been improving, as is the fly fishing.
There are numerous public stretches of water on the Animas River between Durango and Silverton, although the best trout fishing is near Durango.
This river’s beauty and surrounding mountains make the Animas a premier fly fishing destination in southwestern Colorado.
Best Flies for the Animas River
Here is our short list of the best flies for fly fishing the Animas near Durango in spring 2024. We will update this list as the season progresses and fishing conditions change on the Animas.
Best Guided Fly Fishing Near Durango
We highly recommend contacting Duranglers Fly Fishing Guides for a memorable day of fly fishing. They offer walk wade trips and float trips, available from 1 to 3 people.
The rivers they guide on include the Animas, the San Juan, the Rio Grande, high country streams, and private access water.
Prices for a guided trip range from $450 to $700, depending on the group size and if it is a walk/wade or a float trip.
Learn more about what to expect on a guided fly fishing trip here.
Colorado River
The Colorado River offers diverse trout fishing opportunities and is one of the best places for families.
From its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, where it’s merely a trickling mountain stream, to the flat water sections near I-70 where float fishing is an option, anglers can target browns, rainbows, cutthroats, and brookies on the Colorado River.
The Colorado River begins at the continental divide in Northern Colorado and exits the state hundreds of miles to the west near Fruita, CO. By the time the river reaches Grand Junction, the water is silty and too warm for trout fishing.
From I-70 north to Kremling, we refer to the section as the Upper Colorado or the “Upper C.”
One of the best locations for trout fishing on the Colorado River begins at the Pumphouse Recreation Area and continues for approximately 60 river miles to Dotsero, Colorado, on the I-70 corridor. Excellent float fishing is available in this area!
Above Pumphouse is Gore Canyon, which includes some of the most rowdy Class V rapids in the state of Colorado. There is no great public access to Gore Canyon, as most people access it in a kayak.
For a nice place to stop for camping and refreshments, check out the Rancho Del Rio resort, one day’s float downstream from Pumphouse. This family-friendly riverside resort/compound offers camping, lodging, river gear rentals, and shuttles along the Upper Colorado River.
If you are float fishing on the Upper Colorado, we highly recommend hiring Rancho del Rio for your river shuttle needs.
Fishing on the Colorado River is best north of I-70 all the way to its headwaters. Be mindful of water temperatures on the Colorado River during the heat of the summer, and check with local fly shops for rules, regulations, and advisories on this river.
Best Flies for the Upper Colorado River
Here’s our list of best flies for fly fishing in spring 2024. We will update this list as the season progresses and fishing conditions change on the Colorado River.
- BWO Drys
- Comparadun Dry
- Rubberleg Jigs
- Tungsten Dart Fly
- Rainbow Warrior
- RS2
- Tungsten Pheasant Tail
- Sculpin
Recommended Fly Shop Near the Upper Colorado
Check out Vail Valley Anglers for anything you need before fishing the Upper Colorado River. They run a great business and are a wealth of knowledge for fly fishing near Vail and Eagle.
We recommend a 1/2 day or a 3/4 trip for most people, including beginner or intermediate fly fishers. Full-day trips are great for advanced anglers who are used to very long days on the water.
Read more about 1/2 day, 3/4 day, and full day guided fishing trips in Slackwater’s article on How to Choose a Guided Fly Fishing Trip.
They offer guided walk/wade and float trips on the Upper Colorado and other rivers in the area, such as the Eagle, Gore Creek, and the Roaring Fork. Trip prices range from $350 to $750, depending on group size and if it is a walk/wade trip or a float fishing trip.
Vail Valley Anglers also offer a hike and fish option for anyone who’s fit and into an adventurous day of fishing. Hike & Fish trips include scenic hikes to backcountry trout fishing in remote locations. Backcountry trout fishing is one of our favorite types of fly fishing.
Roaring Fork River
The Roaring Fork River is located between Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It is known for its large trout, including browns, rainbows, and cutthroats. It has excellent fly fishing year-round and remains ice-free for much of the winter. Float and walk-wade fishing are also available on the Roaring Fork during the summer.
The Roaring Fork’s headwaters start on Independence Pass, southeast of Aspen. The river is 70 miles long and ends at it’s confluence with the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs.
The best time to fish on the Roaring Fork is when streamflows have come down from peak runoff and daytime air temperatures are in the mid-70s.
The Frying Pan River is another nearby fishery that is worth checking out when in the area.
The Frying Pan River is one of the state’s more popular tailwaters, harboring very large trout due to the Mysis shrimp population coming out of the Ruedi Reservoir Dam.
Please for local fishing closures on the Roaring Fork when temperatures become too hot in July and August each summer. Water temperatures over 65 degrees are typically too warm for fly fishing and can be dangerous for the fish.
Best Flies for the Roaring Fork River
Here’s our list of best flies for fly fishing in spring 2024. We will update this list as the season progresses and fishing conditions change on the Roaring Fork.
Recommended Fly Shop Near the Roaring Fork
We like Taylor Creek Fly Shop in Basalt. Their shop is a 25 min drive from Aspen and a 30 min drive from Glenwood Springs. They offer guided fly fishing trips on the Roaring Fork, the Frying Pan, the Colorado River, and on private water in the area.
Prices for guided fishing with Taylor Creek are fair and you will get an outstanding guided fishing experience.
South Platte River
The South Platte River has several sections that offer excellent fly fishing for most of the year. The South Platte is one of the best places for fly fishing near Denver and is known for technical fly fishing.
Although it can be very busy, especially on a weekend summer day, it is known for being a habitat for very large fish! The sections of the South Platte near Deckers, Colorado, or in Cheesman Canyon are especially productive sections of water.
To get away from the crowds, we recommend hiking into Cheesman Canyon. And if you are more into fishing from the car, check out the Deckers area, but be ready to share the water.
Excellent opportunities to fly fish during all four seasons exist on the South Platte River. Since the South Platte near the front range is a tailwater, it remains open for wade fishing year round.
In July 2023, there was a flash flood on the South Platte in Cheesman Canyon. While floods are natural and part of reality, this one in particular was expected to decimate much of the trout population in the river. It’s too soon to tell how re-population efforts have gone.
Upstream of the Deckers/Cheesman Canyon area, the South Platte runs through an area called the “Dream Stream” in South Park between Sprinney Moutnain Reservoir and Elevent Mile Reservoir. Large trout can be found in the Dream Stream where angling is primarily in a meadow near Highway 285.
The South Platte River also flows through Eleven Mile Canyon, another distictive tailwater fishery. Eleven Mile Canyon is known for its scenery and outstanding trout fishing. Public access to Eleven Mile Canyon is in Eleven Mile State Park.
For the most up-to-date information on the health of the South Platte, please contact our friends at Blue Quill Angler.
Best Flies for the South Platte River
Fishing in the South Platte River means you will use classic tailwater fishing tactics. This generally means you will size down on your fly choices, typically use nymphs, and often sight fish for feeding trout. Here is our list of the best flies for trout fishing on the South Platte in spring 2024. We will update this list as the season progresses and fishing conditions evolve.
- RS2
- Pheasant Tail (non weighted)
- Gold Ribbed Hares Ear
- Squirmy Wormy
- Jujubee Midge
- Two-Tone Tungsten Zebra Midge
- Top Secret Midge
Best Guided Fly Fishing For the South Platte
This isn’t even a discussion — the answer is Blue Quill Angler, Pat Dorsey’s fly shop. They are kind, knowledgable as hell, and will get you on the fish. Call them now.
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is known for its lengthy sections to float fish, which offer excellent dry fly action during the summer. As locals call it, the Ark is primarily dam-controlled, meaning flows will remain consistent for weeks on end throughout the year. Fly fishing on the Arkansas River is a great destination for anglers coming from Denver since it is only a couple hours in the car.
Consistent flows allow trout to get into a rhythm and become more predictable in their holding and feeding patterns.
There are also plenty of excellent wading opportunities on the Arkansas, including in the town of Salida, CO.
The Arkansas River begins north of Leadville and travels primarily south until it takes a turn to the east near Salida. Colorado trout fishers can enjoy angling on the smaller waters near Leadville, the mellow-rapids sections near Buena Vista, the serene wilderness of Browns Canyon, or on the more mellow water east of Salida in Bighorn Sheep Canyon.
During significant snow years, the Ark will be a white-water paddler’s paradise and a less fruitful trout fishery until runoff has subsided in July or August.
White water rafting enthusiasts can float from the Numbers Put-In (Class 4 whitewater) through Browns Canyon National Recreation Area (also Class 4 whitewater) into Bighorn Canyon, several miles east of Salida.
Remember that some of these sections require Class 4 whitewater skills and will be unsuitable for fishing. I urge anglers to talk to the local fly shops in Buena Vista or Salida for specifics on the best areas to safely fly fish.
Best Flies for the Arkansas River near Buena Vista/Salida
Although the Arkansas is technically a tailwater, it can be fished like a freestone near Buena Vista and Salida. Here are our top picks for the best flies for trout fishing on the Arkansas River in spring 2024. We will update this list of recommended flies as the seasons progress and fishing conditions change.
Best Fly Shop for Guided Trips on the Arkansas River
Check out UpRiver Fly Fishing in downtown Buena Vista for an excellent fly shop, good people, and an awesome guided fly fishing day. UpRiver Fly Fishing offers float fishing and walk/wade fishing on the Arkansas.
One of the coolest things about a guided trip with UpRiver is that you have the option to book a riverside dinner after your exciting day on the river! Or, if you’re more into adventure, they will take you on a 4×4 Excursion to trout fish in alpine lakes.
We love the people at UpRiver and we love the options they offer to get you on the water.
Gunnison River
You can’t talk about fly fishing in Colorado without mentioning the famous Gunnison River.
The Gunnison is the second-largest river in Colorado and plays a vital role in the watershed for the western half of the state. It begins in Almont, Colorado and flows for is 180 miles before it meets the Colorado River in Grand Junction, CO.
The Gunnison River is known for its trophy-sized rainbow and brown trout, making it a popular destination for experienced and beginner anglers alike.
Float fishing for trout on the Gunnison River is popular during the summer months because it provides access to sections of water that would otherwise be private. Many Gunnison and Crested Butte anglers own a raft or drift boat due to the Gunnison River’s close proximity to home.
The Gunnison River is one of Slackwater’s hometown Gold Medal Trout Fisheries due to its healthy trout population. For the most recent Gunnison River Fishing Report, click here.
There are three distict sections of the Gunnison River for which all offer excellent trout fishing.
Sections of the Gunnison River
Upper Gunnison
The first section is called the Upper Gunnison, and it runs from Almont, Colorado to Blue Mesa Reservoir. A lot of this section is private, however there are several public access points along with excellent float fishing throughout it’s entirety. Here is a list of the some of the public access points:
Access Points for Wade Fishing the Upper Gunnison
Access Points for Float Fishing the Upper Gunnison
- Almont Boat Ramp
- Shaddy Island
- North Bridge
- Gunnison Whitewater Park
- McCabe’s Lane
- Wilson’s/Turkey Take-out
Below Blue Mesa/Black Canyon/Gunnison Gorge
Below Blue Mesa Reservoir, there is a strong of dams, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Gunnison Gorge — all PHENOMENAL for trout fishing.
Access to this section of the Gunnison River is much more challenging, sometimes requiring long treks and drives down very steep mountain roads. Here are some of the main access points:
- Directly below Blue Mesa there is an access point called Pine Creek that requires a hike in.
- Near the Cimmaron River, below Marrow Point Dam, at Mesa Creek Trail.
- East Portal Road.
- Various routes (not hikes!) into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Read more here.
- Chukar Trail into Gunnison Gorge.
For more information about fly fishing in this area, read our trip report on adventure fishing in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Lower Gunnison Basin
The Lower Gunnison Basin includes everything downstream of the Gunnison Gorge. Fly fishing in the Lower Gunnison Basin can be hit or miss throughout the spring due to periods of high runoff and muddy water, howerver there are still some opportunities to catch fish throughout most of the year.
The main access points for the lower Gunnison River are near Delta, CO, and Pleasure Park.
Upstream of Pleasure Park, fly fishers can target trout on the North Fork of the Gunnison River.
Best Flies for Trout Fishing on the Gunnison River
Our fly choices will change dramatically throughout the seasons; however, here is our short list of flies that we highly recommend for fishing the Gunnison in the spring. We will update this list throughout 2024 as fishing conditions change.
Best Fly Shop in Gunnison
For an awesome and fulfilling shopping experience, we highly recommend checking out Gene Taylor’s.
Gene Taylor’s has an incredible selection of flies and fly fishing gear, along with all sorts of other outdoor gear you need for exploring Gunnison County.
Think of it kind of like a small town REI but with an incredible fly section and a knowledgeable staff.
They’ve got it all, from fly rods to tackle and camping gear to outdoor clothing. We believe Gene Taylor’s has the best selection of midges and other micro-fly sizes in the area. If you need some size 22 and 24 flies in your box, visit Gene’s.
Taylor River
The Taylor River is a tailwater fishery known for great rainbow and brown trout fishing. Tailwater trout streams are popular places to fly fish in Colorado because insect activity is consistent for much of the year, allowing trout to grow big and healthy.
Wade fly fishing is the primary way anglers target trophy fish on the Taylor River, although it’s possible to float fish on the Taylor from the Five-Mile Boat Ramp to Almont.
One of the spectacles of the Taylor River is its famous Catch & Release (C&R) section which extends for less than a quarter below the Taylor Reservoir Dam. This section is where anglers have caught some of the largest trout in the state.
Anglers can target trophy trout at the C&R but must always release them immediately. Regulations state that using artificial lures and flies is required at the C&R.
Catching large fish at the C&R section can be an exciting experience but you must be ready to share the water with others.
In the spring and fall, it’s important to stay off the redds on the Taylor River to protect the trout spawning grounds. If you’re new to fly fishing and have wondered what redds are, we invite you to read our article on how to identify trout spawning areas.
Check out the Taylor River Fishing Report for more information on the current fly fishing conditions or read our in-depth Guide to Taylor River fly fishing here.
Best Flies for the Taylor River
We like to keep things relatively simple on the Taylor River with typical tailwater fly fishing tactics and fly choices. Dry fly fishing can be exceptional in the summer and the fall, but in the spring we like to stick with nymphs for the most productive days. Here is our list of recommend flies for spring 2024:
Best Fly Shop For Taylor River Guided Fishing
Hit up our friends over at Crested Butte Angler for a great time on a guided fly fishing trip to the Taylor River. Owner Jason White is a great guy, and he only has top-tier guides on his staff.
In addition to guided trips on the Taylor, you can book trips on the Gunnison and East Rivers as well as many of the backcountry trout streams near Crested Butte, CO.
Yampa River
The Yampa is a popular Colorado fly fishing destination near Steamboat and Craig, CO. This river holds rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout and flows mostly east to west until its confluence with the Green River near Dinosaur National Monument.
The Yampa River is one of Colorado’s crowned jewel river systems. It’s a true freestone river, which depends on Mother Nature’s will to fill the stream each year from the winter’s snowpack rather than receiving its water from a controlled dam release.
Freestone rivers are extraordinary as they are unique throughout the western United States, where dams have been installed on many rivers. Freestone rivers deserve our love and protection to ensure they are intact for generations to come.
Fly fishing on the Yampa will be best after runoff has peaked and the color of the water is medium-dark in color.
Float fishing and wade fishing on the Yampa are possible during the spring and summer months. Similar to the Upper Colorado and the Roaring Fork, the Yampa can become too warm for fly fishing during the heat of the summer.
Best Flies for the Yampa River
Your fly choices on the Yampa River can change with the drop of a hat, therefor we recommend carrying these fail-safe flies with you at all times, and refer to local fly shops for the most up-to-date beta on fishing conditions.
Best Fly Shop in Steamboat
For the most up-to-date beta on Yampa River fishing conditions, we recommend calling the folks at Steamboat Flyfisher. They are the local pros in the area you can trust, and will set you in the right direction.
If you are looking for a guided fishing trip on the Yampa, the guides at Steamboat Flyfisher will get you on fish! They offer float fishing trips and walk/walk trips and have access to some private water. Prices range from $350 to $1,100, depending on the size of the group and the type of trip.
Final Thoughts on FLy Fishing in Colorado
These eight Colorado trout streams are just a few of the many excellent fly fishing destinations in Colorado.
For detailed reports on some of the lesser-known places to fly fish in Colorado, we invite you to check out Slackwater’s Colorado Trout Stream Review.
Before any trip, check local regulations and licensing requirements, and consider hiring a fly fishing guide to ensure a successful trip.
Thanks for reading.
