Colorado Trout Field Guide

Rig it right for trout, anywhere.

Everything you need to plan your next day on the water: live river conditions with today's rig-of-the-day pick, a 278-entry fly-pairing database by season and river, a searchable fly finder, a directory of real fly shops, and rod picks across every price tier. Currently covers Colorado's tailwaters and freestones alike, from the South Platte and Fryingpan to the Eagle River, Gore Creek, Taylor River, and the Yampa near Steamboat, with more regions coming as we expand. Go Pro for personalized picks and the full specs and sources behind every recommendation.

278Sourced fly combos

28Rivers tracked live

40+Cited fly-shop & guide sources

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Free · Live Data

Live river conditions

Real-time streamflow (CFS) and gauge height from USGS Water Services for the rivers covered in the rig combinations below. Refreshes automatically. No account needed. Every tracked river is also re-picked for today's live flow: tap any card to flip it and see our recommended rig of the day.

Live river conditions (JavaScript disabled -- showing latest available reading):

Animas River: 1,030 cfs, gauge 3.43 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 58°F -- Animas River closure (voluntary)

Arkansas River: 248 cfs, gauge 3.56 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions -- Arkansas River, Tailwater below Pueblo Dam closure (voluntary)

Blue River: 53.9 cfs, gauge 0.86 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 44°F -- Tough fishing

Blue River (Below Green Mountain): 256 cfs, gauge 3.79 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions

Boulder Creek: 34.1 cfs, gauge 4.65 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers)

Cache la Poudre River: 48.3 cfs, gauge 1.07 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Tough fishing

Clear Creek: 56.3 cfs, gauge 3.69 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers)

Colorado River: 816 cfs, gauge 2.18 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 63°F -- Prime conditions

Conejos River: 86.9 cfs, gauge n/a

Crystal River: 132 cfs, gauge 1.09 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions

Dolores River: 5 cfs, gauge n/a -- Too low to fish

Eagle River: 68.5 cfs, gauge 2.67 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Eagle River closure (voluntary)

East River: 127 cfs, gauge 2.84 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 59°F -- Prime conditions

Fraser River: 20.9 cfs, gauge 3.47 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 59°F -- Too low to fish

Fryingpan River: 165 cfs, gauge 1.74 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions

Gore Creek: 15.4 cfs, gauge 4.57 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Tough fishing

Gunnison River: 209 cfs, gauge 0.99 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 63°F -- Gunnison River (8/7/2026) closure (voluntary)

Gunnison River (Below Gunnison Tunnel): 256 cfs, gauge 1.62 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Tough fishing

Middle Fork South Platte: 11 cfs, gauge n/a -- Tough fishing -- Middle Fork South Platte River closure (voluntary)

North Platte River: 52.8 cfs, gauge 2.39 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Tough fishing

Rio Grande River: 608 cfs, gauge n/a -- Rio Grande - South Fork closure (voluntary); Rio Grande closure (voluntary)

Roaring Fork River: 397 cfs, gauge 5.4 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 57°F -- Prime conditions

San Juan River: 180 cfs, gauge 4.56 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions

San Miguel River: 189 cfs, gauge 4.64 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions

South Platte: 78.7 cfs, gauge 3 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Tough fishing

South Platte (Dream Stream): 63.3 cfs, gauge n/a -- Tough fishing -- South Platte River (Dream Stream) closure (voluntary)

Taylor River: 130 cfs, gauge 1.52 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 59°F

Uncompahgre River: 161 cfs, gauge 2.24 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions

White River: 204 cfs, gauge 2.28 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers) -- Prime conditions

Williams Fork River: 91.9 cfs, gauge 1.47 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers)

Yampa River: 107 cfs, gauge 1.21 ft (station-relative, not comparable across rivers), water temp 62°F -- Yampa River below Stagecoach closure (mandatory); Yampa River, Sarvis Creek State Wildlife Area closure (voluntary); Yampa River, Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area closure (voluntary)

Green "Prime conditions" and red "Tough fishing" highlights reflect general wade-fishing flow ranges published by local outfitters and guide shops near each gauge. Tap a badge for the specific range and source. These are rules of thumb, not a guarantee; always check current reports before heading out.

Why these numbers matter

Rising flow: dislodges insects and feeds fish, but the window is short before visibility drops and the bite shuts off (Gink & Gasoline, River Reports).
Falling & stable: usually the best window, as scattered fish resettle into predictable seams (River Reports).
Clarity below ~2 ft: trout move to shallows and bank edges, closer but spookier (Outdoor Life).
Before you wade: judge depth and current by eye, not the gauge alone; a sharply rising flow is a cue to fish from the bank (Angler's Covey).

Fly Pairings by Season & River

278 proven point + dropper combinations

Up to two pairings are always free to browse in full for each of the 28 tracked rivers, plus two more from our General / Statewide Tips picks (58 of 278 total). The rest are listed with season, depth, and rig visible, with fly names, leader/tippet spec, and source unlocked by .

Collected from Colorado fly-shop reports and guide-written columns. Filter by season, water depth, and rig type, or sort any column. Rows marked inferred pair flies recommended in the same discussion without an explicit point/dropper assignment from the source. The Leader & Tippet column is a computed suggestion, not part of the original fishing report. Leader is the length to fish; Point and Dropper are X-ratings: the same diameter spec described in the 4X/5X cards further down this page (an "X" number maps to a standardized diameter, e.g. 5X = 0.006 in), just sized per-fly here using Orvis's "rule of 3" (hook size ÷ 3 = tippet X-rating, see Orvis Tippet Chart), with the dropper tied one size finer when no dropper hook size is given, plus the rig-type and depth guidance covered later in this guide.

Save	Season ▲	Point Fly ▲	Dropper Fly ▲	Depth ▲	Rig ▲	Leader & Tippet ▲	River ▲	Hatch	Source
	Early Spring	Pine Squirrel Leech, Pat's Rubber Legs, Scud / small Egg pattern	RS-2, Chocolate Thunder / B's Midge #20–24	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint7X0.004″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	South Platte (Deckers)	Midges + emerging BWO/baetis	Minturn Anglers, 3/25/26
	Early Spring	Griffith's Gnat, Parachute Adams / Vis-a-dun #18–24	Unweighted/lightly weighted RS-2, Chocolate Thunder, Black Beauty / Juju Baetis #20–24	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint7X0.004″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	South Platte (Deckers)	Midge adults/clusters + BWO emergence	Minturn Anglers, 3/25/26
	Early Spring	Parachute Adams #18 (high-vis dry)	Tiny midge / baetis nymph, 12–18 in. below	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint6X0.005″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Gore Creek (Vail)	Midges + first BWOs	Colorado Angling Company, March 2026
	Early Spring	Larger #16 dry fly used as a sighter	Mole Fly, midge cluster, Baetis emerger (BWO) or cripple #18–22, fished 2 ft+ behind	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Taylor River	Midges + BWO (Baetis)	Gunnison River Fly Shop, 4/6/26
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte (Deckers)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
	Early Spring	Imitative BWO dry fly (indicator dry)	Unweighted BWO emerger behind it	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Arkansas River	BWO emergence	ArkAnglers, How to Imitate the Hatch
	Early Spring	Nymph-rig anchor / dry-dropper dry (pattern not named)	Small Zebra Midge or other slender striated pattern	Deep (>4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader9–12 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 24–30 in below dry	Arkansas River	Midge larva/pupa	ArkAnglers
	Runoff	Pat's Rubber Legs, black or brown (anchor)	Blowtorch / worm imitation	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper4X0.007″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Gunnison (statewide-applicable)	Stonefly nymph migration + attractor/worm	RIGS Fly Shop
	Runoff	Rubber-Legs Stonefly	San Juan Worm	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper4X0.007″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Statewide-general	Stonefly nymph + dislodged worms/annelids	Hatch Magazine, 5 best double nymph rigs
	Runoff	Big stonefly / Philly Cheese Cranefly larva (anchor)	Caddis pupa / midge	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Upper Colorado	Stonefly/cranefly + caddis pupa or midge	Colorado River Outfitters (guide Brian Hilbert)
	Runoff	Big foam salmonfly dry (size 6 class)	"Salmonfly Bugger" dropper	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper4X0.007″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Upper Colorado	Salmonfly (giant stonefly)	Colorado River Outfitters
	Runoff	Worm pattern on point (also caddis larva on point)	RS2 #16–20, Juju Baetis / Radiation Baetis	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint6X0.005″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Eagle River	Baetis + worm/caddis larva attractor	Rocky Mountain Anglers, 5/14/26
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Small high-country tributaries (Summit Co.)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Small creeks during runoff	🔒	🔒
	Runoff	Chubby #10–16	Mayfly / caddis imitation #14–18	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Crested Butte-area creeks	Mayfly/caddis + attractor foam	Dragonfly Anglers
	Runoff	Black Beauty, RS2 / Zebra Midge (larger of the two)	Size 20 tailwater midge trailer	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Taylor River (C&R)	Tailwater midges	Dragonfly Anglers
	Runoff	Parachute Adams / BWO dry #14–18 (tied on first)	Elk Hair Caddis #14–16 tan-olive (or black-bodied #16–18), 16–24 in. behind	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	Leader7.5–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper5X0.006″Trailer 12–18 in below lead dry	Eagle River	BWO + caddis	Michael Salomone, Vail Daily
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Colorado freestones (statewide)	🔒	🔒
	Summer	Elk-hair Caddis #16–18 (top fly)	Deep Sparkle Pupa	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint6X0.005″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Blue River	Caddis + Yellow Sally	Pat Dorsey, The New Blue
	Summer	Yellow Stimulator #14–16	Gold-bead Pheasant Tail Nymph	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Blue River	Yellow Sally + mayfly nymph	Pat Dorsey, The New Blue
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Gunnison/Uncompahgre (statewide-applicable)	🔒	🔒
	Summer	Chubby Chernobyl or other big foam dry	Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #12–16, rig ~3 ft	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Gunnison River	Golden stone/attractor + mayfly nymph	Dragonfly Anglers
	Summer	Chubby Chernobyl or other big foam dry	Spanish Bullet #14–16, brown or olive, rig ~3 ft	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Gunnison River	Attractor + generic mayfly nymph	Dragonfly Anglers
	Summer	Elk Hair Caddis #12–16	Light caddis or mayfly emerger, 12–15 in. below	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	East River (Crested Butte)	Caddis + mayfly emerger	Dragonfly Anglers
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Eagle River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	🔒	Eagle River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Colorado trout rivers (guide Dustin Harcourt)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Upper Colorado, Eagle, Roaring Fork	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
	Summer	Mysis Shrimp	RS2 dropper	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Fryingpan River	Mysis shrimp + baetis emerger	Glenwood Springs Outdoors, July 2026
	Summer	Tiny Drake	Disco Midge dropper	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Fryingpan River	Green Drake (small) + midge	Glenwood Springs Outdoors, July 2026
🔒	Summer		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor, Blue, Fryingpan	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River (Silverthorne/lower)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Summit County tailwaters (Blue)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide-general	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Colorado River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide (SW Colorado shop)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Colorado tailwaters	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte (Deckers/Cheesman)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Eagle River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Eagle River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Eagle River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor River (Catch & Release)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	🔒	Taylor River (C&R)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide-general	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Statewide		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Inferredcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Inferredcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Inferredcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Inferredcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Inferredcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Inferredcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Mixed/Other	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Inferredcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Statewide	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Mixed	Streamer	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Mixed	Streamer	🔒	Arkansas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Mixed	Streamer	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry Fly	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Euro Nymphing	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Mixed	Streamer	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Mixed	Dry Fly	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Upper Colorado	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	Upper Colorado	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Mixed	Dry Fly	🔒	Colorado River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Colorado River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Colorado River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry Fly	🔒	Colorado River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Upper Colorado	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry Fly	🔒	Upper Colorado	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Colorado River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Eagle River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Eagle River	🔒	🔒
	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)	Prince Nymph #16	Black Mercury Black Beauty #18-20	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Animas River	Larger winter "gorilla" midges	Cut Bank Outfitters - "Fly Fishing The Animas River - Tips and Tricks"
	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)	Olive RS2 #18	Black Zebra Midge #20	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint6X0.005″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Animas River	Midges / baetis nymphs	Cut Bank Outfitters - "Fly Fishing The Animas River - Tips and Tricks"
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)	Egg Pattern (peach/pink) #16-18 or small Flashback Pheasant Tail #18	Zebra Midge (black/silver) #20-24, Mercury Midge #20-22, or Top Secret Midge #22-24	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint6X0.005″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Gore Creek	Midges (primary winter food source)	Colorado Angling Company - "Gore Creek Fishing Report: January 2026"
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
	Summercommonly paired (inferred)	Hopper, small Chubby-style attractor, Caddis or other buoyant dry	Caddis Pupa, Yellow Sally nymph, Pheasant Tail, Perdigon or small BWO pattern (sizes not stated)	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Middle Fork South Platte	Tricos, caddis, Yellow Sallies, BWOs, midges, hoppers/terrestrials	Royal Gorge Anglers - "Small Water Fly Fishing Opportunities" (Middle Fork of the South Platte)
	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)	Chubby Chernobyl #10-16 (or Amy's Ant, or Foam Beetle, same size range)	RS2 #18-22 or Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, suspended below the dry	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Middle Fork South Platte	Terrestrials on top; RS2/PT cover BWO and PMD activity	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing - "Fishing Report: Middle Fork of the South Platte River, 10.18.2024"
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Middle Fork South Platte	🔒	🔒
	Summercommonly paired (inferred)	Small Chubby terrestrial (size not stated)	Small trico nymph / PMD nymph / attractor nymph (size not stated)	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	North Platte River	Trico, PMD	Orvis Fly Fishing Reports - "North Platte River \| CO Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions"
	Summercommonly paired (inferred)	Stonefly or hopper dry pattern (size not stated)	PMD, caddis or green drake nymph (size not stated)	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	North Platte River	Stoneflies, hoppers, PMD, caddis, green drake	St. Peter's Fly Shop - "Upper North Platte River Fishing Report"
	Summer	Hopper - "play around with different color hoppers" (size not stated)	Small perdigon or small bullet quill (size not stated)	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Rio Grande River	Terrestrials (hoppers); little stoneflies hatching at night	Rio Grande Angler (Creede) - "7/21/26 fishing report"
	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)	Small Zebra Midge #20-24	Baetis nymph (size not stated)	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint7X0.004″Dropper8X0.003″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Rio Grande River	Midges, Blue-Winged Olives	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing - "Rio Grande River Fly Fishing Report Near Creede Colorado" (November report)
	Early Spring	Pat's Rubber Legs (Olive/Brown) #10-14, 20-Incher Stone #12-14, or Egg Pattern #16	RS2 (Gray/Olive) #18-22, Juju Baetis #20-22, or Manhattan Midge #20	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Roaring Fork River	BWO emergence, midges, lingering egg bite	Colorado Angling Company - "Roaring Fork River Fishing Report: March 2026"
	Early Spring	Coachman Trude or high-vis BWO (buoyant attractor, size not stated)	Small Baetis nymph, 2 feet below (pattern/size not stated)	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Roaring Fork River	Baetis / BWO	Colorado Angling Company - "Roaring Fork River Fishing Report: March 2026"
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Roaring Fork River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Roaring Fork River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)	Lead attractor: #18 pink or red Flashtail San Juan, #16-18 orange or olive Hunchback Scud, or 6mm troutbead (mottled glow roe / mottled snow roe)	Dropper: #22 Jujubee, Top Secret Midge, Disco Midge, purple Juju Baetis, or RS2 (black flashwing RS2 called out)	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint6X0.005″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Yampa River	Midges, small baetis	Minturn Anglers - "Yampa River Tailwater \| Steamboat Winter Fly Fishing"
	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)	JuJu Baetis #18 (lead fly)	Top Secret Midge #22 (dropper)	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint6X0.005″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Yampa River	Midges (primary), baetis (secondary)	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing - "Yampa River Fly Fishing Report Colorado \| Updated March 4, 2026"
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Yampa River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	🔒	Yampa River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Middle Fork South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Wintercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Middle Fork South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Middle Fork South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Middle Fork South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Middle Fork South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Mixed/Other	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Mixed/Other	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Rio Grande River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Rio Grande River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Rio Grande River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Rio Grande River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Rio Grande River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Mixed/Other	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Gore Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Roaring Fork River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Roaring Fork River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Yampa River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Yampa River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Yampa River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Yampa River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Animas River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Euro Nymphing	🔒	Fryingpan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Mixed	Streamer	🔒	Gunnison River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Middle Fork South Platte	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Mixed	Streamer	🔒	North Platte River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry Fly	🔒	Rio Grande River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Rio Grande River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Roaring Fork River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	Roaring Fork River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Springcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	Taylor River	🔒	🔒
	Summer	Amy's Ant #14 / Black Beetle #16	Frenchie #18 / Pheasant Tail #18-20	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Cache la Poudre River	Trico spinners (AM), PMD (mid-morning), caddis (evening)	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, Aug 22, 2025
	Summer	Small dark terrestrials #12-16 (dry-dropper) / streamer near structure	Pheasant Tails / Prince Nymphs / quill-bodied jig nymphs #16-18	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Cache la Poudre River	Caddis, PMDs, quills/mahoganies, sallies; midges (Griffith's Gnat/Molefly)	Rocky Mountain Anglers, 8/23/26
	Summer	Gray drake patterns	Small mayfly nymphs	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Conejos River	Gray drakes	Conejos River Anglers, 07/24/2026
	Early Spring	Stonefly nymphs	Larger mayfly nymphs	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Conejos River	Stoneflies, larger mayflies	Conejos River Anglers, 04/08/2026
	Summer	Small worm pattern	Caddis emerger / PMD emerger / general mayfly dropper	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Uncompahgre River	Caddis, Pale Morning Dun	RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service, Aug 25, 2026
	Summer	Small leech pattern	Small midge or baetis pattern (brown or tan)	Medium (2-4 ft)	Euro Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper spacing rig-dependent	Uncompahgre River	PMDs (mid-morning/early afternoon), midges, baetis	Orvis Fishing Reports (Montrose Anglers), 8/17/26
	Summer	Stimulators #12-16 / Chubbies #12-16	Prince Nymph #14-18 / Copper John #12-18 / Pheasant Tail #16-20	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	San Miguel River	Caddis, Pale Morning Dun	Duranglers Crew, Aug 19, 2025
	Summer	Anti-Freeze Caddis #14	Spanish Bullet #18 / Juju Baetis #18	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	San Miguel River	Caddis	RIGS Fly Shop, Aug 25, 2026
	Summer	Parachute Adams #20-24 / Sproat Midge #20-24 / Griffith's Gnat #18-24	Killer Mayfly #20-24 / Pheasant Tail #18-22	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint7X0.004″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Dolores River	Mayflies (BWO)	Duranglers Crew, Jun 11, 2025
	Fall	Panty Dropper Hopper #8-12 / Morrish Hopper #8-12	Killer Mayfly #20-24 / Pheasant Tail #18-22	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint3X0.008″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	Dolores River	Mayflies, PMD	NevadaFishReports.com, Sep 8, 2023
	Early Spring	Zebra Midges #18-22	RS2 #18-22 / Pheasant Tail #18-22	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–10 ftPoint7X0.004″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 10–14 in below point	White River	Midges, Blue-Winged Olive	AvidMax Blog, White River at Meeker, April 2025
	Summer	Elk Hair Caddis #8-18 / Chernobyl Ant #8-16 / Dave's Hopper #6-12	Rainbow Warrior #16-20 / Zebra Midge #18-22	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	Leader9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 18–24 in below dry	White River	Caddis and stonefly hatches, hoppers/terrestrials by July-August	FlyGuysNLies, White River Meeker
	Summer	Chubby Chernobyls / PMXs / Stimis #8-14	Princes / Pheasant Tails / Copper Johns #14-18 (or Perdigons / Bullets / Frenchies #14-18)	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Crystal River	PMDs, caddis, small hoppers	Crystal Fly Shop, Aug 20, 2024
	Fall	Pheasant Tail #14-18	Jig Frenchie #14-18 / Perdigon #14-16	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Crystal River	Fall mayflies	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, Oct 8, 2024
🔒	Fall		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	East River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	East River	🔒	🔒
	Winter	Pat's Rubberlegs #8-12 / Jigged Pat's Rubberlegs #10-12	Pheasant Tail #16-18 / Blowtorch #14-16	Shallow (<2 ft)	Euro Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper spacing rig-dependent	San Juan River	Midges	Duranglers Crew via floridafishreports.com, Jan 9, 2026
	Summer	Prince nymphs #10-14 / Pat's Rubberlegs #4-8	Pheasant Tails #18-22 / RS-2 #18-20	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint3X0.008″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	San Juan River	Stoneflies, caddis	Duranglers Crew via coloradofishreports.com, Jun 26, 2023
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Cache la Poudre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Cache la Poudre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Cache la Poudre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Cache la Poudre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Conejos River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Conejos River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Conejos River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Conejos River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Uncompahgre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Mixed	Streamer	🔒	Uncompahgre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Uncompahgre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Euro Nymphing	🔒	Uncompahgre River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	🔒	San Miguel River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	San Miguel River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	San Miguel River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	San Miguel River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	Dolores River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry Fly	🔒	Dolores River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Dolores River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Dolores River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Mixed	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	White River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	White River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	White River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	White River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Crystal River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Crystal River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Crystal River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fall		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Crystal River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	East River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	East River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	East River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	East River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	San Juan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Runoff		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	San Juan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	San Juan River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	San Juan River	🔒	🔒
	Summer	Elk Hair Caddis #14-16	Griffith's Gnat #16-18 trailed behind as a double-dry	Shallow (<2 ft)	Tandem Dry	Leader7.5–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Trailer 12–18 in below lead dry	Clear Creek	General attractor/midge surface activity, warm afternoons	Rocky Mountain Anglers, Clear Creek report
	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)	Two-Bit Hooker #16 (baetis nymph)	WD-40 #20 or RS2 #20-22	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Clear Creek	Tricos (morning spinner falls), light BWOs	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, Clear Creek report 9/23/25
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Clear Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Clear Creek	🔒	🔒
	Early Spring	Elk Hair Caddis #16 or Mini Chubby #16	Micro Frenchie #18 to Black Beauty #20, spaced 18-24 inches below the dry	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Boulder Creek	Midges (dominant), early Baetis (secondary)	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, Boulder Creek report 5/2026
	Winter	Zebra Midge #20	Black Beauty #22	Shallow (<2 ft)	Euro Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint7X0.004″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper spacing rig-dependent	Boulder Creek	Midges (winter pattern)	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, Boulder Creek report 1/20/26
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Boulder Creek	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summercommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	🔒	Boulder Creek	🔒	🔒
	Summer	Green Drake Sparkle Dun #12	Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #16	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Fraser River	Green Drakes, Caddis	Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, best fly fishing in Colorado roundup
	Summercommonly paired (inferred)	Chubby Chernobyl or Parachute Hopper #10-12 (attractor dry)	Juju Baetis or Two Bit Hooker #16-18	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry-Dropper	Leader7–9 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper6X0.005″Dropper 12–18 in below dry	Fraser River	Mixed attractor/baetis activity	Troutline.co, Fraser River guide; DIY Fly Fishing, Fraser River fly list
🔒	Runoffcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Euro Nymphing	🔒	Fraser River	🔒	🔒
	Fall	Micro Egg or Mini Leech	Small baetis or midge emerger	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader9–12 ftPoint4X0.007″Dropper5X0.006″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Williams Fork River	Migratory brown trout run, sporadic BWOs	Blue Quill Angler, Williams Fork river page
	Summercommonly paired (inferred)	Wired Stone Fly Brown #14-16 (heavier anchor)	RS2 gray or WD-40 grey #18-24, or a San Juan Worm/small leech	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	Leader10–15 ftPoint5X0.006″Dropper7X0.004″Dropper 12–18 in below point	Williams Fork River	PMDs, Caddis, Golden Stoneflies	FishColorado, Williams Fork River report
🔒	Statewidecommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Medium (2-4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Williams Fork River	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River (Below Green Mountain)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Winter		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River (Below Green Mountain)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Early Spring		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River (Below Green Mountain)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River (Below Green Mountain)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Fallcommonly paired (inferred)		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Indicator Nymphing	🔒	Blue River (Below Green Mountain)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Shallow (<2 ft)	Dry Fly	🔒	Blue River (Below Green Mountain)	🔒	🔒
🔒	Summer		🔒	Deep (>4 ft)	Streamer	🔒	Blue River (Below Green Mountain)	🔒	🔒

73 Sourced Patterns

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Rod	Price	Length & skill	Weight	Action	Best for	Buy
Fenwick Eagle Fly Rod (5 wt, 9', 4-piece)Under $200	$69.99	9ft · Beginner	5wt	Medium-Fast action	All-Around	View & buy → Sierra
Echo Lift 480-4 (8' 4wt)Under $200	$124.99	8ft · Beginner	4wt	Medium-Fast action	Small Stream	View & buy → Trident Fly Fishing
Douglas Outdoors ERA 590-4 (9' 5wt)Under $200	$149.00	9ft · Beginner	5wt	Fast action	All-Around	View & buy → Trident Fly Fishing
Redington Path II 590-4 (9' 5wt)Under $200	$149.99	9ft · Beginner	5wt	Medium-Fast action	All-Around	View & buy → The Fly Shack
Temple Fork Outfitters NXT Black Label 486-4 (8'6" 4wt)Under $200	$179.95	8.5ft · Beginner	4wt	Medium action	Small Stream	View & buy → Temple Fork Outfitters

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