Colorado is home to some of the finest tailwater and freestone trout fishing in the United States — a state where blue-ribbon designated trout waters exist within an hour’s drive of the Denver metro area and world-famous rivers like the South Platte, Arkansas, and Frying Pan attract fly anglers from around the world. At over 4 million acres of public land and thousands of miles of fishable river, Colorado offers an extraordinary range of fly fishing opportunity from the technical dry fly fishing of heavily fished tailwaters to the pristine solitude of high-alpine wilderness streams.
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Colorado’s Premier Fly Fishing Rivers
South Platte River — Cheesman Canyon and Eleven Mile
The South Platte River below Cheesman Reservoir offers two legendary sections. Cheesman Canyon (the Gold Medal section between Cheesman and Deckers) is considered one of the most technically demanding dry fly fisheries in the country — the fish are large (brown trout averaging 16–22 inches), the hatches are prolific, and the pressured fish in this canyon are extraordinarily selective. Midge fishing with size 22–28 flies is the winter standard; Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, and Trico hatches drive summer dry fly fishing. Eleven Mile Canyon above Eleven Mile Reservoir offers more accessible rainbow and brown trout fishing in a spectacular canyon setting.
The South Platte below Deckers to Trumbull is a larger, more open stretch with less pressure and excellent fishing for wade anglers using soft hackle wets, streamers, and nymphs. Denver is approximately 45 minutes from the Deckers section — the most accessible world-class tailwater fishery from a major US city.
Frying Pan River — Trophy Brown Trout Tailwater
The Frying Pan River below Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt, Colorado (between Aspen and Glenwood Springs) consistently produces the largest average-size trout of any Colorado river. Browns and rainbows averaging 18–22 inches are common; fish over 24 inches are caught regularly. The first 14 miles below the dam are designated Gold Medal water. The river is smaller and more intimate than the South Platte — easy wading in most sections, excellent dry fly fishing from May through October, and exceptional midge and Baetis (BWO) fishing fall through spring. Basalt, CO is the hub town with multiple fly shops and guide services.
Arkansas River — Salida to Cañon City Gold Medal Corridor
The Arkansas River from Salida downstream through the Royal Gorge to Cañon City holds one of the highest densities of wild brown trout of any Colorado river. The Gold Medal designation covers the most productive section. A larger, freestone river compared to the South Platte tailwaters, the Arkansas fishes differently — streamers and larger nymphs work well in the higher flows, and terrestrial (grasshopper and cricket) fishing is exceptional from July through September. The Browns Canyon National Monument section near Salida is spectacular both for fishing and scenery.
Colorado River and Upper Tributaries
The upper Colorado River from its headwaters near Grand Lake through Kremmling offers accessible wild trout fishing with less pressure than the marquee tailwaters. Ranches along the river provide private access for a fee in some sections; public access points are available throughout. The Roaring Fork River from Aspen to Glenwood Springs is another excellent mid-size trout river with good public access and consistent rainbow and brown trout fishing throughout the season.
High-Country Alpine Fishing
Colorado’s 1,000+ miles of high-altitude streams (above 10,000 feet) provide a completely different fly fishing experience — small cutthroat and brook trout in spectacular wilderness settings, accessible only by trail. Rocky Mountain National Park holds excellent wild cutthroat in the headwater streams of the Colorado River drainage; special regulations apply (check NPS fishing permit requirements). The Weminuche Wilderness in southwest Colorado holds pristine cutthroat trout in remote drainages.
Colorado Fly Fishing Calendar
| Month | Technique / Hatch | Best Rivers |
|---|---|---|
| March–April | Midge and BWO (Blue-Winged Olive) hatches; technical dry fly on tailwaters | Frying Pan, South Platte (Cheesman) |
| May–June | PMDs, Caddis, Stoneflies; runoff on freestone rivers (avoid upper rivers June) | Frying Pan, South Platte below Cheesman |
| July–August | Hopper fishing; terrestrials; evening caddis hatches | Arkansas, upper Colorado, Roaring Fork |
| September–October | Fall BWOs, streamer fishing for big browns (spawning); best streamer month | All rivers — October is Colorado’s best month overall |
| November–February | Midge fishing; technical size 22–28 dry flies; nymph rigs on tailwaters | Frying Pan, South Platte — open year-round |
Colorado Fishing License
Non-resident annual fishing license: approximately $56 at cpw.state.co.us. Annual licenses are valid January 1 through December 31. A Habitat Stamp ($10) is also required. Gold Medal and Wild Trout designations do not require additional permits but carry specific regulations (artificial lures only in many sections; check the Colorado Parks & Wildlife regulations booklet for specific water rules).
Related: Montana Fly Fishing Guide | How to Catch Rainbow Trout