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| Sawan Nail with a brown from the upper Colorado. |
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colorado river
From her headwaters on the west side of the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) all the way to the confluence of the Gunnison the Colorado River can offer some spectacular fishing opportunities. Whether you are looking to fish the Colorado as she runs through the national park or a looking to float the lower river, the Colorado has something for every angler.
upper colorado river
(current flow rate/windy gap, current weather/Parshall, CO)
The Colorado River starts it long journey in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), and meanders her way through meadow and canyon country on the way to Utah and beyond. Excellent fishing can be found along much of the stretch we consider the upper Colorado. With small stream fishing at the headwaters to a mid-sized river as the Colorado meets the Williams Fork River this section of the Colorado offers some very intimate fishing in some of Colorado's great high country. This report is essentially for the upper Colorado from Byers Canyon to just below the town of Kremmeling.
The river gets much larger as it makes it's way west and has legendary hatches of pteronarcys, known to most as the salmonfly. These massive insects swarm the Colorado during high peak flows, and some of the biggest fish in the river lose their inhibitions to come to the surface and smack these gargantuan bugs. Hitting this hatch can be very difficult in the spring, but when you hit it right it can blow your mind. Much of the rest of the season on the upper Colorado fish can be taken on both dry flies and nymphs, so regardless of what type of fly fisherman you may be, you can definitely have satisfying days on this wonderful river.
Fishing near Parshall below the Williams Fork confluence has been the go to spot on the Colorado. Though it gets chilly in middle park this time of year, bundle yourself up, grab a flask and tie into some fish. The river has been less populous on the weekdays so take a day off work and get up to fish the Colorado.
Current recommended flies: #16-#18 prince nymph, , #16-#18 psycho prince, #16-#18 breadcrust, #18-#22 rainbow warrior, #18-#22 RSII, #16-#18 red copper john, #10-#16 Pat's rubber legs, #18-#24 jujbee midge, red san juan worms, #16 nuke eggs, #18-#24 black beauty, #18-#24 blood midge, #20-#24 top secret midge.
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