Colorado River
Whether you like drift boating big water, wading the river, or exploring the mountain headwater reaches, the Colorado River has something to offer for any angler looking for a good fishing river. The headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Middle Park section, the Upper Colorado, and the Lower Colorado are all great sections of this river system to fish. Access is good, trout populations are strong, and the scenery is breathtaking.
The Colorado River is Colorado's biggest watershed, and is the most important watershed in the driest part of the nation. The river starts its journey as an unassuming high-mountain trout stream, with its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park around 10,000 feet above sea level. It meanders through beaver ponds, backwater sloughs, undercut banks, and side channels before pouring into Shadow Mountain Reservoir, one of many reservoirs the river will meet along its path.
The season is short in the headwater stretch of the Colorado River. The stream is high and cold through the spring and early summer, with the best fishing months in July, August and September. The frost comes early at that altitude and by October, fishing is done for the season.
After the Colorado River leaves Lake Granby, it flows into the Middle Park section. This is where you will find the "Promised Land", miles of public water with ideal structure for fly fishing. The trout are numerous with a flies-and-lures only regulation and catch and release on trout as this stretch of river is considered Wild Trout Gold Medal Water.
The Upper Colorado is best fished from a raft or drift boat, with little access for wade fishing. As you reach the Lower Colorado, two major tributaries and several clear-running creeks enter the river. The water quality is excellent and this section is where the largest trout on average are found on the entire river system.
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