3 Rivers You Must Fish This Weekend in Colorado - Before Fall Hits Hard

October weekends hit different. The aspen leaves are gone, the morning frost bites back, and the trout are hitting just enough to keep your fingers numb. Every drift feels like the last one before winter claims your soul — or at least your motivation to de-ice your guides.

So, if you’re planning to fish this weekend, don’t overthink it. Here are three rivers that are actually worth the gas money right now — plus how to fish them without looking like another guy who just discovered a Euro-nymph rod.

Dream Stream – Browns with Attitude

The Dream Stream is doing what it does every October — getting crowded, cold, and full of browns that look like they belong in Alaska. The kokanee are fading, but the big fish are staging and still taking small emergers if you play your cards right.

What’s working:

• RS2s, Barr’s Emergers, and small leeches (#12–16)
• Tricos early, BWOs mid-day, streamers if the clouds roll in

Best time: 9 AM – 2 PM when the wind chills and the fish slide shallow.

Pro tip: Don’t crowd the redds. If a fish is glowing orange on a gravel bar, let it do its thing — the real eaters are hanging just downstream waiting for the leftovers.

Blue River – Smart Trout, Stupid-Good Views

If you’ve ever wanted to feel deeply judged by a trout, head to the Blue. The water is too clear, the fish are too smart, and yet it’s one of the few tailwaters still fishing steady as the temps drop.

What’s working:

• RS2s (#22), Black Beauties (#24), Orange Scuds (#16–18)
• Micro leeches near the dam on cloudy days

Best time: Late morning through early afternoon — when the light flattens and the scuds drift.

Pro tip: The water’s low enough to sight fish. Kneel. Seriously. You’ll see more, spook less, and actually get a cast in before a Silverthorne jogger asks if you’ve “caught any.”

Upper Arkansas near Salida – Fast Water, Fat Fish

If you’re tired of tailwaters and techy trout, the Upper Ark is your weekend soul reset. Flows are perfect, browns are active pre-spawn, and the crowds are half what they were two weeks ago.

What’s working:

• Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, and BWO emergers (#18–20)
• Small streamers like Thin Mints and Mini Leeches when the sun fades

Best time: Midday through afternoon — it warms fast, and fish move into riffles early.

Pro tip: Skip the obvious pull-offs. Walk 10 minutes and you’ll double your catch rate and cut your blood pressure in half.

Bottom Line

This weekend isn’t about numbers. It’s about not staring out your window all winter thinking, “I should’ve gone.” Grab a handful of small flies, a thermos, and maybe someone who doesn’t talk too much.

You’ll thank yourself when the snow starts stacking on your waders next month.