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Looking the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado Today - (Yes Today). Updated May 8 2025. Forget stale reports. Today’s best fly fishing in Colorado is happening right now, and we’ve got the insider scoop—straight from the rivers, no fluff, no recycled fly shop sales pitch.
Whether you’re chasing rising trout on dries or dredging deep with nymphs, these are the rivers turning on today, with the flies and tactics you need to catch.
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Top Rivers for Fly Fishing in Colorado Today
South Platte River
Flows are holding steady at 180 CFS with clear water and steady mid-morning hatches. Trout are podded up in deeper runs and feeding on emerging midges and BWOs. Rising fish can be found sipping in slower seams.
Best flies today:
- RS2 (#20)
- Barr’s Emerger (#18)
- San Juan Worm (#14)
Tip: Focus on late morning to early afternoon when BWOs are most active.
👉 Drift light nymph rigs through deeper buckets.
👉 Be ready to switch to a dry fly during the hatch window.
👉 Avoid spooking fish in skinny water—approach from downstream with longer leaders.
Best Time to Fish:
⭐ 10am–2pm for the most consistent surface and subsurface activity.
Arkansas River
Flows are up to 320 CFS with slightly stained water. Midges and early caddis are starting to show in the mid-valley, with BWOs still the dominant hatch up higher near Browns Canyon.
Best flies today:
- Elk Hair Caddis (#16)
- Rainbow Warrior (#18)
- Pat’s Rubberlegs (#14)
Tip: Hit the banks with a dry-dropper rig by late morning as fish push into the shallows.
👉 Cover water actively—fish are spread out.
👉 Expect increasing activity into the early evening as water temps rise.
👉 Switch to swinging soft hackles mid-afternoon as caddis emerge.
Best Time to Fish:
⭐ 11am–4pm for active fish moving into shallow riffles and seams.
Blue River (below Dillon Reservoir)
Flows remain steady at 110 CFS with gin-clear water. Fish are selective but feeding steadily on midges and mysis shrimp.
Best flies today:
- Mysis Shrimp (#18)
- Black Beauty (#22)
- Top Secret Midge (#24)
Tip: Midday is key for sipping fish in slower tailouts and seams.
👉 Use 6x fluorocarbon and a long leader for stealth.
👉 Watch for subtle sips—sight fish with tiny dries.
👉 Perfect drifts are mandatory; spooked fish won’t eat.
Best Time to Fish:
⭐ 12 pm–3 pm for the most predictable midge and mysis feeding windows.
Hatches Happening Today
Here’s what’s hatching across Colorado’s rivers today:
| River | Hatches |
|---|---|
| South Platte | BWOs, midges |
| Arkansas River | BWOs, early caddis |
| Blue River | Midges, mysis |
| Fryingpan River | BWOs, mysis |
| Colorado River | BWOs, midges |
Best Flies for Colorado Fly Fishing Today
Don’t leave home without these flies in your box today:
- RS2 (#20)
- Barr’s Emerger (#18)
- San Juan Worm (#14)
- Elk Hair Caddis (#16)
- Rainbow Warrior (#18)
- Pat’s Rubberlegs (#14)
- Mysis Shrimp (#18)
- Black Beauty (#22)
- Top Secret Midge (#24)
- Pheasant Tail (#16)
- JuJu Baetis (#18)
Pro Tips for Fly Fishing in Colorado Today
- Be on the water by 9 a.m. to beat wind and pressure.
- Target soft seams and shallow riffles in the morning; move to deeper pools by midday.
- Adjust nymph depth frequently as flows fluctuate.
- Dry-dropper rigs shine late morning as bugs become active.
- Bring long leaders (10–12 feet) and 6x tippet for pressured tailwaters.
FAQs: Best Fly Fishing in Colorado Today
Where’s the best fly fishing near Denver today?
Deckers on the South Platte is producing with BWOs hatching mid-morning and flows around 180 CFS.
What’s the best fly for Colorado rivers today?
An RS2 (#20) or Barr’s Emerger (#18) is catching fish during BWO hatches; try Mysis Shrimp (#18) for tailwater bigs.
Is runoff affecting fly fishing today?
Runoff is starting on freestones but tailwaters like the South Platte, Blue, and Fryingpan remain clear and fishable.
Final Recommendation: Where to Fish Today
If you’re chasing technical trout and a shot at big bows, hit Deckers or the Fryingpan. For more action with BWOs and early caddis, the Arkansas near Buena Vista is your move. Want to sight fish? The Blue River is technical but rewarding.
Wherever you fish today, pack small flies, long leaders, and patience. Colorado’s rivers are fishing well today—get after it.
Tight lines. Send us your fish pics!
