.png?width=300&height=100&name=Copy%20of%20Rise%20Beyond%20Logo%2012.31.24%20(300%20x%20100%20px).png "Rise Beyond Fly Fishing Co. logo featuring a cowboy riding a large trout, holding a fishing rod in one hand and a camera in the other, with stylized text in a rugged, outdoor-themed font")
.png)
The Middle Colorado River offers a variety of fly fishing opportunities, especially in the stretch between Glenwood Springs and Rifle, Colorado. Known for its larger fish and slower-moving waters, this section is ideal for anglers seeking bigger brown and rainbow trout. With numerous access points, including Two Rivers Park and Grizzly Creek, you can easily wade or float through prime trout territory.
This stretch is sliding into fall in all the right ways. Morning skies are crisp, water clarity is excellent after recent rains, and trout are easing into shifting their feeding windows. Midday heat still threatens—but the midge & BWO show into evening are looking extra sharp.
If you’re planning a float or wade between Glenwood Springs and Rifle, get up early. When the sun climbs, the river drops into shadows and trout tuck into deeper seams. Dry-fly love is still strong around dawn and dusk; streamers and well-placed nymphs carry the action through the rest of the day.
Conditions Summary
%20(2).png?width=800&height=175&name=Guide%20Rating%20(800%20x%20175%20px)%20(2).png)
- Flow Rate: ~1,770 CFS below Glenwood Springs — stable, sight-fishing friendly
- Water Temp: Low 60s°F in mornings; can push into low 70s°F by afternoon
- Air Temp: Crisp mornings, warming into the 70s midday
- Clarity: Excellent — clear water, trout visible in shallows and seams
- Best Times: Sunrise to ~11 AM for dries; streamer/nymph game later in the day
- Fishing Pressure: Moderate — easy access points busy, side pockets quieter
Hatch Chart – Middle Basin Near Glenwood Springs (Late Summer → Early Fall)
| Insect Group | Presence |
|---|---|
| BWOs | ⭐⭐ |
| PMDs | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Tricos | ⭐⭐ |
| Caddis | ⭐⭐ |
| Yellow Sallies | ⭐⭐ |
| Stoneflies | ⭐⭐ |
| Terrestrials | ⭐ (dropping off) |
Notes: The early fall shift is underway: PMDs and midges are getting more consistent, BWOs linger especially in cooler pockets, and terrestrials are fading as the nights cool quickly.
Flies on the Line
Nymphs / Emergers
- RS2 (Olive or Gray, sizes 18-20)
- PMD nymphs / Barr’s emergers
- Yellow Sally nymphs (size ~14-16)
- Smaller stonefly nymphs in slower seams
Dries / Terrestrials
- BWO spinners / emergers (#20-22)
- Foam or Elk Hair Caddis (#16-18)
- Hoppers / Chubbys in mornings (if still active)
- Black Beetles / Ants for calm pockets early or late
Streamers
- Slump Busters or Sculpzillas for deep shadowed banks
- Olive or black leeches/tubes when water warms
- Try articulated streamers on swing in turbulent banks late day
Tactical Playbook
- Early Mornings: Prime dry/fly and dry-dropper action. Trico isn’t heavy yet, but BWOs & PMDs are going off. Focus shallows, edges, seams.
- Mid-Morning to Midday: As sun warms the water, switch to deeper nymphs or streamer work. Trout will move deep or into shade.
- Late Afternoon / Evening: Watch for evening rises. Midges and BWO popups; streamer stripping in near structure can generate takes.
- Rig Note: Long, delicate leaders (12-14 ft), fine tippet (5-6X when trying dries), and be ready to strip streamers aggressively when fish move shallow along edges.
Access & Flow Zones
- Grizzly Creek to Rifle — good for floats and accessing deeper runs that hold fish once midday heating kicks in.
- Two Rivers Park, Glenwood Springs — accessible early mornings; expect more pressure.
- Shadowed pockets along banks — especially those shaded by trees or terrain — low & clear water makes trout predictable here.
FAQs – Glenwood Springs Section
Q: How serious is the heat threshold?
A: Once water temps hit low-70s°F, trout slow drastically—especially in shallow sunlit water. Hit early or stay deep.
Q: Dry flies worth packing now?
A: Yes — early and evening windows are still strong for dries (BWOs, PMDs, caddis), especially in shaded or low-angle sun areas.
Q: Where are the best spots for streamers?
A: Deep banks, undercut logs, drop-offs near structures. Evening shadows often trigger aggression.
Q: What size tippet / leader?
A: Delicate: 12-14 ft leaders, 5-6X when fishing dries or emergers. For streamer/nymph work, 4-5X with heavy flies.
Q: Floating or wading this section?
A: Both are valid. Floats shine for covering ground and structure; wading gives stealth in quieter runs & pockets.
%20(12).png?width=800&height=450&name=Animas%20River%20(1600%20x%20900%20px)%20(12).png)
RIVER WHISPER | SPOT FINDER | NEW!
Where to fish today! Tired of fly shops feeding you outdated, half-baked reports just to push gear? Us too. That’s why River Whisper exists—to cut through the noise and give you real, up-to-date, no-BS fly fishing reports for Colorado.
