When Colorado Fish Eat + When Guides Actually Have Time = Less Crowds and Easy Booking

When Colorado Fish Eat- and When Guides Actually Have Time

You’re picking your dates for a guided fly fishing trip in Colorado.
Naturally, you ask: “When’s the best time to go?”

But what you should really be asking is:
“When are the fish eating- and when can I actually book a guide who’s not burned out?”

Because timing isn’t just about hatches. It’s about people. Water. Pressure. And whether your guide’s had three hours of sleep in a week.

Here’s how to thread the needle.

Listen to the Podcast

Photo Credit: @CWSFF Book Colt From Colorado West Slope Fly Fishing Here

When the Fish Are On

Let’s start with the obvious: when the fish eat.

Spring (March–May)
Pros: Pre-runoff windows can be stellar on tailwaters like the South Platte. Midges and BWOs come alive.
Cons: Cold mornings. Flows can spike fast with melt. You’re on the clock before runoff hits in late May.

Summer (June–August)
Pros: Prime time. Stoneflies, caddis, drakes. Float season on the Colorado and Roaring Fork. High-country creeks open up.
Cons: Everyone knows it. Rivers get busy. So do guides.

Fall (September–October)
Pros: Cool nights, hungry browns, fewer people. Some of the best streamer and technical dry fly fishing of the year.
Cons: Shorter days. Colder mornings. But worth it if you’re stealthy.

Winter (November–February)
Pros: Solitude. Consistent flows on tailwaters. Midges and the occasional riser if you're lucky.
Cons: Not for the faint of layering. But some guides run trips- especially on the Arkansas, South Platte, and Fryingpan.

"Off-season" in Colorado is a myth. Fish still eat. You just have to dress smarter and fish slower.

Photo Credit: @CWSFF Book Jeff From Colorado West Slope Fly Fishing Here

When Guides Actually Have Time

Here’s what most anglers miss: the best guides are booked solid during peak windows- sometimes months out.

High-Demand Times (Book Early):

• June–August weekends: Book 2–3 months in advance.
• Spring break (March), early July holidays, late September: These windows get snatched up fast.
• Float season: Limited by flows = limited by boat slots.

Easier-to-Book Windows (Still Great Fishing):

• Midweek dates year-round
• Late August into early September: Great fishing, post-summer slowdown
• Late October: Underrated, especially for browns on streamers
• Early spring (late Feb–mid March): Snow still around, but tailwater action is solid

Photo Credit: @CWSFF Book Jacob AKA "Carppy" From Colorado West Slope Fly Fishing Here

Aligning the Two: Fish vs. Humans

It’s not always about “best.” It’s about trade-offs.

• Want solitude and learning? Aim shoulder seasons (March, late October).
• Want peak bugs and dry flies? Book early, go midweek, and expect crowds.
• Want float access? Watch flows- May through mid-July is your window.
• Want flexibility? Ask guides when they like to fish- not just when the calendar looks warm.

A great day isn’t just when the hatch goes off- it’s when your guide isn’t staring down three doubles in a row.

Booking Tip: Think Like a Local

Locals know: spring is gold, weekdays beat weekends, and you can absolutely fish in February if you know where to go.

So don’t just book for the weather.
Book for the rhythm. Of the rivers. And the people who live by them.