Colorado tailwaters carry the fall fishing as rivers run low

What's biting

What's next

Expect the same low, clear pattern to hold through the week. Our gauge near the 09095500 site reads 1,470 cfs at 60°F, and the 09106485 gauge shows 366 cfs at 63°F. Both are comfortable for trout in the cool part of the day but warm enough to make afternoons less productive on the lower, slower stretches. Plan on early morning and late afternoon, and move up in elevation or to tailwater releases when the sun is high.

With a New Moon this week, darker nights tend to push fish to feed more during daylight edges, so first and last light are worth the effort. As Crystal Fly Shop notes, flies generally downsize as the river continues to drop, so stay with small nymphs, midges and light tippets. A streamer bite should be decent on the bigger water, with Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing advising anglers to watch temperatures closely and quit fishing when they reach 67 degrees. Cutthroat Anglers (CO) puts the hard line at 68°F, so carry a thermometer and keep fish wet.

Context

This is a typical window for the seasonal switch from summer to fall patterns on Colorado trout water, though this year runs unusually lean. Colorado Trout Hunters describes the second worst snowpack on record followed by a scorching summer, and Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing calls it among the worst droughts on record. Tailwaters remain the most dependable option, and Brown Trout typically begin staging for autumn spawning movements around now, so give redds and spawning fish plenty of room and check state regulations before keeping fish.