Rise Beyond Colorado Fly Fishing Report

The Yampa River is a tailwater gem, especially in sections near Stagecoach Reservoir and Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area, is fishing exceptionally well. Midges and Blue-Winged Olives are hatching steadily, giving you plenty of opportunities for surface action. Whether you're nymphing or stripping streamers for aggressive browns, this river is primed for a productive day on the water, with autumn colors only adding to the experi...

Bear Creek, located near Morrison, Colorado, is a small but productive stream that offers a quick fishing escape for Front Range anglers. Known for its swift pocket water, deep pools, and healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout, Bear Creek provides a range of fishing opportunities.

October on Bear Creek feels like the front range’s best-kept open secret - just not this week. The crowds are gone (flows are still tiny), the air...

Autumn in Colorado means one thing — the browns are angry and the rainbows are hungry. The leaves turn gold, the crowds vanish, and the water clears up just enough for a fish to see your mistakes in 4K clarity.

Streamer season isn’t for everyone. It’s for the hopeful, the patient, and the slightly deranged — the ones who believe that somewhere beneath that undercut, a twenty-inch brown is waiting to ruin a perfectly good morning.

If ...

Welcome to Small Fly Season

By October, Colorado trout have seen everything.
They’ve been peppered with hoppers, buzzed by streamers, and laughed at your size-12 attractors since June. Now they’re spooky, selective, and laser-focused on small, natural nymphs.

Fall is when fly boxes shrink and drifts get cleaner. It’s when “just one more good cast” turns into “okay, one more hour.”

So if you’re ready to trade bravado for precision,...

The 3 Best Rigs for Clear Creek in October

Clear Creek in October is a test of patience, stealth, and your ability to tie 6X tippet with half-frozen fingers. The water’s low, the fish are selective, and every drift feels like a coin toss between glory and humility. But when you get it right — when that tiny indicator twitches or a brown rolls on your emerger — it’s pure fall magic.

Here are three rigs that actually get it done this m...

Welcome to Clear Creek, Colorado, where the trout are wily and the water is swift! This picturesque creek runs parallel to I-70 from Georgetown to Golden, offering easy access to some fantastic fly fishing spots. 

October on Clear Creek feels like a reward for anyone who stuck it out all season. The water’s cold, the crowds are gone, and the browns are flashing in every seam. It’s small-fly season — where light rigs, quick refle...

Waterton Canyon on the South Platte River isn’t just another spot on the map, it’s a rite of passage for fly fishing enthusiasts. If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, this is the place. The canyon’s reputation as one of the most technical fisheries around isn’t just for show; it’s earned. 

Waterton in October feels like Denver’s secret backcountry — cool mornings, canyon walls glowing gold, and trout quietly sipping midges ...

This article is informational and not legal advice. When in doubt, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) or an attorney.

Exploring the rules and regulations surrounding fishing on private property in Colorado is essential for a successful fishing experience. Understanding and navigating these restrictions can make all the difference in ensuring that anglers have a safe and enjoyable time on the water.

Colorado's fishing law...

The Roaring Fork River is the place to be this October! With flows around 410 cfs in the middle section and cool, clear water, the trout are active and hungry. Fall weather is ushering in the season of aggressive brown trout, especially on streamers. You’ll find great hatches of BWOs, caddis, and midges, keeping the fish feeding throughout the day. Whether you’re drifting flies through riffles or targeting the deeper runs with nymp...

The Frying Pan River, below Ruedi Reservoir, is a fantastic trout stream. Whether fishing the upper river near the dam or exploring the lower stretches, you’re in for an exciting day of technical but rewarding fishing. Don’t forget those streamers—the browns are bulking up before the winter slowdown!

The Frying Pan is flowing at 170 CFS below Ruedi, crystal-clear, and in prime fall shape. This tailwater stays consistent when...

The Eagle River, a 60-mile freestone stream in Colorado's Vail Valley, originates near Tennessee Pass and flows northwest to join the Colorado River at Dotsero. This river offers diverse fly fishing opportunities across its upper, middle, and lower sections.

The Frying Pan is flowing at 170 CFS below Ruedi, crystal-clear, and in prime fall shape. This tailwater stays consistent when freestones fluctuate, making it a fall gem. Bl...

Colorado Fall Hatch Chart & Guide

Fall in Colorado is not the “death” of hatches — it’s a narrowing of the field. Big bugs fade, but a few key hatches carry through, especially BWOs, midges, October caddis, and the occasional PMD or Trico remnant. If you match them and fish clean, dry-fly days are still in play.

• Start subtle. In fall, trout are cautious. Begin with midges or BWO emergers before jumping to dries or streamers.
• ...

The Blue River below Green Mountain is sliding into its fall groove: low, clear, and technical. At ~low fall flows, wading is wide open, but trout are spooky and selective. Expect Blue Winged Olive hatches under cloud cover and the occasional October Caddis fluttering late. This tailwater demands finesse—think small emergers, long leaders, and stealth approaches.

• Flow Rate: low autumn release (~variable, controlled tailw...

The Yampa River is a tailwater gem, especially in sections near Stagecoach Reservoir and Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area, is fishing exceptionally well. Midges and Blue-Winged Olives are hatching steadily, giving you plenty of opportunities for surface action. Whether you're nymphing or stripping streamers for aggressive browns, this river is primed for a productive day on the water, with autumn colors only adding to the experi...

So, you’ve lived in Colorado for a few years, maybe tangled with trout at Deckers or hiked into Cheesman Canyon, but the South Platte still feels like a mystery beyond those famous runs. October is one of the best times to change that.

Here’s how to make sense of the river this fall.

• Cooler temps = active trout. Fall weather keeps water temps trout-friendly all day.
• Crowds thin. Summer hordes are gone, especially midweek.
• The bugs...

Welcome to the Rise Beyond Fly Fishing River Report — your trusted source for real, unfiltered conditions on Colorado’s best trout water. In this episode, we dive deep into the Dream Stream, one of the most iconic and challenging sections of the South Platte River. If you're planning to fish between Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir in late spring, this is your cheat sheet for doing it right.

Flows are holding...

The Dream Stream, located between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile Reservoirs, remains one of Colorado’s most iconic tailwaters. With its gin-clear water, technical fish, and breathtaking valley views, it’s the proving ground for sight fishing and stealthy presentations.

The Dream Stream is running at 168 CFS, about as “textbook” as you get for fall fishing. Clear water, low-to-medium pressure, and a smorgasbord of Tricos, B...

Cheesman Canyon is sitting at 153 CFS, crystal-clear, and every trout in the canyon has its PhD in fly inspection. If you like technical sight-fishing and long drifts, this is your fall classroom. Tricos are still running the show in the mornings, while BWOs wake up when the clouds roll in. Midges remain steady, and the canyon’s picky browns are more than happy to test your patience.

Rise Beyond Fly Fishing – Cheesman Canyon Dispat...

The Ark near Buena Vista is skinny but clear at 175 CFS. Fall hatches are shifting: Tricos linger in the mornings, BWOs are gaining strength on cloudy days, and midges/baetis nymphs carry fish through the middle of the day. With steady pocket-water flows, trout are concentrated and spooky — perfect conditions for those who like technical fishing.

Wading is wide open, but pressure is medium with anglers scattered along public access.

...