Northern Colorado
Fly Fishing
Guide & Reports
Your source for river conditions, hatch reports, and fly recommendations for the Poudre River, Big Thompson, North Platte, and Horsetooth Reservoir.
Current Conditions
Current Conditions
Current Conditions
Live River Reports
Cache la Poudre
FishableBig Thompson
FishableNorth Platte
FishableHorsetooth Reservoir
StillwaterUSGS gauge data — refreshed every 15 minutes. Always verify before heading out.
Where to Fish
Northern Colorado Waters
From wild canyon rivers to stillwater reservoirs, each fishery offers a distinct experience.
Cache la Poudre River
Colorado's Only Wild & Scenic River
Big Thompson River
Technical Fishing in a Storied Canyon
North Platte River
World-Class Tailwater in Colorado's Sage Country
Horsetooth Reservoir
Stillwater Streamer Fishing Above Fort Collins
Hatch Report
What's Hatching in June
Midge
Chironomid
Sizes: #20–28
Dry: Griffith's Gnat
Nymph: Zebra Midge
Year-round staple. Critical in winter when few other insects are active. Look for midging fish near the surface in slow water.
Pale Morning Dun
Ephemerella
Sizes: #16–20
Dry: Parachute PMD
Nymph: PMD Nymph
Reliable summer hatch on all Northern Colorado rivers. Often hatches late morning into early afternoon. Cripple patterns frequently outfish standard dries.
Green Drake
Drunella grandis
Sizes: #10–14
Dry: Parachute Green Drake
Nymph: Green Drake Nymph
The most anticipated hatch of the year. Large mayflies that bring up big fish. Typically hatches late afternoon on the Poudre River. Can be explosive when it lines up.
Caddis
Brachycentrus / Rhyacophila
Sizes: #14–18
Dry: Elk Hair Caddis
Nymph: Beadhead Caddis
Caddis are everywhere from late April through October. Evening hatches can be phenomenal. Skating a dry across the surface often triggers explosive strikes.
Golden Stonefly
Hesperoperla / Claassenia
Sizes: #6–10
Dry: Stimulator
Nymph: Kaufmann's Stone
Early summer stonefly hatch. Egg-laying females crash on the surface and create aggressive strikes. Fish along banks and riffles in the evening.
Salmonfly
Pteronarcys californica
Sizes: #4–8
Dry: Kaufmann's Stimulator
Nymph: Giant Black Stonefly Nymph
Not present on all Northern Colorado waters but can occur on the upper Poudre River. Massive insects that bring up the biggest browns. Short 2-week window.
From the Blog
Latest Reports & Guides
How to Read a River: Pools, Riffles, Runs & Pocket Water
Understanding river structure is the single most important skill a fly angler can develop. Before you tie on a fly, you need to know where the fish are holding — and why.
Streamer Fishing Horsetooth Reservoir for Trophy Trout
Most anglers overlook Horsetooth as a serious trout fishery, but float-tubing streamers along the rocky western shoreline can produce some of the biggest brown trout in Northern Colorado.
North Platte Trico Fishing: Colorado's Best Kept Secret
The North Platte's morning Trico spinner falls from July through September are some of the most challenging and rewarding dry fly fishing in the state. Here's how to crack the code.