Fly Fishing Colorado River - State Bridge to Dotsero

Overview

The Colorado River from State Bridge to Dotsero winds through canyon walls, sagebrush benches and cottonwood bottoms. This part of the Upper Colorado offers big freestone water beneath rugged slopes. Boulder gardens, deep pools and sweeping bends give anglers varied holding water to explore.

River Character and Fishing

Below State Bridge, the river pushes through a narrowing canyon with red sandstone walls, sagebrush benches, and scattered cottonwood groves. Snowmelt brings higher, often off-color water before the river settles later in the season. Depth, current and bank conditions vary among the boulder gardens, pools and outside bends, so adjust presentations to the water in front of you. Brown trout and rainbow trout hold in the boulder gardens, deep pools, undercut banks, and sweeping outside bends that define this stretch. Mountain whitefish are common throughout.

The Salmonfly hatch in late spring and early summer is the headline event — these giant stoneflies run size #4-6. Caddis hatches follow through summer. Terrestrial fishing offers options throughout summer and fall, with hoppers and ants effective along the grassy banks and gravel bars. Streamers can cover deeper bends in fall.

Search the slower seams beside stronger current with nymphs, work outside bends with streamers, and watch the banks for terrestrial feeding. A trip here rewards attention to changing water conditions and the placement of a cast as much as time spent covering the canyon.