Colorado is one of the premier fly fishing destinations in the world. The Rocky Mountains' cold, clear streams and rivers — fed by snowmelt from the highest peaks in the continental United States — support extraordinary populations of wild brown trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout. The state's Gold Medal designation — awarded to the finest stretches of trout water — identifies rivers where the fishing is genuinely exceptional.

With hundreds of miles of Gold Medal water, dozens of world-class tailwaters, and the extraordinary scenery of the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Colorado offers a fly fishing experience that is hard to match anywhere in the world.

Colorado's Gold Medal designation is awarded to rivers and streams that meet strict criteria for trout population, size, and quality of the fishing experience. The state currently has 11 Gold Medal waters, each offering exceptional fly fishing.

The South Platte River — particularly the stretch between Cheesman Canyon and Deckers — is one of the most famous fly fishing destinations in Colorado. The river's cold, clear water and abundant insect life support extraordinary populations of wild brown trout and rainbow trout, with fish regularly exceeding 20 inches.

Cheesman Canyon — the most challenging and most rewarding section of the South Platte, with large, selective trout in a beautiful canyon setting. The canyon is accessible only on foot (about 1 mile from the parking area) and rewards patient, technical anglers.

Deckers — a more accessible section of the South Platte, with excellent fishing and easier wading than Cheesman Canyon.

Best Season: Year-round, but the best fishing is typically in spring (April–June) and fall (September–November).

Hatches: The South Platte is famous for its midge hatches — tiny flies that the large trout feed on selectively. Blue-winged olive hatches in spring and fall are also excellent.

The Frying Pan River — a tailwater below Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt — is one of the finest fly fishing rivers in Colorado. The river's cold, consistent water temperature (maintained by releases from the reservoir) supports extraordinary populations of large brown trout and rainbow trout.

Mysis Shrimp: The Frying Pan is famous for its mysis shrimp — tiny freshwater shrimp that are released from the reservoir and provide a rich food source for the river's trout. The fish grow to extraordinary sizes on this diet, with fish regularly exceeding 20 inches and occasional fish in the 25–30 inch range.

The Lower Canyon — the most productive section of the Frying Pan, with large trout in a beautiful canyon setting.

Best Season: Year-round, but the best fishing is typically in fall (September–November) when the fish are most active.

The Arkansas River — particularly the stretch through Bighorn Sheep Canyon near Cañon City — is one of the most productive trout rivers in Colorado. The river's warm, productive water supports excellent populations of brown trout and rainbow trout.

Bighorn Sheep Canyon — a dramatic canyon section of the Arkansas with excellent fishing and spectacular scenery. The canyon is also famous for its bighorn sheep, which are commonly seen on the canyon walls.

The Numbers — a challenging section of the Arkansas near Buena Vista, with large, selective trout in fast, technical water.

Best Season: Spring (April–June) for the best hatches; fall (September–November) for the best overall fishing.

The Gunnison River — particularly the Black Canyon of the Gunnison section — is one of the most challenging and most rewarding fly fishing destinations in Colorado. The river's remote, difficult access keeps fishing pressure low and the trout large and wild.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison — a dramatic, 2,000-foot-deep canyon that is accessible only by a steep, difficult descent. The fishing in the canyon is extraordinary — large, wild brown trout in a setting of extraordinary natural beauty.

The Gunnison Gorge — a more accessible section of the Gunnison below the Black Canyon, with excellent fishing and beautiful scenery.

The cutthroat trout — Colorado's state fish — is native to the Rocky Mountain streams and rivers. Several subspecies of cutthroat are found in Colorado, including the Colorado River cutthroat and the Rio Grande cutthroat.

Best Places to Find Cutthroat:

• Rocky Mountain National Park — the park's high-altitude streams and lakes support excellent populations of native cutthroat trout
• The Rio Grande headwaters — the upper Rio Grande in the San Juan Mountains supports excellent Rio Grande cutthroat populations
• High-altitude lakes — many of Colorado's alpine lakes support cutthroat trout populations

A Colorado fishing license is required for all anglers 16 and older. Licenses are available online at cpw.state.co.us or at most sporting goods stores.

Gold Medal Regulations: Colorado's Gold Medal waters have special regulations designed to protect the quality of the fishing. Most Gold Medal waters are catch-and-release only, with artificial flies and lures only. Check the regulations for the specific water you're fishing.

For first-time visitors to Colorado's fly fishing waters, hiring a professional guide is strongly recommended. A good guide knows the rivers intimately — the best spots, the most productive techniques, and the seasonal patterns that determine where the fish are.

Top Guide Services:

• Minturn Anglers (Vail area) — specializing in the Eagle River and Colorado River
• Angler's Covey (Colorado Springs) — specializing in the South Platte River
• Taylor Creek Fly Shops (Basalt) — specializing in the Frying Pan River

Spring (April–June): Excellent hatches on most rivers; the runoff period (May–June) can make some rivers unfishable.

Summer (July–August): Good fishing on tailwaters; high-altitude streams and lakes are at their best.

Fall (September–November): The best overall season for Colorado fly fishing — excellent hatches, active fish, and beautiful fall foliage.

Winter (December–March): Excellent fishing on tailwaters (South Platte, Frying Pan, Arkansas), which maintain consistent water temperatures year-round.

For more Colorado adventures, see our Colorado Mountain Towns Guide, Colorado Hiking Guide, Rocky Mountain National Park Guide, and Colorado Skiing Guide. Also see our Best Fishing Lakes in the Southeast for more fishing destinations.