Cache la Poudre River Fly Fishing Report
Cache la Poudre River at Fort Collins. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 100–250 cfs (Slackwater Co). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
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What's swimming in the Cache la Poudre River
No CPW fishery survey specific to this canyon reach was found. The species notes below come from CPW biologist interviews and a CPW news release on post-fire and post-flood population impacts.
- CPW aquatic biologists Jeff Spohn and Kyle Battige describe the Poudre Canyon as holding an estimated 800 to 1,200 trout per mile, with Brown Trout self-sustaining and Rainbow Trout maintained through stocking (North Forty News).
- A CBS News Colorado report on the fishery a year after the Cameron Peak Fire notes the canyon stretch is typically not stocked and relies on a self-sustaining Brown Trout population (CBS News Colorado).
- A CPW news release on angling impacts after the fire and flooding breaks down population data by river mile through the canyon (CPW news release, June 13, 2022).
- No Gold Medal designation applies to this stretch of the Cache la Poudre.
Getting to the Cache la Poudre River
All four of CPW's Poudre special-regulation reaches sit upstream in the canyon -- none covers the tracked Fort Collins city reach, which runs under statewide limits.
- River's Edge Natural Area, City of Fort Collins -- fishing on the Poudre, no parking fee, trail access from Lee Martinez Park and Salyer Natural Area (City of Fort Collins).
- Gateway Natural Area, at the canyon mouth -- fishing, parking (self-pay, $8/vehicle, card only), seasonal restrooms, picnic tables, a non-motorized launch area, leashed dogs allowed (City of Fort Collins).
- Poudre River State Wildlife Area, Larimer County -- unusually, no hunting/fishing license or SWA pass is required to access this specific CPW property (CPW).
- Four flies-and-lures-only, catch-and-return reaches exist upstream in the canyon: Rocky Mountain National Park boundary to Joe Wright Creek (2-fish limit); Big Bend Campground to Black Hollow Creek; below Rustic to the Pingree Park Road bridge; and Gateway Park to the North Fork confluence (CPW special regulations). No special regulation covers the mainstem through Fort Collins itself -- statewide limits apply there: 4 trout daily, 8 in possession (CPW statewide limits).
10 sourced hatch windows for the Cache la Poudre River
Species, size, and season, each tied to the published fly-shop or guide-service chart it came from. See Hatch Charts for every Colorado river we track and a precision-level key.
| Species | Season Window | Size | Precision | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Winged Olive | Apr 2–Jun 2 | #16-24 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Midges (various) | Apr 2–Dec 1 | #16-24 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Streamers (various) | Apr 2–May 2 | #2-10 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Stoneflies (various) | May 17–Aug 17 | #4-18 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Caddis (various) | Jun 2–Oct 1 | #10-22 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Green Drake | Jun 17–Aug 17 | #10-12 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Red Quill | Jun 17–Aug 17 | #12-20 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Terrestrials (various) | Jul 2–Oct 1 | #8-20 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Blue Winged Olive | Sep 16–Nov 1 | #16-24 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
| Streamers (various) | Sep 16–Dec 1 | #2-10 | Week-level estimate | Fly Shack |
6 fly pairings from real fishing reports
Up to 2 pairings for this river are always free to browse in full. Fly names, leader/tippet spec, and full source are unlocked by .
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Recent reports from anglers on the Cache la Poudre River
Real ratings, notes, condition tags, and rig tags logged by signed-in anglers after fishing this water.
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Fly shops on the Cache la Poudre River
Cache la Poudre River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Cache la Poudre River?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 100–250 cfs on the Cache la Poudre River (Slackwater Co). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the Cache la Poudre River designated Gold Medal water?
No, the Cache la Poudre River does not currently carry Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on the Cache la Poudre River?
TroutTips tracks 6 fly pairings reported specifically on the Cache la Poudre River, each tied to a season and a real source. See the Fly Pairings section on this page for the full list.
Are there fly shops near the Cache la Poudre River?
Yes, St. Peter's Fly Shop (Old Town), St. Peter's Fly Shop (South), Mountain Fly Shop guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.