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.
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 (Denver Gazette, June 13, 2022, quoting the CPW release).
- No Gold Medal designation applies to this stretch of the Cache la Poudre.
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Cache la Poudre River
8 hold fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
-
Williams Gulch Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 4 miles up the creek · Forest Road 177.A, high-clearance
CPW special rules
From the headwaters downstream to the confluence with the Poudre River
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- All trout must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 12 miles SW of Red Feather Lakes. It flows year-round.
-
Roaring Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
Roosevelt National Forest
CPW access point · Difficult access
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 11 miles SW of Red Feather Lakes. It flows year-round along most of its length.
-
Black Hollow Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
Roosevelt National Forest
CPW access point · Medium access
CPW special rules
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 8 miles SW of Red Feather Lakes. It flows year-round along most of its length.
-
South Fork Cache la Poudre River Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 12 miles up the river · Forest Road 152.0, high-clearance, open Jun 15 to Nov 30
CPW special rules
From the Rocky Mountain National Park boundary downstream for one mile
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- All trout must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 11 miles SE of Red Feather Lakes. It flows year-round.
-
Young Gulch Bluegill, common carp and largemouth bass
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 10 miles SW of Livermore. It flows year-round.
-
North Fork Cache La Poudre River Brown, rainbow and brook trout
Where to fish
Cherokee SWA - Middle Unit, Roosevelt National Forest and Cherokee SWA - Upper Unit
CPW access point · Medium access
Roosevelt National Forest
CPW access point · Medium access
Cherokee SWA - Middle Unit
CPW access point · Difficult access
Gateway Natural Area
CPW access point · Easy access
CPW special rules
From the confluence with Divide Creek downstream to Bull Creek (above Halligan Reservoir)
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- All trout must be returned to water immediately.
From Milton Seaman Reservoir downstream to the confluence with the Poudre River
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- All trout must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 7 miles S of Livermore. It flows year-round.
-
Spring Creek Brown trout, plus 2 other species
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 2 miles NE of Fort Collins. It flows seasonally along most of its length. CPW also records green sunfish and largemouth bass.
-
Boxelder Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Cache la Poudre River about 2 miles NW of Timnath. It flows year-round.
Show 21 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Cache la Poudre River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- Chapin Creek
- Hague Creek
- La Poudre Pass Creek
- Cascade Creek
- Willow Creek
- May Creek
- Joe Wright Creek
- Tunnel Creek
- Sheep Creek
- Peterson Creek
- Dry Creek
- Sheep Creek
- Sevenmile Creek
- Bennett Creek
- Gordon Creek
- Lewstone Creek
- Owl Creek
- Dry Creek
- Fossil Creek Reservoir Outlet
- Graham Seep
- Sand Creek
Species and special rules are Colorado Parks and Wildlife's. Statewide rules apply everywhere. Before you fish, check land ownership, CPW's current regulations and its temporary closures for drought and low water.
How we pick these
Species are CPW's records from its Fishing Atlas. A creek missing from this list may still hold fish; CPW simply has no record for it. The list runs in the order each one joins the Cache la Poudre River, from the headwaters down, and "joins" names the nearest town to where it does on the same side of the mountains: a Census place, or a town with its own post office. Flow is how USGS maps each channel, not a live reading.
Special rules are the ones CPW writes for each creek in its Fishing Atlas. Rules CPW writes for the river itself, such as closures around a creek's mouth, are not repeated on the creek, and no directions lead into water CPW closes all year.
A national forest stretch is one that both the Forest Service's and BLM's ownership maps show as national forest for at least half a mile of the creek, with a road on the Forest Service's motor vehicle map within 500 feet; directions go to that road. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
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).
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What’s hatching on the Cache la Poudre River
8 insects, from the published hatch charts of 1 fly shop, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Apr 2 – Jun 2 and Sep 16 – Nov 1 · hook #16–242 sources
MidgesApr 2 – Dec 1 · hook #16–241 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Midges (various)”: Apr 2 – Dec 1 · #16-24
StonefliesMay 17 – Aug 17 · hook #4–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Stoneflies (various)”: May 17 – Aug 17 · #4-18
CaddisJun 2 – Oct 1 · hook #10–221 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various)”: Jun 2 – Oct 1 · #10-22
Green DrakesJun 17 – Aug 17 · hook #10–121 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Green Drake”: Jun 17 – Aug 17 · #10-12
Red QuillsJun 17 – Aug 17 · hook #12–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Red Quill”: Jun 17 – Aug 17 · #12-20
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul 2 – Oct 1 · hook #8–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Jul 2 – Oct 1 · #8-20
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
6 fly pairings from real fishing reports
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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.