Rio Grande River Fly Fishing Report
Gold Medal waterRio Grande River near Del Norte. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 200–500 cfs (FlyGuysNLies). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
What's swimming in the Rio Grande River
- On the Marshall Park-to-Del Norte reach, Brown Trout make up 90-99% of the fishery (spawning mid-October to November) and Rainbow Trout 1-10% (spawning mid-April to mid-May) (CPW fishery survey).
- CPW stocks tens of thousands of whirling-disease-resistant Rainbow Trout annually on this stretch, including 23,000-plus subcatchables near South Fork in a recent year (CPW fishery survey).
- Gold Medal water runs from the Colo. 149 bridge at South Fork downstream to the Rio Grande Canal diversion: flies and lures only, Brown Trout 2-fish/16-inch minimum, Rainbow Trout must be released (CPW fishery survey).
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Rio Grande River
9 hold fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
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Pole Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
Rio Grande National Forest
CPW access point · Difficult access · Stocked with young trout
About it
It joins the Rio Grande River about 30 miles W of Creede. It flows year-round along most of its length.
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Little Squaw Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
Weminuche Wilderness Area
CPW access point · Difficult access
About it
It joins the Rio Grande River about 19 miles SW of Creede. It flows year-round along most of its length.
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Goose Creek Brown trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 9 miles up the creek · About 3.5 miles by the Roaring Fork Trail and the Goose Creek Trail from the North Lime Creek Summer Trailhead
About it
It joins the Rio Grande River about 8 miles SE of Creede. It flows year-round.
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South Fork Rio Grande Brown and rainbow trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 10 miles up the creek · Forest Road 375, high-clearance
About it
It joins the Rio Grande River at South Fork. It flows year-round.
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Alder Creek Brown 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 Rio Grande River at South Fork. It flows year-round.
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Rock Creek Rainbow and 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 Rio Grande River about 6 miles SE of Alamosa East. It flows seasonally along most of its length.
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La Jara Creek Brown trout
Where to fish
La Jara SWA
CPW access point · Medium access
About it
It joins the Rio Grande River about 8 miles SE of Alamosa East. It flows year-round.
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Trinchera 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 Rio Grande River about 10 miles NE of Sanford. It flows year-round.
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Conejos River Brown and rainbow trout
Where to fish
Rio Grande National Forest
CPW access point · About 21 miles W of Capulin · Medium access · Stocked with young trout
Rio Grande National Forest
CPW access point · About 12 miles W of Conejos · Medium access · Stocked with young trout
Rio Grande National Forest - Aspen Glad Campground
CPW access point · Medium access · Stocked with young trout
CPW special rules
Special CPW rules apply on parts of it; its guide lists them.
About it
It joins the Rio Grande River about 10 miles E of Sanford. It flows year-round.
Show 44 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Rio Grande River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- Deep Creek
- Quartzite Creek
- Bear Creek
- Sweetwater Creek
- Lost Trail Creek
- Ute Creek
- Weminuche Creek
- Squaw Creek
- Papoose Creek
- Spring Creek
- Texas Creek
- Clear Creek
- Fern Creek
- Woodfern Creek
- Workman Creek
- Cliff Creek
- Trout Creek
- Red Mountain Creek
- Lime Creek
- Seepage Creek
- Banta Spring Creek
- Fir Creek
- Tingley Creek
- Sevenmile Creek
- Horsethief Creek
- Shallow Creek
- Miners Creek
- Deep Creek
- Willow Creek
- Farmers Creek
- Bellows Creek
- Blue Creek
- Elk Creek
- Bear Creek
- Willow Creek
- Shaw Creek
- Embargo Creek
- Old Woman Creek
- Pinos Creek
- North Channel Rio Grande
- Consolidated Slough
- Conejos River Diversion
- Culebra Creek
- Punche Arroyo
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 Rio Grande 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. Where a line names a trail, the Forest Service trail comes within 500 feet of the creek instead, and directions go to its trailhead; from where the trail enters the forest, the whole way is national forest in both maps. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to the Rio Grande River
- Rio Grande River Fishing Easement: Del Norte (CPW, Rio Grande County): public access prohibited except while fishing, hand-propelled vessels only at the CR 17 ramp (CPW Del Norte easement).
- Coller SWA is flies-and-lures water with brown trout 2 fish/12-inch maximum and rainbows released; CPW's survey lists eleven public boating access points on this reach plus seasonal restrooms at Creede and Coller SWA (CPW fishery survey).
- Del Norte City Park, Deer Park Fishing Access, Masonic Park Fishing Easement and Creede Fishing Access are named Rio Grande access properties in the CPW Fishing Atlas.
- Marshall Park Campground (USFS Rio Grande National Forest) offers shore, wade or float access; float fishing can be difficult at low flows (CPW Rio Grande: Fisherman Area to Marshall Park).
- Important: "This stretch is a mix of private and public lands… any person or object touching the bank or river bottom is trespassing" on the float sections (CPW fishery survey).
- Gold MedalColo. 149 bridge at South Fork to the Rio Grande Canal diversion -- flies and lures only, brown trout 2 fish 16-inch minimum, rainbows released immediately. Upstream (River Hill Campground to the 149 bridge): flies and lures only, brown trout 2 fish at a 12-inch maximum (CPW special regulations; CPW fishery survey).
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What’s hatching on the Rio Grande River
11 insects, from the published hatch charts of 4 fly shops, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
MidgesApr 1 – Nov 30 · hook #16–183 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Midges (various)”: Apr 1 – Nov 30 · #16-18
- Fish the Upper Rio “Midge”: Apr – Nov (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Midge”: May – Oct (months only)
CaddisApr 15 – Sep · hook #10–164 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various)”: Apr 15 – Aug 14 · #10-16
- Fish the Upper Rio “Caddis”: May – Sep (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Caddis”: May – Aug (months only)
- Rio Grande Angler “Caddis, dark stones, Yellow Sallies, BWO, PMD”: no dates given
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Jun – Jul and Sep – Nov 14 · hook #12–185 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive”: Sep 15 – Nov 14 · #12-18
- Fish the Upper Rio “BWO”: Jun – Jul (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Blue Wing Olive”: Jun – Jul (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Blue Wing Olive”: Sep – Oct (months only)
- Rio Grande Angler “Caddis, dark stones, Yellow Sallies, BWO, PMD”: no dates given
Green DrakesJun 1 – Aug 31 · hook #10–124 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Green Drake”: Jun 1 – Aug 31 · #10-12
- Fish the Upper Rio “Green Drake”: Jun – Jul (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Green Drake”: Jun – Jul (months only)
- Rio Grande Angler “Green Drake”: no dates given
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jun – Jul 31 · hook #12–184 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Pale Morning Dun”: Jun 15 – Jul 31 · #12-18
- Fish the Upper Rio “PMD”: Jun – Jul (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Pale Morning Dun”: Jun – Jul (months only)
- Rio Grande Angler “Caddis, dark stones, Yellow Sallies, BWO, PMD”: no dates given
StonefliesJun – Sep · hook #4–184 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Stoneflies (various)”: Jun 8 – Jul 31 · #4-18
- Fish the Upper Rio “Stonefly”: Jun – Sep (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Stonefly”: Jun – Jul (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Stonefly”: Sep (months only)
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul – Oct · hook #8–164 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Jul 15 – Oct 14 · #8-16
- Fish the Upper Rio “Terrestrials”: Jul – Oct (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Terrestrials”: Jul – Oct (months only)
- Rio Grande Angler “Hoppers”: Aug (months only)
Red QuillsJul 1 – Aug 31 · hook #10–161 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Red Quill”: Jul 1 – Aug 31 · #10-16
SalmonfliesNo dates published1 source
Where these dates come from:
- Rio Grande Angler (Creede) “Salmonfly (giant stonefly)”: from Jun, no end date given
Yellow SalliesNo dates published1 source
Where these dates come from:
- Rio Grande Angler “Caddis, dark stones, Yellow Sallies, BWO, PMD”: no dates given
Streamers & baitfishApr 1 – Nov 30 · hook #2–104 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Streamers (various, spring)”: Apr 1 – May 31 · #2-10
- Fly Shack “Streamers (various, fall)”: Sep 15 – Nov 30 · #2-10
- Fish the Upper Rio “Streamers”: Apr – Nov (months only)
- Rio Grande County Tourism “Streamers”: May – Oct (months only)
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
9 fly pairings from real fishing reports
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Fly shops on the Rio Grande River
Rio Grande River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Rio Grande River?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 200–500 cfs on the Rio Grande River (FlyGuysNLies). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the Rio Grande River designated Gold Medal water?
Yes, at least part of the Rio Grande River carries Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on the Rio Grande River?
TroutTips tracks 9 fly pairings reported specifically on the Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande River?
Yes, Wolf Creek Anglers, 8200 Mountain Sports Fly Shop, Rio Grande Angler, Rio Epic Outfitters, Jackalope Anglers, Ramble House / Creede Guide & Outfitters guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.