White River Fly Fishing Report
White River near Meeker. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 100–400 cfs (FlyGuysNLies). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
What's swimming in the White River
- CPW's 2024 fishing brochure does not list the White as Gold Medal water (CPW 2024 fishing brochure).
- CPW biologist Tory Eyre, quoted by the Herald Times, describes the upper reach (Trappers Lake to Rio Blanco Reservoir) as dominated by Mountain Whitefish, Flannelmouth Sucker, Mottled Sculpin, Rainbow and Brown Trout, while the lower reach (Rio Blanco Reservoir to the Utah line) supports warmwater species like Smallmouth Bass and Green Sunfish (Herald Times).
- CPW regulations set a 2-trout limit from the North/South Fork confluence to the Colorado 13 bridge below Meeker, with the Sleepy Cat and Meeker Pasture State Wildlife Areas restricted to artificial flies and lures only, catch-and-release (CPW regulations).
- CPW issued partial-day voluntary fishing closures (2 p.m. to midnight) for low flows and high water temperatures on the North and South Forks and on the main stem down to County Road 5, from Aug. 15 to Oct. 24, 2025 (CPW news, Aug 15, 2025; CPW news, Oct 24, 2025).
Rivers and creeks that flow into the White River
5 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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South Fork White River Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout, plus 2 other species
Where to fish
Oak Ridge SWA - Bel Aire Unit
CPW access point · Medium access · Stocked with young trout
Flat Tops Wilderness Area
CPW access point · Easy access
CPW special rules
From the headwaters downstream to confluence with the North Fork of the White River
- Bag and possession limit for trout is 2.
About it
It joins the White River about 15 miles E of Meeker. It flows year-round. CPW also records cutbows and mountain whitefish.
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Big Beaver Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
White River National Forest
CPW access point · Difficult access
About it
It joins the White River about 14 miles SE of Meeker. It flows year-round.
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Miller Creek Brown 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 White River about 10 miles SE of Meeker. It flows year-round.
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Piceance Creek Rainbow and brook trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
BLM land stretch
About 1.5 miles up the creek · County Road 5
About it
It joins the White River about 19 miles W of Meeker. It flows year-round. CPW also records cutbows.
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Yellow Creek Cutthroat trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
BLM land stretch
About 1.5 miles up the creek · County Road 89
About it
It joins the White River about 21 miles E of Rangely. It flows year-round. CPW also records common carp.
Show 21 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the White River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- North Fork White River
- Greenstreet Creek
- North Elk Creek
- Dry Creek
- Coal Creek
- Curtis Creek
- Sulphur Creek
- Flag Creek
- Sheep Creek
- Strawberry Creek
- Crooked Wash
- Wolf Creek
- Little Spring Creek
- Boise Creek
- Spring Creek
- Red Wash
- Douglas Creek
- Stinking Water Creek
- Shavetail Wash
- Dripping Rock Creek
- Cottonwood 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 White 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 BLM or state park stretch is one that both BLM's land map and the USGS Protected Areas Database (which must record it as open access) show as that land for at least half a mile of the creek, with a public road within 500 feet; state parks charge an entry fee. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to the White River
- Town Park, Meeker -- river access, paved path, all-season restrooms, RV camping; parking pay station on-site (Town of Meeker).
- Circle Park, Meeker -- ADA-accessible river access, fishing pier on an adjacent pond, tent camping (Town of Meeker).
- Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area (incl. Sleepy Cat Ponds Unit and Sleepy Cat Fishing Easement), CPW, Rio Blanco County -- fishing-only access on the Sleepy Cat units; the Oak Ridge Unit itself is closed to public access Dec. 1–July 15 (CPW).
- North/South Fork confluence downstream to the Colo. 13 bridge below Meeker (covers the tracked stretch, excluding the Sleepy Cat easement and Meeker Pasture SWA): trout bag/possession limit of 2. On the Sleepy Cat easement and Meeker Pasture SWA east of Meeker: artificial flies and lures only, catch-and-release (CPW special regulations). Meeker's own town parks page states a 4-trout limit at its river-access parks, but CPW's special regulation for this reach sets the limit at 2 -- CPW's number governs (Town of Meeker).
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What’s hatching on the White River
9 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 →
MidgesApr 2 – Dec 1 · hook #16–241 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Midges (various)”: Apr 2 – Dec 1 · #16-24
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Apr 17 – Jun 2 · hook #16–241 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive”: Apr 17 – Jun 2 · #16-24
CaddisMay 17 – Sep 16 · hook #10–221 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various)”: May 17 – Sep 16 · #10-22
StonefliesJun 2 – Jul 17 · hook #4–161 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Stoneflies (various)”: Jun 2 – Jul 17 · #4-16
Green DrakesJul 2 – Sep 1 · hook #10–121 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Green Drake”: Jul 2 – Sep 1 · #10-12
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jul 2 – Sep 1 · hook #14–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Pale Morning Dun”: Jul 2 – Sep 1 · #14-20
Red QuillsJul 2 – Sep 1 · hook #14–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Red Quill”: Jul 2 – Sep 1 · #14-18
Hoppers & terrestrialsSep 1 – Oct 16 · hook #8–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Sep 1 – Oct 16 · #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
Browse 50 public pairings across the library. A Free account unlocks 5 more of your choice.
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Fly shops on the White River
White River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the White River?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 100–400 cfs on the White River (FlyGuysNLies). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the White River designated Gold Medal water?
No, the White River does not currently carry Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on the White River?
TroutTips tracks 6 fly pairings reported specifically on the White 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 White River?
Yes, Backcountry Outpost, Welder Outfitting Services guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.