Fishing Season: All year

Colorado River - AZ

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

55

Orvis Phoenix 's Tip of the Week

Slow fishing and cold! Still mainly on small red zebras.

Directions open in app

Map of Colorado River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

5-Day Outlook as of 12/19/24

Zebra midges ( Black, Olive, Purple 18-22), San Juan Worms (Tan, Red, Brown 10-14), and scuds (Pink, ginger Orange 12-16) Cicadas are also out and about. Bring a bunch with you with different sizes.

Techniques & Tips as of 12/19/24

This is a technical fishery, we fish midges, worms and scuds under indicators with weight using long drag free drifts to cover lots of water. Set the hook on movement of the indicator and also slowly lift your rod at the end of your drift. Often fish will follow your fly eating it on the final lift. Use the "sawing wood" retrieve with big buggers.

Local Species Available All year

  • Fish Icon

    Brown Trout

  • Fish Icon

    Rainbow Trout

Orvis Phoenix 's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Body Scud pink, orange, ginger 10-16
TH Zebra Midge black,red, olive,pur 18-24
Vernille San Juan Worm brown,red,tan 12-16
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer Black, olive 2-6
Midges red,black,olive,oliv 18-22
Eggs roe, chart 12-16
Griffith's Gnat Black 20
I Can See It Midge Fly Black 16-22

Bead Body Scud

This scud pattern incorporates weight while retaining realism.

1.99

Item #019T

Buy Now

Orvis Phoenix 's Recommended Gear

Description: About Colorado River

Lees Ferry is located in northern Arizona about a 4 hour drive from Las Vegas or Phoenix. Salt Lake City is abut a six hour drive and Flagstaff is 2 hours. You owe it to yourself to fish the Colorado River at Lees Ferry. The 13 mile stretch of the Colorado River that flows from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry-Grand Canyon National Park is know as Lees Ferry. This tailwater is a year round rainbow trout fishery that originated in 1963 with the completion of Lake Powell. The river slices through the Paria Plateau and is bordered by towering vertical sandstone cliffs, more than 1,000 feet tall; the river twists and turns through a magnificent landscape which is the last vestige of Glen Canyon, the rest of which was submerged by Lake Powell. The crystal clear water is a constant 50 degrees throughout the year and supports what is likely the largest wild trout population (last stocked in the 1990's) of any western river, the trout are counted by the thousands per mile. We fish year-round for rainbow trout and depending on the time of the year, we sight cast to sub-surface feeding fish while wading the shallow riffles and runs or drift out of the boat casting dries or nymph rigs. The only access to the upriver section is by powerboat, the is a walk and wade section of the river that has easy walk-in access or more than a mile.

Nearest Airport:

Page Arizona

Hatches:

midges scuds, san juan worms, and cicadas, streamers

Best Time to Fish:

early Morning and Late afternoon

Best Stretch:

Anything up river, towards the dam. At the walk-in between the Big Rock and the Paria River.

Best Access:

Walk in area, Boulders or Near Paria River. Lees Ferry Boat Ramp