Fishing Season: Spring/summer through fall

Cimarron River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

RIGS Fly Shops & Guide Service's Tip of the Week

Fishing has been excellent in the high country, and access around the Silver Jack Reservoir area is open from both directions. The forks have been fishing very well, with strong dry fly activity throughout the day. If you enjoy fishing a single dry, caddis adults and smaller stonefly adults are great choices right now. Dry-dropper rigs continue to be our most consistent setup. Lead with a buoyant caddis or small stonefly dry, then trail a caddis pupa, mayfly nymph, or small attractor nymph below. Fish are looking up, but having that subsurface option will help cover more water and pick up fish that are feeding just below the surface. Below the reservoir, the Big Cimarron is also fishing well. This section can be more technical to move through, so be prepared for wading, rock hopping, and working around pocket water. Focus on defined seams, soft edges, and pockets behind structure where fish can hold and feed efficiently.

Directions open in app

Map of Cimarron River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

RIGS Fly Shops & Guide Service

5-Day Outlook as of 6/16/26

Weather is looking good in the high country. We are seeing more wind in the afternoon depending on the day. Lookes like some afternoon/evening Storms coming on on saturday.

Techniques & Tips as of 6/16/26

Dry Dropper with a foam dry and a weighted nymph below will let you hit the pockets where fish are holding. If fish are actively rising, switch to either a Caddis or BWO dries.

Current Conditions as of 6/16/26

Excellent clarity, Moderate flows, Happy Fish!

Local Species Available Spring/summer through fall

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    Cutthroat

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    Brook Trout

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    Rainbow Trout

RIGS Fly Shops & Guide Service's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Adams N/A
21st Century Adams N/A
Tactical Peeping Caddis TH Jig N/A
Flash Beetle N/A
Elk Wing Caddis N/A
Tactical OE Rhyacophila Larva N/A

Adams

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Item #0330

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RIGS Fly Shops & Guide Service's Recommended Gear

Description: About Cimarron River

High Alpine fishing at its best! The Cimarron River offers endless fishing for Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat, and Brook Trout. As one of the most beautiful settings in Colorado, the Cimarron high country offers rare opportunities for solitude, native fish, and remote access. If you’re looking for a real Colorado backcountry experience, it doesn’t get any better than this. The Forks of the Cimarron include the West Fork, Middle Fork, and East Fork, and each offer an exceptional high-country angling experience. These small freestone streams provide miles of access, with riffles and pools, and plenty of trout. In addition to the Forks, the Big Cimarron includes a three-mile tailwater stretch below Silver Jack Reservoir. Large boulders and deep pools provide excellent habitats for large high-country trout. Summer through fall is the best time to fish the high country. After the snow melts and the Forks settle down, anglers can enjoy fishing dry flies at 9,600 feet with beautiful mountain scenery as the backdrop. After the summer mayfly fade, it’s all about hoppers. Throwing dry flies and hopper patterns at native and wild trout is tough to beat!

Nearest Airport:

Montrose Regional Airport

Bait Recommendations:

Foam Dry flies (Hoppers, chubbys, ants) as well as stimulators and caddis dry flies. Bead head nymphs (pheasant tails, copper johns, smaller perdigons).