Fishing Season: April-October

Rio Grande - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

67

Duranglers Flies and Supplies's Tip of the Week

Terrestrials, tricos, and maybe even a few BWOs. When the fish have refused your 10 flies in a row, and it feels like they want something smaller than #22, override your "match the hatch" instincts and tie on a size 8 hopper. Flows have finally come up a bit with rain. Pray for more.

Directions open in app

Map of Rio Grande

5-Day Outlook as of 9/1/26

It has finally cooled down in the Rio high country with some rainstorms. The next few days will offer cooler weather, with potential rain early next week.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/1/26

Terrestrials are a good idea with dry/dropper rigs as a good searching technique. Deeper holes may call for more depth with a full nymph rig. Watch for hatches of tricos early am, BWOs late am, and trico spinner falls early afternoon.

Local Species Available April-October

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Duranglers Flies and Supplies's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
TH 20 Incher tan 10
Stimulator Yellow, Royal 12-16
Woven Trico Brown, Olive 14-20
Tactical Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear Jig Olive, Natural 12-16
Travis Para Ant Copper 18-20
Foam Park Hopper Tan 8-12
Spruce Moth Tan 10-14
Drowned Trico Black 20-22
Parachute BWO Olive 18-20
Black Big Boned Caddis Black 12-16

TH 20 Incher

Big trout can't resist these deadly stonefly nymphs.

3.99

Item #5E3E

Buy Now

Duranglers Flies and Supplies's Recommended Gear

Description: About Rio Grande

Head waters of the Rio Grande River. This is a freestone river with an abundance of large bugs, including stoneflies, drakes and blizzard caddis hatches during the early summer. Late summer sees pmd's and terrestrials. Most of the river consists of riffle/ runs and pocket water (traditional western river). There is approximately 90 miles of fishable trout water beginning at the headwaters 30 miles above Creede, Colorado, continuing downstream to Del Norte, Colorado. Approximately 50% of this water is public with the lower 20 miles being gold metal waters. Plenty of public put-in's for boater, with the floating season normally lasting from mid April thru July.

Nearest Airport:

Alamosa, Co.

Hatches:

Terrestrials, Tricos, BWOs

Best Time to Fish:

5am-noon

Best Stretch:

creede down stream

Best Access:

coller