Colorado Parshall Area
Fishing Report
UPDATED: 9/20/2022
Flow: 375 cfs
The Colorado River Between the towns of Kremmling, CO and Parshall, CO offers several public fishing accesses along U.S. Route 40. The river gradient is fairly mellow through out this section, and offers slow runs, gentle riffles, and deeper holes. This water is excellent for both nymph, and dry fly fishing. If you don’t see risers, then fish nymphs. Since this water is a little slower, and shallow in spots, a heavy rig is not usually needed.
Current Conditions:
RIVER FLOW (Cubic Feet Per Second:
Flows at Parshall are around 425 cfs. Flows upstream are around 200 cfs.
WATER TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F):
Water temperatures are in the 50's
WATER CLARITY:
Clarity is 1-2 feet on some days due to construction upstream near Windy Gap
CURRENT FOOD SOURCES:
| stonefly nymphs | Eggs | Baetis | caddis | midges | small fish, leeches, worms etc. |
Flies to Try
Guides Choice Dozen $24.99
NYMPHS:
Pat's Rubber Leg's black, brown, or olive size 10 - 12 | San Juan Worm #12 | TDJ Golden Stone 12-16 | Tungsten Flashback CDC Pheasant Tail size 14-20 | Tungsten Hare's Ear size 16-18 | Egan's Jig Frenchie | Sparkle Wing RS2 grey or olive size 18-22 | Mercury Black Beauty size 18-22 | Zebra midge black or olive size 18-22 |
Dries:
| Parachute Adam's size 12-22 | Black Foam Caddis size 16-18 | Quigley's Film Critic BWO size 18-20 | Extended Body PMD size 16 | Extended Body parachute BWO size 18-22 | Matthew's Sparkle Dun BWO size 16-22 | Thorax BWO size 20-22 | Griffith's Gnat 18-22 | Morgan's CDC Midge size 20-22 |
Streamers:
Sculpzilla sunrise, olive, or black size 4-8 | Thin Mint size 2 - 6 | Articulated Goldie size 2 - 6 | Sparkle Minnow White or craw | Slump Busters olive or black size 4-6 | Bead Head Mini Leech olive/black, or wine size 8
Guide Tip of the Week:
The Parshall area on the Colorado is fishing well depending on water clarity. There is construction going on below and above Parshall near Windy Gap. We have seen the river stained more days than not. Dry droppers and nymph rigs have been the most productive method to catch fish. You will find fish in the fast riffles and rock gardens. Still target deep pools and runs as fish will always hold in these places. Tricos, Baetis, Stoneflies and Midges are all on the menu for the next couple weeks.
RECENT Media:
6/16
Guides Mike Wallace, Davis Murane, and their clients enjoyed a full day of trout fishing in classic colorado landscapes over the weekend....
hatching Green Drakes and happy anglers...
RECENT HISTORY:
We love seeing and hearing about your outings as well. Send any fishing photos or stories you want to share over to jacob@fishcolorado.com and we'll throw 'em up in the reports.
Midges are on the menu in the Colorado River... If you have ever wondered why trout each such tiny insects it is because they are often available in very large numbers. ( If you look closley you will also see a Baetis nymph, and a cased caddis larva. )
LATE AUG./EARLY SEPT.
Local angler Brandon Bohn fished the Upper Colorado between Kremmling and Hot Sulphur Springs recenlty, and he picked up quite a few nice trout on Zebra Midges. We are currently recommend fishing them in size 18-22, black and olive colors.
RECENT HISTORY:
LATE JULY
Our guide Tim Joyce is at it again...this time he takes a day off from fishing, and goes fishing instead. Here are a few nice trout he picked up on Upper Colorado above Parshall, while nymphing with stonefly imitations. Did we mention Tim runs a world class elk hunting guide service as well?
You can get an idea of the water color/clarity in the background as well.
LATE MAY/EARLY JUNE
Our guide Tim Joyce seems to be getting his clients into some nice trout on the "Upper C"...
A few Salmonflies gave been sighted on the wing in this area...
EARLY MAY...
Check out THE REPORT BELOW, from a recent trip to Byer's Caynon with our Guide John Sprigg. Also if you enjoy skiing it is well worth watching John's documentary The Book of Pow, which is one of the best, strictly Colorado filmed powder skiing documentaries ever made. Keep in mind CO has one of the most avalanche prevelant snow packs around, and these guys have the knowledge to ski these crazy lines in it.
Byers Canyon is a short gorge on the upper Colorado River in Grand County, Colorado. The canyon is approximately 4 miles long and is located in the headwaters region of Colorado between Hot Sulphur Springs and Kremmling. This is a beautiful little canyon, full of Brown trout, some big ones too! The wading and walking in the canyon can be very difficult as the banks are lined with big boulders, and you have to hike a couple hundred feet down to the river from the road, access is easier at the mouth of the canyon.
Flys: Pat’s rubber legs 12-8, olive and brindle, Foam wing RS2 size 18, Beatis, and midge patterns
Fished a little slow, water seemed worse for clarity in the canyon compared to the mouth of the canyon and below. Fish seemed to want stoneflies and rs2s.
RIVER CONDITIONS
CFS: 650cfs
Weather Conditions: Sunny and to overcast, 60
Water Clarity: off color 1.5 feet
Water Temp: 45
Trout Holding: Fish were holding tight against the banks, and in the back eddys, along the foam lines.
GUIDE TIP OF THE DAY
Work the slower water against the banks, and eddys, if you find a fish holding in the back eddies or slower water, you will usually find more there, so keep fishing it and adjust depth for deeper pockets! !
Byer's Caynon, this is one cool place. It is steep, narrow, and tough to navigate, but well worth it. Photos by guide John Spriggs
Uniquely colored browns in this caynon, also take note of the water clarity ( 5/6/2020)
Brown Trout taken on an olive/brown size 8 Pat's Rubber Leg's, and a size 18 grey Sparkle Wing RS2.
Bug Life tatted on my chest: Byers Caynon usualy has a prolific Yellow sally ( pictured below) hatch just following the Salmon Fly Hatch.
Baetis (pictured above), Caddis, and other bugs are abundant as well.
RIVER ACCESS
Also check out the Town of Silverthorne's Blue River Fishing Access Map
OTHER LOCATIONS
Weather data provided by 
