Freestone · Mixed · Colorado

Colorado River — Upper (Kremmling / Pumphouse / Gore Canyon)

The upper Colorado around Kremmling — Pumphouse, the State Bridge water, the brink of Gore Canyon — is big, floatable trout water and a cornerstone of the state's identity, holding browns, rainbows and whitefish.

Species

About as good as it gets

River steady at a fishable height. About as fair as it ever gets — go properly.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
14.4°Cideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6512% weight
Conditions
Level
1.05 m
Water temp
14.4°C
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
23°C
Wind
NW 20 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1012 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.2 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Colorado licence
  • CPW Quality Water; verify reach rules and watch for voluntary low-flow/temperature closures.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The upper Colorado around Kremmling — Pumphouse, the State Bridge water, the brink of Gore Canyon — is big, floatable trout water and a cornerstone of the state's identity, holding browns, rainbows and whitefish. It's also the river most visibly squeezed by the way Colorado moves its water: diversions over the divide drop the flow, summer warms it, and recreation crowds the rest. After the June runoff it's wonderful float fishing with hoppers and attractors. In the low warm afternoons of high summer it's a river to leave alone, and a responsible app says so out loud.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 2