Fly Fishing The Cache La Poudre River in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

	Guides		Estes Park Lodging		Fishing Report		Visitor Information

The Poudre, as it's known around here, starts high in the mountains on the Western Slope of Rocky Mountain National Park, flows north into Long Draw Reservoir, then tumbles down a canyon until exiting onto the plains near Fort Collins.

It is a small river throughout its length, no more than 40 feet wide at its greatest, and has to be the slickest river in the United States. This freestone stream is one of the prettiest rivers in Colorado, and you'll see mule deer and even bighorn sheep as you wind down the canyon.

Flows range from a high of 800 CFS during peak runoff, to and average summer flow of 300. Recent droughts have brought flows down to under 100 CFS in the summer, raising water temperatures and forcing fish to congregate in deeper pools. If you find the water to be over 70 degrees, please don't fish it. The oxygen levels in the water are so low that even briefly playing a fish has a high likelihood of killing the fish you release.

The fish in this river run 9-12 inches with a few over 14 inches. There are two sections designated as Wild Trout Water, and while the regulations currently allow you to keep two fish over 16 inches, most fisherman do practice catch & release here.

The hatch chart for this stream is the same as the Big Thompson.

• Midges: Year Round
• Baetis: April / May & September / October
• Green Drake: July / August
• Red Quill : July / August
• Caddis: June through September
• Terrestrials: July through September
• Stoneflies: June through August

Winter fishing can be tough because the stream is in the bottom of a canyon that gets very little sun, and the water level is a trickle. However, midges are around all year, and you're likely to get some interest if you can find some open water on a warm January day by drifting a small, dark midge nymph.

By April, Baetis have joined the Midge hatches. Olive comparadun, parachute adams and blue duns can be added to your Griffith's Gnat and midge patterns.

Flows increase as runoff begins in Late May and June, but cooler temperatures and overcast days are good times to take a run up the canyon to see if the caddis are coming off. If you don't get a strike on the typical high-riding caddis patterns (Goddard or Elk Hair) let the fly get waterlogged and fish it in the surface film. You'll be surprised at how many more strikes you'll get.

During summer, Green Drakes and Red Quills will come off in the afternoon, so don't leave home without some of these patterns in 14 to 18. As with most of these streams, terrestrials come off in July and August. Don't leave home without a few #14-16 ants, #12 crickets, or some #10-14 hopper patterns. Here's a free tip--try a hopper with a yellow body on some of the deeper pools. Just don't yank the fly off the water when you see those big jaws opening below your fly!

Planning a trip to fish the Cache La Poudre River in Rocky Mountain National Park? Visit our on-line fly store for a complete selection of flies before you head out.