Cache la Poudre River Colorado Hatch Chart

Northern Colorado, flowing east from Rocky Mountain National Park and the Cameron Pass area through the Poudre Canyon west of Fort Collins before emerging onto the plains. The Cache la Poudre is Colorado's only federally designated Wild and Scenic River - a freestone river with exceptional wild brown and rainbow trout populations in a dramatic granite canyon setting accessible within an hour of Fort Collins and the Denver metro area. Despite its proximity to a major population center, the Poudre Canyon offers genuine wild trout fishing in beautiful mountain water.

Check current Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations before you go. The Cache la Poudre has special regulations including gold medal sections with artificial flies and lures only and catch-and-release requirements. The river has multiple management sections with different rules - verify current regulations for your target section before fishing.

Shop by type: dry flies, nymphs, Euro nymphs, hoppers and terrestrials, streamers.

The river

The Poudre Canyon reach from the mouth of the canyon west through the Wild and Scenic corridor is the primary trout fishery - a classic freestone river with pocket water, riffles, and pools carved through granite and gneiss with good public access along Highway 14. The upper canyon above Rustic holds the highest concentrations of wild trout and the most technical dry-fly water. The lower canyon below the Narrows widens and transitions to a more accessible character with excellent brown trout populations.

Brown trout are the dominant species in the lower and middle canyon sections, with rainbow trout more prevalent in the upper canyon and tributary reaches. The Poudre is known for producing large wild browns - fish over 18 inches are present throughout the system and the fall brown trout fishing in October and November is among the finest in northern Colorado. The river sees significant pressure on summer weekends due to its proximity to Fort Collins - weekday and early morning visits produce dramatically better fish-to-angler ratios.

The Cache la Poudre has one of the best salmonfly hatches in Colorado. The combination of the salmonfly in late May and June, summer hopper fishing, and fall BWO hatches makes the Poudre a three-season destination worth the drive from anywhere along the Front Range or beyond.

Year at a glance

Month	Primary hatches	Also carry	Typical sizes
Jan	Midges	Small nymphs, streamers	20-26
Feb	Midges, BWO	Small nymphs, streamers	18-24
Mar	BWO, midges	Early stonefly nymphs	BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Apr	BWO, caddis, midges	Stonefly nymphs, March Brown	BWO 16-20, caddis 14-16
May	Salmonfly, caddis, BWO	Golden stone, PMD start	Salmonfly 2-6, caddis 14-16
Jun	Salmonfly, golden stone, PMD	Caddis, yellow sally	Salmonfly 2-6, PMD 16-18
Jul	PMD, hoppers, caddis	Yellow sally, ants, golden stone	PMD 16-18, hopper 8-12
Aug	Hoppers, PMD, caddis	Ants, beetles, trico	Hopper 8-12, PMD 16-18
Sep	BWO, hoppers, caddis	Mahogany dun, ants	BWO 16-20, hopper 8-12
Oct	BWO, midges	Streamers, mahogany dun	BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Nov	Midges, BWO	Streamers, small nymphs	20-24
Dec	Midges	Small nymphs, streamers	20-26

January

The Poudre fishes year-round and January is the midge and nymph season. The canyon stays accessible on most winter days with Highway 14 maintained through the canyon. Fish hold in the deeper pools and slower runs - midge larvae and pupae on a tight-line Euro rig is the most productive winter approach. Streamer fishing for large browns in the deeper lower canyon pools is excellent in January with minimal pressure. The granite canyon in winter is dramatic and beautiful with almost no other anglers.

Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small Euro nymphs subsurface. Midge cluster dry when fish are dimpling in flat tailouts.
Streamers for large browns in the deeper canyon pools - streamers.

February

BWO begin on overcast afternoons in February - the Poudre Canyon's sheltered south-facing walls make it an early BWO reach by Colorado standards. Midges continue throughout. Streamers remain productive for large browns. February afternoon rises in the canyon with no other anglers is one of the underrated pleasures of northern Colorado fly fishing.

BWO - 18-22 on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO when fish are rising.
Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.
Streamers for large browns. Streamers.

March

BWO hatches strengthen through March and early stonefly activity begins on warm afternoons. Midges continue as the subsurface anchor. The Poudre can run clear and fishable in March before snowmelt begins - excellent dry-fly fishing with strengthening BWO hatches and minimal pressure. Early April pre-runoff fishing is worth targeting in good snow years.

BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons.
Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.
Early stonefly nymphs building subsurface. Nymphs.

April

Caddis begin building through April and overlap with continuing BWO hatches. March Browns appear on the broader lower sections. Stonefly nymphs building toward the May hatch. Snowmelt begins pushing flows up by late April. The early April window before significant runoff can be outstanding - multiple hatches, good flows, and no crowds. Watch the gauge and fish early in the month before high water arrives.

BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO on overcast days.
Caddis - 14-16. Elk hair caddis afternoons and evenings.
Midges throughout. Red zebra midge subsurface.
Stonefly nymphs subsurface. Nymphs.

May

The salmonfly hatch is the defining event of the Poudre fishing calendar - one of the best in Colorado and the primary reason serious dry-fly anglers plan trips to the canyon in late May and early June. Giant stonefly adults on the water bring the largest brown trout to the surface. Timing varies with snowpack and temperatures - the hatch typically moves up the canyon from lower to upper reaches over a 2-3 week window. Caddis hatch alongside the salmonfly. PMDs begin on the flatter sections by late May. Watch the hatch reports and move when the timing is right.

Salmonfly - 2-6. The signature hatch. Large adult stonefly dries when the hatch is active - see dry flies. Stonefly nymphs below the hatch front.
Golden stone - 6-10 in the faster riffles and pocket water.
Caddis - 14-16. Elk hair caddis evenings.
Late May: first PMD - Pale Morning Dun on the flatter sections.

June

The salmonfly hatch continues into early June in the upper canyon. Golden stones remain active through the month. PMDs build on the flatter middle canyon sections. Flows typically drop and clear from peak runoff through June - the lower canyon becomes fishable earlier and the upper canyon clears by mid-month in most years. June on the Poudre is transition month - salmonfly early, then a full summer hatch sequence as flows normalize.

Salmonfly continuing in the upper canyon early June. Large stonefly dries.
Golden stone - 6-10. Faster riffles and pocket water.
PMD - 16-18. Pale Morning Dun mornings on the flatter sections.
Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
Yellow sally - 14-16 in the riffles on warm afternoons.

July

Full summer season. PMDs remain the anchor morning hatch. Hoppers begin building along the canyon walls and grassy margins by mid-month - the Poudre Canyon concentrates hoppers along its rocky margins and the wild browns respond well. Caddis evenings throughout. Yellow sallies in the riffles. Ants and beetles midday. Weekend pressure in July is heavy due to proximity to Fort Collins - fish weekdays or early mornings for the best experience.

PMD - 16-18 mornings. Pale Morning Dun.
Hoppers - 8-12. Hoppers and terrestrials along the canyon walls and grassy margins.
Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
Yellow sally - 14-16 in the riffles.
Ants and beetles midday from hoppers and terrestrials.

August

Hopper season peaks in August. The canyon walls and roadside margins concentrate grasshoppers and the wild browns and rainbows respond aggressively. PMDs continue in the mornings. Caddis evenings remain reliable. Trico spinner falls on the flatter lower sections by mid-month. Ants and beetles midday. Fish the upper canyon sections on August weekdays for the best combination of active fish and manageable pressure.

Hoppers - 8-12. Hoppers and terrestrials along the canyon margins. Hopper-dropper with a nymph dropper.
PMD - 16-18 mornings. Pale Morning Dun.
Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
Trico - 20-24 early morning on the flatter lower sections. Fine tippet.
Ants and beetles midday. Hoppers and terrestrials.

September

September is the finest month on the Poudre. Summer crowds evaporate after Labor Day, BWO return strongly with the cooling temperatures, and the canyon is at its most beautiful with turning aspens on the canyon walls. The fall olive hatches produce outstanding afternoon dry-fly fishing. Hoppers continue through mid-month. Mahogany duns on overcast days. Streamers for pre-spawn browns in the deeper pools. September on the Poudre with no weekend crowds and excellent hatches is well worth the drive.

Hoppers through mid-September. Hoppers and terrestrials.
BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons.
Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast afternoons.
Caddis evenings. Elk hair.
Streamers for pre-spawn browns - streamers in the deeper canyon pools.

October

Outstanding fall fishing. BWO hatches strengthen through October - dense afternoon hatches with the summer crowds gone. Streamers produce the largest browns of the year as pre-spawn aggression peaks. Mahogany duns on overcast days. Midges reassert themselves as temperatures drop. October brown trout fishing on the Poudre is some of the finest in northern Colorado - large fish in accessible canyon water with excellent hatches and minimal pressure.

BWO - 16-20. The dominant hatch. Parachute BWO.
Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast days.
Midges - 20-24 picking back up. Red zebra midge subsurface.
Streamers for trophy pre-spawn browns - streamers in the deeper canyon runs and pools.

November

BWO and midges as the season winds down. Streamers remain excellent for large post-spawn browns through the month. The canyon stays accessible via Highway 14 in most November weather. Very few anglers. November streamer and BWO fishing on the Poudre for large wild browns is one of northern Colorado's best-kept fly fishing secrets.

BWO - 16-20 on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO.
Midges - 20-24. Red zebra midge subsurface.
Streamers for large browns - streamers in the canyon pools and deeper runs.

December

Back to the winter midge and nymph program. The canyon is accessible via Highway 14 and the Poudre fishes year-round. December in the granite canyon with midges and active wild trout and no other anglers is a genuinely rewarding winter experience for the Front Range fly angler willing to make the drive.

Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small nymphs subsurface. Midge cluster dry when fish are dimpling.
BWO on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO.
Streamers for large browns - streamers year-round.

A western dry and nymph assortment covers the core season. Add a salmonfly pattern for May and June and a streamer selection for fall browns. The Cache la Poudre is Colorado's most accessible wild canyon trout fishery - year-round fishing, excellent hatches from salmonfly through BWO, and large wild browns in a designated Wild and Scenic River corridor within easy reach of the Front Range.