Fall Fly Fishing Tips and Tricks

Fall Fly Fishing Guide for Western Colorado – Colors Change and Trout Bite

As autumn paints the Colorado landscape with fiery reds and golds, many see it as the second spring. For anglers, this season signals something even more exciting: cooler water temperatures, hungry trout, fewer crowds, and one last shot at great fishing before winter arrives in full force.

Whether you’re casting dries on a freestone river like the San Miguel, nymphing deep in the Uncompahgre tailwaters at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk, or throwing streamers in the Gunnison, fall fly fishing offers some of the best opportunities of the year. Here’s everything you need to know—from hatches and fly patterns to ethical fishing and cold-weather tips—to make the most of your autumn angling in Western Colorado. Plus, add in a scenic byway or two and get all the fall colors, plus great fishing along the way.

Techniques by River and Stillwater Systems – Cover ground, Keep moving and Mind the Redd

Uncompahgre River (Ridgway to Montrose)

• Fish Year-Round due to stable water temperatures and access.
• Use Stealth Tactics:
  • Light tippet (5X–7X) – fluorocarbon is ideal when getting into smaller presentations
  • Small indicators (try yarn or Rainy’s TelStrike)
  • Micro split shot to perfect your sink rate
  • Try a 90-degree nymphing rig for sensitive presentations
• Flies: Midges, BWOs, small worms, eggs
• Gear Tip: Layer well; elevations vary greatly on this river. It can get cold and hot fast

San Miguel River (Freestone)

• Best in Fall: Warms during the day but ices over by deep winter
• Tactics:
  • Start fishing late morning to mid-afternoon before the shadows fall across the river.
  • Target deeper pools—not summer riffles
  • Use dry-dropper rigs with caddis, BWOs, or Parachute Adams
• Flies: Small dries and beadhead droppers; streamers in low light

Gunnison River (Lower Gunnison – Tailwater)

• Fishing continues into Late Fall
• Big Browns on Streamers: As they stage for spawn be mindful of where you are and adjust your fishing to not over stress brown trout by fishing near the redds.
• Rainbow Trout are still feeding. Focus on midges, caddis and mayflies
• Rigging: Use larger rods (6wt/7wt), sink-tips, and meaty flies
• Gear Tip: Prepare for rapid weather shifts—layer and bring a rain shell

Miramonte Reservoir (High Country – Stillwater)

• Fishing is at it’s best during Spring and late Summer into Early Winter
• Big Browns, Rainbow and Cutthroat trophy size
• Rich aquatic diet of crayfish, calibaetis, leeches, and chironomids
• Rigging: Use larger rods (6wt/7wt), sink-tips, with streamers and nymph rigs
• Gear Tip: Prepare for rapid weather shifts—layer and bring a rain shell

Fall Fly Fishing Tips & Strategies

• Fish Midday: Cooler mornings mean less activity—fish the warmest parts of the day
• Watch the Weather: Rain and overcast days = great BWO and streamer activity
• Cover Water: With lower flows, you can often cross rivers to hit untouched banks
• Don’t Pack Away the Hopper Box: September is prime time for hopper-dropper rigs
• Adapt Your Indicator Setup: Smaller indicators spook fewer fish in skinny water
• Dress Smart: Base layers, sun hoodies, puffy coats, waterproof shells—you’ll need it all in one day
• Ethics: Before diving into any river, it’s crucial to remember that fall is spawning season for brown trout. Mind the Redd and learn more about fly fishing awareness during these times.
• Hand Picked Flies: The RIGS team is ready to gather the best flies for the time you are in SW Colorado. We base each hand picked fly selection of guide input and on-the-water experience.
• Guided Trips: Using a guide service like ours can help increase your chances of getting into fish, learn new techniques and explore areas you are not familiar with.

Bug Hatches & Fly Patterns: Fall Entomology Essentials

1. Blue Winged Olives (BWOs) – (Black & Olive)

• When: Midday during cloudy, rainy fall days
• Size: #16–#22
• Color: Olive, blue-gray
• Tip: Look for sippers in slow back eddies or foam lines. Fish dry flies or emergers just below the surface.
• Top Patterns: Lil Bit BWO, Barr’s Emerger BWO, Sparkle Dun, RS2, Soft Hackle BWO

2. Caddis – October (Dries and Nymphs)

• When: Afternoon to evening
• Size: #12–#16
• Color: Orange, tan and dark brown
• Tip: While not as dense as summer hatches, when these flies do come off, it can be a feeding frenzy. Try dry-dropper rigs in the evening.
• Top Patterns: Twisted Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Orange Stimulator, Bead Head Caddis

3. Stoneflies (Black & Brown)

• When: September through October
• Size: #12–#16
• Tip: Sparse hatch, but great for subsurface nymphing. Use as lead flies in a two-fly rig.
• Top Patterns: Biot Epoxy Stone Nymph, Pat’s Rubber Legs, 20-Incher Stone, Prince Nymph

4. Midges (Fall & Winter MVP)

• When: Especially productive during cold snaps
• Size: #20–#26
• Tip: Go small, go deep. Trout get sluggish and prefer easier, subsurface meals.
• Top Patterns: Zebra Midge, Demon Midge, Two Bit Midge, Massacre Midge

5. Terrestrials (Early Fall)

• When: Early to mid-fall (September)
• Size: Ants/Beetles #16–#20, Hoppers #8–#12
• Tip: Use a low-profile ant or beetle on pressured rivers; great in low, clear water with 6X tippet.
• Top Patterns: Chubby Cubby, Parachute Hopper, CDC Beetle, Foam Ant

6. Egg Patterns (Mid to Late Fall)

• When: Peak brown trout and whitefish spawning (October–November)
• Tip: Drift a single egg pattern with a beadhead dropper. Match egg color and size for best results.
• Top Patterns: Sunny Side Up Egg, Chartreuse Egg, Glo Bug, Unreal Egg

Understanding Streamer Fishing for Aggressive Browns

Fall fly fishing tips always lead to talking about streamer fishing to browns. During this time, brown trout move into shallow gravel beds called redds to reproduce. These areas are often found in front of tributaries or on clean gravel bars. Do not fish to or walk through these spawning beds—it stresses the fish and can damage eggs, jeopardizing future trout populations.

If you see fish holding in the shallows or on bright gravel patches, let them be. As brown trout gear up for the spawn or recover post-spawn, they become territorial and aggressive. It is up to the individual as to if you will fish to browns during this time. When doing so, sinking lines and big patterns will trigger a predatory strike…but again MIND THE REDD and keep moving and avoid fishing in any one area for very long.

• Rods: 6wt–7wt with sink-tip or full sinking line
• Top Patterns: Baby Swim Coach, Mini Dungeon, Two Tone Dungeon, Woolly Bugger
• Tip: Cover water quickly. If they’re going to chase, it’ll happen fast.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Fall Fall Fly Fishing Season

Fall in Colorado offers some of the most beautiful, productive, and peaceful days on the water. With the right flies, ethical awareness, and a solid understanding of bug activity and trout behavior, you can extend your fishing season well into winter. Whether you’re swinging streamers on the Gunnison, drifting BWOs on the Uncompahgre, or stalking risers on the San Miguel, fall fly fishing is full of promise. Dress warmly, fish smart, and enjoy every golden hour on the river.

Want to learn more or book a guided trip? Check out our professional guide services and seasonal fly selections to keep you dialed in all year long