Colorado Fishing Reports ยท South Platte Basin
Through Fort Collins, the Poudre runs past trails and city natural areas. It holds browns and stocked rainbows right in town.
Looking for the latest Cache la Poudre River Fort Collins river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Cache la Poudre River โ Fort Collins.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Fort Collins fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge at Fort Collins shows about 32 cfs, low and clear.
Fish the deeper bends and below the diversion dams with a Zebra Midge or Pheasant Tail. Midday on warm days is best.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Fort Collins, bring: Zebra Midge #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Woolly Bugger #8, San Juan Worm #12, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Fort Collins river details
| Access | The Poudre River Trail and city natural areas along the river. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 4,980 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 78 miles, roughly 1 hour 32 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Fall, winter and spring |
| Fish | Brown trout, stocked rainbows and warmwater species |
| Regulations | Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | None in town. Poudre Canyon campgrounds are close. |
| Kids | Yes. Easy trail access. |
| Good to know | Diversions change flows a lot during irrigation season. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Midges on warm days.
Spring
Good before runoff.
Summer
Low and warm from irrigation.
Fall
Clear, low water and browns.
How to get there
Take I-25 north to Fort Collins, then park at a natural area along the Poudre River Trail.