Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Colorado Basin
Below Lake Granby the Colorado River starts as a small tailwater with limited public access and flows that swing with reservoir operations.
Looking for the latest Colorado River Below Lake Granby 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 Colorado River โ Below Lake Granby.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Below Lake Granby fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The winter release is very low, about 20 cfs. Expect clear, cold water and marginal fishing with small midges and Baetis in the middle of the day.
Do not confuse this with the stretch between Shadow Mountain and Granby, which is closed in the fall for the kokanee spawn. Check the gauge before you drive.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Below Lake Granby, bring: Zebra Midge #20-24, RS2 Emerger #20-24, JuJu Baetis #20-22, Egg #16-18, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Black Beauty #20-24, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16, Rainbow Warrior #16-20.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Below Lake Granby river details
| Access | Limited public walk-in access near the dam and at Windy Gap. Much of the river is private. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 8,000 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 107 miles, roughly 3 hours 6 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Summer at stable flows |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout, with kokanee upstream |
| Regulations | Rules vary by reach. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 6X tippet |
| Camping | Stillwater and Green Ridge campgrounds in the Arapaho National Recreation Area (seasonal) |
| Kids | No. Access is limited. |
| Good to know | Low winter releases make it marginal. Check the gauge first. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Very low releases.
Spring
Depends on releases.
Summer
Best when flows are stable.
Fall
Kokanee and spawning browns nearby.
How to get there
The dam is off US-34 north of Granby.