Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Gunnison Basin
Below Ridgway Dam the Uncompahgre runs through the Pa-co-chu-puk area of Ridgway State Park, a catch-and-release tailwater with big, picky fish.
Looking for the latest Below Ridgway Reservoir 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 Uncompahgre River โ Below Ridgway Reservoir.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Below Ridgway Reservoir fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The release is steady, about 250 cfs. Our latest report is from mid-October, so this is a seasonal outlook. Expect water in the low 40s with midges and BWOs.
Tight-line or use a small indicator with a small leech followed by a Black Beauty or Zebra Midge, on 5X to 6X fluorocarbon, from mid-morning to afternoon.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Below Ridgway Reservoir, bring: Black Beauty #22-24, Zebra Midge #22-24, JuJu Baetis #20-22, Mini Leech #12-14, Parachute Adams #20-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Below Ridgway Reservoir river details
| Access | The Pa-co-chu-puk area of Ridgway State Park, off Highway 550. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 6,800 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 290 miles, roughly 6 hours 29 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | All year |
| Fish | Rainbow and brown trout, some over 20 inches |
| Regulations | Catch and release, flies and lures only in the park section. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 6X tippet |
| Camping | Ridgway State Park campgrounds |
| Kids | Yes. Paved paths and restrooms. |
| Good to know | Stocked fish that are often picky. |
Fishing by season
Winter
The tailwater stays open, with midges.
Spring
BWOs.
Summer
PMDs and caddis.
Fall
Browns and a quieter river.
How to get there
Turn into the Pa-co-chu-puk area of Ridgway State Park off Highway 550 north of Ridgway.