Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Colorado Basin
The Williams Fork below its reservoir is a short, technical tailwater near Parshall that draws big fall-run browns from the Colorado River when flows are good.
Looking for the latest Williams Fork River (below the 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 Williams Fork River (below the reservoir).
Current flows
Heads up: Releases are very low and fish are stressed and spawning. Please give the Williams Fork a rest until flows come back up.
Wind forecast
Williams Fork River (below the reservoir) fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
Releases dropped to about 17 cfs, down from about 126 cfs at the end of October, and Denver Water plans to keep them low for now. Fish are packed into a few pools and some are spawning.
Local guides are asking anglers not to fish it at these flows. Please give these fish a break and try the Colorado River at Parshall instead.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Below Williams Fork Reservoir, bring: Zebra Midge #20-22, RS2 Emerger #20-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20, Egg #16-18, JuJu Baetis #18-22, 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.
Williams Fork River (below the reservoir) details
| Access | Walk-in from the state wildlife area lot off County Road 3 near Parshall. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 7,600 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 120 miles, roughly 2 hours 50 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Spring and fall at good releases |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout, plus fall-run fish from the Colorado |
| Regulations | Artificial flies and lures, catch and release. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 to 12 ft leaders, 6X to 7X tippet |
| Camping | Dispersed camping at the reservoir |
| Kids | No. Technical and boggy. |
| Good to know | It fishes best at 100 to 200 cfs. Wait for higher releases. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Low releases.
Spring
BWOs.
Summer
PMDs, caddis and mosquitoes.
Fall
Big browns run up when flows are good.
How to get there
Take County Road 3 south from US-40 at Parshall.