Let’s not sugarcoat it. This past winter was rough — and not in the way that makes for good campfire stories.

Colorado is wrapping up the 2025–2026 winter season with a statewide snow-to-water equivalent of just 38 percent of normal. That’s not a typo. According to Colorado State Climatologist Russ Schumacher, it’s the mildest winter in recorded state history. Ski areas closed weeks early. The mountains shed their snowpack a month ahead of schedule. And now, as we head into spring and summer, every angler in the state is asking the same question:

What does this mean for the fishing?

I’ve been guiding on Colorado’s Front Range and mountain rivers long enough to see a few of these low-water years come and go. Here’s an honest breakdown of what to expect — the bad, the not-so-bad, and the genuinely good.

The Honest Bad News First

Low snowpack means low summer river flows. There’s no way around it. When the mountains don’t bank water as snow, there’s less cold water draining into streams through June, July, and August. That has three main consequences for trout fishing:

1. Water temperatures rise earlier and higher. Trout are cold-blooded. They thrive in water between 55°F and 65°F and start to get seriously stressed above 68°F. In a normal year, cold snowmelt keeps mountain rivers cool well into August. In a drought year, some rivers can hit dangerous temperature thresholds by July — or even late June.

2. “Hoot owl” closures may come early. The term comes from the idea that the only safe time to fish stressed summer water is early morning — when the owls are still out. In practice, these are time-of-day fishing restrictions that Colorado Parks & Wildlife puts in place when water temperatures spike to dangerous levels for trout. They can be voluntary (CPW strongly recommends you’re off the water by noon) or mandatory (legally enforceable closures, usually on Gold Medal or special regulation stretches). In 2025 those closures started arriving in mid-summer. With snowpack even lower this year, we could see them earlier — potentially June on the most vulnerable stretches. Always check CPW’s current closure notices before you head out.

3. The runoff window will be shorter and tamer. High runoff — that muddy, blown-out spring period when rivers are unfishable — is actually an important part of the ecosystem. It flushes sediment, resets structure, and conditions the river for summer. A weak runoff year means a shorter spring off-season, which sounds good until you realize those rivers are entering summer without the flushing they need.

The western slope is taking the hardest hit. The Eagle River basin came into spring at a record-low 59% of its 30-year median. The Arkansas and Rio Grande are looking even more stressed. If you’ve got western slope or southern Colorado rivers on your bucket list for this summer, pay very close attention to conditions before heading out.

Where the News Is Actually Pretty Good

Here’s what surprises most people who follow water data: right now, the fishing is excellent.

Low, clear, stable flows are perfect fishing conditions. No blown-out runoff. No suspended sediment. Fish that can see your fly, track it, and eat it with confidence. The rivers are fishing like mid-summer already. The Colorado River through Glenwood Canyon and downstream toward Rifle has been particularly productive, with stable emerald flows and BWO hatches popping off in the afternoon window. The Eagle is in a similar spot.

The compression of the season cuts both ways. Yes, summer could get tough. But spring is arriving early and fishing beautifully — right now is genuinely one of the best times to be on the water.

There’s also a meaningful north-south split. The northern half of the state — the South Platte drainage, northern Front Range, and upper Colorado River — came through winter in significantly better shape than the southwestern rivers. Summit County and Eagle County basins peaked closer to average than the San Juans, which in some locations recorded their lowest snowpack since measurements began. If you’re fishing near Denver or on the northern Front Range, the outlook is more manageable than the headlines suggest.

What Savvy Anglers Do in Low-Water Years

Low water changes the game. Here’s how to adapt:

Fish early in the day. Water temperatures are lowest in the morning. In mid-summer, aim to be on the water at first light and off by early afternoon before temps spike. This is especially true on lower-elevation, freestone rivers.

Go smaller with your flies. Low, clear water means spooky fish and long leaders. Drop down a tippet size. A 6x presentation that would be overkill in high flows becomes the difference between eating and refusals.

Target tailwaters. This is the single best piece of advice for a low-water summer. Tailwater rivers — stretches below reservoirs that release cold, regulated flows — are largely insulated from drought conditions. The South Platte below Cheesman Canyon, the Blue River below Dillon Reservoir, and the Arkansas below Pueblo Reservoir will all fish well even as surrounding rivers struggle. Regulated flows mean cooler water, more consistent hatches, and fish that aren’t temperature-stressed.

Follow the cold water, not the map. In tough years, the fishing concentrates wherever the water stays cold — high-altitude headwaters, tailwater releases below dams. The trout aren’t gone; they’ve just moved to where conditions are still right for them. Be willing to explore and be flexible.

Check stream gauges before you go. This is the habit that separates prepared anglers from frustrated ones. Knowing the current CFS before you leave the house tells you whether to bring wading gear, expect a float, or stay home and tie flies. The USGS runs real-time gauges on virtually every major Colorado river — bookmark the ones relevant to where you fish and check them the night before every trip.

Reading the Gauges: Colorado River and Roaring Fork

Two rivers worth watching closely this summer are the Upper Colorado River from Pumphouse to Dotsero and the Roaring Fork. Both are currently fishing well, but flows are already below seasonal norms — and they’ll drop further as summer heat arrives. Here’s how to read the numbers.

Colorado River — Catamount Bridge Gauge

The USGS gauge at Catamount Bridge is the standard reference point for the popular Upper Colorado float sections and the wade water in that corridor. You can check it in real time here: USGS Gauge 09060799 — Colorado River at Catamount Bridge

What the flows mean:

450+ CFS — floatable in a drift boat or raft. The State Bridge-to-Two Bridges and Two Bridges-to-Catamount sections row well and give you access to water that wade anglers simply can’t reach. This is the threshold to watch for planning a float.
Below 400 CFS — wade fishing mode. This is actually excellent news for anglers on foot. Lower flows mean clearer water, more visible fish, and trout holding in predictable seams and riffles. Work the structure, go small with your flies, and you’ll find willing fish.

One important note on this section: clarity matters as much as volume. Numerous tributaries feeding into the Colorado above Catamount can flush sediment after rain events, muddying the river even at fishable flows. The Catamount gauge also reports a turbidity reading — this is a measure of how much particulate is suspended in the water, reported in FNU (Formazin Nephelometric Units). Think of it as a scientific measure of how murky or clear the water is. Under 10 FNU is relatively clear and fishable — the closer to zero the clearer, and at those levels you’ll have good visibility and fish that can track your fly. As turbidity climbs toward 25–50 FNU you’re losing several inches of visibility fast, and above that you’re essentially fishing blind. Always check the turbidity reading alongside the CFS number before making the drive out.

Roaring Fork River — Glenwood Springs Gauge

The Roaring Fork at Glenwood Springs is currently running around 320 CFS — clear, low, and fishing well. Check current flows here: USGS Gauge 09085000 — Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs

What the flows mean:

400+ CFS — the river becomes floatable on the lower sections from Basalt down to Glenwood Springs. The lower Fork has limited public wade access due to private land along the banks, so floating opens up a lot of productive water that isn’t accessible on foot.
Below 400 CFS — prime wading conditions. Public access areas along the lower Fork and the upper sections between Aspen and Basalt fish very well on foot at these flows. The fish are concentrated, the water is clear, and the nymphing in particular can be outstanding. A word of caution: the Roaring Fork is notorious for moss-covered, bowling-ball-sized rocks on the streambed. Wade carefully, use a wading staff if you have one, and take your time reading the water before stepping in.

At current flows the Roaring Fork is fishing about as well as it gets for wading. BWOs and midges are the primary food sources right now, with stonefly nymphs active subsurface. Get there early.

River-by-River Quick Reference for Summer 2026

South Platte (Cheesman / Dream Stream): Best bet in a drought year. Tailwater-regulated, cool, and reliable. Expect crowds — everyone knows it.

Colorado River (Pumphouse to Dotsero): Currently fishing very well. Monitor flows and turbidity closely once summer heat and afternoon storms arrive. Check flows at Catamount

Roaring Fork River: Lower flows make this prime wading territory right now. Public access near Carbondale and Westbank fishing well. Check flows at Glenwood Springs

Eagle River: Record-low snowpack makes this one to watch carefully. Fishing is great right now; late summer is the question mark.

Boulder Creek / St. Vrain: Freestone streams that will feel drought pressure earlier. Best fished in spring or on cooler days.

Arkansas River: Southern basin, low snowpack, and heavy pressure. Prioritize tailwater sections. Avoid warm-water afternoon sessions.

What This Means If You’re Planning a Trip This Summer

If you’ve been on the fence about getting out this year — don’t wait.

The fishing right now, through May and into June, is as good as it gets. Clear flows, active hatches, fish that are hungry and moving. For beginners especially, fishing in stable, clear water with consistent hatch activity is far more productive and enjoyable than navigating high, murky runoff flows.

Later in the summer, be strategic. Fish early, target tailwaters, stay off stressed rivers during heat events, and follow current conditions rather than habit. The season will be different than usual, but there’s still excellent fishing to be had for anglers who adapt.

The mountains always find a way. This summer will just take a little more reading of the water.

Ed Weston is the Chief Fish Wrangler at Drifters Fly Fishing, a Golden-based guide service focused on getting new and beginner anglers on the water across Colorado’s Front Range and mountain rivers.

What Colorado's Historic Low Snowpack Means for Fly Fishing in 2026