Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir

Uncompahgre River Below Ridgway Reservoir — Fishing Report for April 24, 2026

Quick Stats

Flow: 61 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Prime | Weather: Mostly Sunny, High 63°F

The Bite

While every freestone river on Colorado's western slope is running brown and unfishable right now, the Uncompahgre below Ridgway is crystal clear, sitting at 61 CFS — right in the middle of its ideal range — and fishing as well as it does all year. This is exactly the tailwater advantage Ridgway Reservoir provides: the dam absorbs the San Juan snowmelt and releases clean, cold water regardless of what's happening upstream. With snowpack in the basin sitting at just 13% of normal, flows are likely to stay low and stable through spring, which means an extended fishable window and no blowout threat on the horizon. Word will get around — plan to arrive early and stake your water.

Today's mostly sunny skies with a high of 63°F create a split-personality fishing day. Mornings will be slower on the surface, but that's no reason to wait in the truck — nymphing through the deeper runs and pools should produce steadily from first light. As temperatures climb into the afternoon and cloud cover potentially builds, expect Baetis activity to pick up between 1 and 4 PM. April is the peak of the spring BWO emergence on this river, and even on brighter days, fish will key on emergers and cripples in the film. Keep an eye on the tailouts of pools and the slower edges of runs — that's where rising fish will show first. If you're here late in the week, the first Mother's Day Caddis adults may make a cameo appearance on Sunday's warmer afternoon — worth having one in the box.

Sunday brings showers and thunderstorms, which could actually improve the BWO hatch significantly. Overcast, wet conditions are prime Baetis weather. If you can fish through a little rain, Sunday afternoon could be the best dry fly window of the weekend.

What to Fish

• RS2 #20-22 — Dead-drift on the point of a double-nymph rig all morning; the single most reliable pattern on this water
• Pat's Rubber Legs #10-12 — Anchor fly for the double-nymph setup; gets the RS2 or Pheasant Tail down into the feeding lane
• San Juan Worm (red or wine) #12-14 — Swap in as the point fly when fish are holding deep; highly effective in tailwater substrate year-round
• Barr Emerger BWO #20 — Transition to this as the afternoon hatch builds; fish it in the film on a long leader
• Sparkle Dun BWO #18-20 — When fish are visibly rising and selective, this is the dry fly to reach for first
• Scud (orange/pink) #16 — All-day option near weed beds and slower water; don't overlook it

Tactics & Rigging

Start the morning with a double-nymph rig: Pat's Rubber Legs on the point, RS2 or San Juan Worm trailing 14–16 inches above on a tag off the tippet. Run this on 4X fluorocarbon to the anchor, stepping down to 5X or 6X for the dropper. Fish the deeper seams, the heads of pools, and any slower water adjacent to faster current. Indicator or tight-line — both work at 61 CFS, though tight-line gives you better feel in the shallower runs.

As the afternoon hatch develops, switch to a single dry or a dry-dropper setup: a Parachute Adams or Sparkle Dun on top with a Barr Emerger dropped 16–18 inches below on 6X. Present it with a long, drag-free drift through the glassy tailouts — these fish are educated and will refuse anything with a hint of drag. Leaders of 12 feet or longer help on the flatter water. If you see fish rising but can't get a take on the dry, drop to 6X or 7X tippet and try the emerger pattern alone.

Access & Logistics

Access is straightforward from the pullouts along Highway 550 south of Ridgway. The low, clear water makes wading easy, but that same clarity means fish will see you — approach slowly and keep a low profile. Expect moderate pressure this weekend; this is the only clear river in the region right now, so it draws a crowd. Weekday mornings are your best bet for solitude. Verify current regulations with CPW before fishing — this is Gold Medal water with artificial flies and lures only, and reduced bag limits apply. Catch-and-release is strongly encouraged for these trophy browns. Stop by Cimarron Creek in Montrose for flies, local intel, and to support the shops that keep this fishery healthy.

Looking Ahead

Sunday's rain and storms could actually be a gift — overcast, wet conditions are textbook BWO weather, and the hatch may be more intense than anything you'll see on today's bluebird afternoon. With snowpack well below normal basin-wide, expect flows to remain stable and fishable well into May, potentially extending the spring window that typically gets cut short by runoff.