Wade · Best fit74/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
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Fly fishing report · Southwest
Colorado River
A Lees Ferry tailwater report for the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam, with RiverReports flow context, USGS water data, trout tactics, access notes, regulations, weather, and source links.
Check flow & weatherToday's river scoreHigh source confidence
74
Good
Best option: Wade.
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Updated Jul 13, 11:17 PM UTCUsually refreshes about every 45 minutes
Recommended approachWade
Mode scores adjust the river-wide score for the risks of wading, bank fishing, or floating.
Bank / edge74/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Float74/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Confirm before you leave
Flow and weather right now.
Use the flow trend to confirm the score before you leave. Weather can change the safest and most productive fishing window.
Loading current flow and weather.
River strategy
Treat Lees Ferry like a clear tailwater, not a desert freestone.
The Colorado River at Lees Ferry is one of Arizona's most important trout trips because cold dam releases, clear water, canyon access, and special regulations all meet in one place. The best plan starts with flows, water temperature, and whether you are walking in or using a boat.
- Use RiverReports and USGS 09380000 before choosing a wade, boat, or backhaul plan.
- Check both discharge and water temperature; the USGS station reports streamflow, gage height, and water temperature.
- NPS lists artificial fly and lure rules, barbless hooks, and a 2-rainbow-trout limit from Glen Canyon Dam to the beginning of Paria Riffle.
- Watercraft users between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry need the Lees Ferry Backcountry Permit; bank-only anglers do not need that permit.
Why this score moved
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 8,140 cfs with a stable over about 6 hours trend. same-date USGS history (1922-2025, 104 readings) puts normal around 14,700 cfs and the low-water marker near 8,440 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
SeasonHelps score
Summer: The river stays cold, but desert heat, sun exposure, and afternoon wind make early starts, water, and shade important.
Water temperatureHelps score
USGS water temperature is about 67F, with no heat stop triggered.
Public alertsHelps score
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps score
Skip or scale back when releases are changing faster than your access plan can handle, canyon wind is unsafe for your craft, heat and sun exposure are extreme, the backcountry permit or boating setup is not squared away, or rule boundaries are unclear.
Read the water
What changes the plan.
Expect clear-water trout fishing where small changes in dam release, light, wind, and boat traffic can change the best tactic. Low, clear, bright water favors long leaders, small flies, and careful presentations. Higher or changing releases make edge fishing, heavier nymph rigs, and boat planning more important.
Low or steady release
Wade and walk-in options can be easier, but clear water demands longer leaders, smaller flies, and careful angles.
Rising dam release
Move with the water, stay off low bars that may flood, and fish fresh edge water rather than standing in changing current.
Higher release
Boat or backhaul logistics become more important. Fish protected banks, softer seams, and shelves instead of forcing unsafe wades.
Cold clear water
Use small midges, scuds, and slim nymphs with clean drifts. Sight-fishing and long drifts often matter more than changing flies every cast.
Field plan
Fish it with intention.
Best flows
Use the Lees Ferry release trend and water temperature together. Stable releases are the easiest planning window; rising or changing releases should move anglers off low bars and toward safer edges, boat control, or a later check.
When to skip
Skip or scale back when releases are changing faster than your access plan can handle, canyon wind is unsafe for your craft, heat and sun exposure are extreme, the backcountry permit or boating setup is not squared away, or rule boundaries are unclear.
Local plan
Decide walk-in versus boat first. Walk-in anglers should start with legal bank access near Lees Ferry; boat anglers should verify permit, ramp, PFD, wind, and release timing before choosing fly weight or drift length.
Backup water
If Lees Ferry is poor because of wind, releases, permits, or heat, compare smaller Arizona trout waters such as Canyon Creek, Black River, or the Little Colorado only after checking their current rules and access.
Hatches & flies
Bring a flexible box.
TimingWhat to watchUseful flies
Year-roundMidges and tiny aquatic insectsZebra midges, thread midges, RS2-style emergers, tiny soft hackles
Reviewed pattern · report says “Zebra midges”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it ↗
Reviewed family · report says “thread midges”Midge Patterns by StageMidge wording can mean a threadlike larva, wing-padded pupa, film emerger, tiny adult, or visible cluster. Those profiles fish at different depths.See family guide ↗+ 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box SpringMidges, small mayflies, scuds, aquatic wormsMidge pupa, small pheasant tails, scuds, San Juan worms
Reviewed family · report says “Midge pupa”Midge Patterns by StageMidge wording can mean a threadlike larva, wing-padded pupa, film emerger, tiny adult, or visible cluster. Those profiles fish at different depths.See family guide ↗
Reviewed pattern · report says “small pheasant tails”Pheasant Tail NymphThe pilot page distinguishes the sparse original idea from the bulkier American form. Both use pheasant-tail fibers and copper wire, but bead heads, peacock-herl thoraxes, legs, flashbacks, jig hooks, and soft-hackle collars are variations that must be labeled.See photos & how to fish it ↗+ 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box SummerMidges, scuds, occasional attractor windows near structureSmall midges, scuds, terrestrials near banks, light nymph rigs
Reviewed family · report says “Small midges”Midge Patterns by StageMidge wording can mean a threadlike larva, wing-padded pupa, film emerger, tiny adult, or visible cluster. Those profiles fish at different depths.See family guide ↗
Reviewed family · report says “scuds”Scud Fly PatternsScud patterns typically use a curved hook, tapered dubbed body, shellback, rib segmentation, antennae, and brushed legs. Olive, tan, gray, orange, weighted, bead-body, and pregnant forms remain labeled—not aliases for one recipe.See family guide ↗+ 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box FallMidges, scuds, baitfish or streamer opportunityMidges, scuds, leeches, small streamers, soft hackles
Reviewed family · report says “Midges”Midge Patterns by StageMidge wording can mean a threadlike larva, wing-padded pupa, film emerger, tiny adult, or visible cluster. Those profiles fish at different depths.See family guide ↗Reviewed family · report says “scuds”Scud Fly PatternsScud patterns typically use a curved hook, tapered dubbed body, shellback, rib segmentation, antennae, and brushed legs. Olive, tan, gray, orange, weighted, bead-body, and pregnant forms remain labeled—not aliases for one recipe.See family guide ↗+ 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box High or changing releaseLimited surface focusSan Juan worms, scuds, heavier nymph rigs, small streamers
Reviewed pattern · report says “San Juan worms”San Juan WormThe name covers several established constructions rather than one invisible recipe. Look for a long worm-like profile following a curved hook, then identify the actual body: Ultra Chenille or yarn with free extensions, a fully wrapped wire or yarn body, or a separately labeled rubber form. A bead adds built-in weight; Squirmy Wormy and Son of San Juan Worm remain separate named variations.See photos & how to fish it ↗Reviewed family · report says “scuds”Scud Fly PatternsScud patterns typically use a curved hook, tapered dubbed body, shellback, rib segmentation, antennae, and brushed legs. Olive, tan, gray, orange, weighted, bead-body, and pregnant forms remain labeled—not aliases for one recipe.See family guide ↗+ 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box 01
Decide first whether the day is a walk-in day, a boat day, or a backhaul day. The reachable water changes the whole report.
02
For walk-in fishing, start near legal bank access and fish slowly. Clear water rewards long drifts and low profiles.
03
From a boat, use controlled drifts through shelves, seams, and bank structure instead of racing to every visible trout.
04
Watch water level changes around bars and shoreline shelves. A safe spot at one release can become unsafe later.
05
Carry both tiny technical flies and simple food patterns. Lees Ferry fish can be selective, but current changes often make worms and scuds practical.
Access & responsibility
Know the entry. Know the exit.
Verify current NPS and Arizona regulations before fishing. NPS lists the Glen Canyon Dam to beginning of Paria Riffle reach as artificial fly and lure only, barbless hooks only, and a 2-rainbow-trout daily limit. Rainbow trout taken from this portion must be killed and retained as part of the bag limit or immediately released. The area immediately below Glen Canyon Dam, posted with buoys, is closed to entry.
Lees Ferry launch ramp
NPS lists a public launch ramp at Lees Ferry. The ramp is the main staging point for upriver boat and backhaul plans.
Walk-in bank water near Lees Ferry
NPS states permits are not required for visitors only hiking or fishing along the riverbank.
Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry corridor
Watercraft users in this corridor need a Lees Ferry Backcountry Permit from the self-service kiosks near the launch area.
Paria Riffle area
Important regulation boundary. NPS separates rules from Glen Canyon Dam to the beginning of Paria Riffle and from Paria Riffle to Navajo Bridge.
Marble Canyon and Navajo Bridge
Useful travel and orientation points. NPS notes services at Marble Canyon and recommends stopping at Navajo Bridge.
Transparent sources
Check the facts behind the plan.
Last material review: 2026-05-31
flowRiverReports: Colorado River at Lee's FerryflowUSGS current conditions: Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZsafetyNational Weather Service forecast point near Lees FerryregulationGlen Canyon National Recreation Area fishing regulationsaccessGlen Canyon National Recreation Area: Lees Ferryregulation2025 and 2026 Arizona fishing regulationsbackgroundUSGS monitoring location metadata: Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZbackgroundNPS image/source: Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Common questions
Before you leave.
Is the Colorado River at Lees Ferry good for fly fishing?+
Yes. NPS describes the cold clear water between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry as a world-class trout fishery. It is a technical tailwater, so flows, clarity, regulations, and access style matter.
What gauge should I check?+
Use RiverReports for a quick chart and USGS 09380000, Colorado River at Lees Ferry, for official streamflow, gage height, and water temperature.
Do I need a permit?+
Bank-only hiking and fishing do not require the Lees Ferry Backcountry Permit according to NPS. Visitors using any watercraft between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry do need the permit.
What flies should I bring?+
Bring tiny midges, scuds, pheasant tails, slim nymphs, San Juan worms, small eggs, soft hackles, and a few small streamers.