Fly fishing report · West

Uncompahgre River

An Uncompahgre report for the Ridgway Reservoir tailwater, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk access, RiverReports/USGS flow checks, hatches, flies, and source-checked regulations.

Check flow & weather

Today's river scoreHigh source confidence

Poor

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.

Wade · Best fit41/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank / edgeCheck

This report does not describe this as a primary mode. Verify legal access, depth, launches, and retreat options before planning around it.

Float41/100

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.

River strategy

Use tailwater rules and release checks before fishing.

The Uncompahgre below Ridgway Reservoir is a small, technical tailwater with important state park and CPW rule details. Check the below-dam flow, Pa-Co-Chu-Puk rules, and access notes before choosing flies.

Use the below-Ridgway flow chart for the tailwater reach.
Pa-Co-Chu-Puk has regulation details that should be checked directly with CPW.
Expect small flies, careful drifts, and clear-water presentations.
Plan around park access, private land, and possible release changes.

Why this score moved

Best mode nowLowers score

Wade: Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

FlowUse caution

USGS shows 144 cfs with a stable over about 6 hours trend. same-date USGS history (1989-2025, 37 readings) puts normal around 385 cfs and the low-water marker near 236 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.

HeatUse caution

The NWS forecast is near 91F. Fish early and verify water temperature where trout stress is possible.

Short-term weatherUse caution

The forecast has storm or heavy-precipitation risk, so timing and access matter more than the score alone.

Public alertUse caution

An Air Quality Alert is active near this forecast point, so the score is capped below great until smoke and access conditions are checked. NWS alert: Air Quality Alert issued July 13 at 4:10PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO.

Read the water

What changes the plan.

The Uncompahgre is best when releases are stable and water is clear enough for careful nymphing or dry-fly work. If flows change quickly or the state park reach is crowded, use a backup western Colorado plan.

Low clear release

Use small flies, long leaders, and careful approaches to avoid lining fish.

Stable medium release

Nymph rigs and dry-droppers can cover riffles, seams, and deeper buckets.

Sudden release change

Step back, reassess wading, and avoid low banks or mid-channel positions.

Hot valley weather

Tailwater temperatures may stay cooler, but still check handling conditions before fishing hard.

Field plan

Fish it with intention.

Best flows

Use the RiverReports Ridgway chart and USGS 09147025 together. Stable releases make the best technical window; sudden changes, thin clear water, or pushy discharge should shift the plan toward edges, lighter pressure, or another nearby river.

When to skip

Skip the reach when special-rule boundaries are unclear, when releases make safe wading unrealistic, when low clear water concentrates pressure, or when winter ice and shelf edges make footing unsafe.

Local plan

Start with Pa-Co-Chu-Puk and Ridgway State Park context, then compare Billy Creek SWA and nearby access only after checking current rules and posted signs. Keep the day focused rather than chasing every visible bend.

Backup water

If the Uncompahgre is crowded, icy, release-sensitive, or too technical for the day, compare the Upper Gunnison, Cimarron River, or Dolores River after checking current flow and access.

Hatches & flies

Bring a flexible box.

TimingWhat to watchUseful flies

WinterMidgesZebra midge, black beauty, Griffith's gnat

Reviewed pattern · report says “Zebra midge”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 pattern · report says “black beauty”Black Beauty MidgeA very slim black thread body, fine silver rib, and small dark thorax define the core Black Beauty. Glass-bead Mercury Black Beauty and flash-wing variants must stay labeled separately.See photos & how to fish it + 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box

SpringBWOs, midges, caddisRS2, BWO emerger, caddis pupa, pheasant tail

Reviewed pattern · report says “RS2”RS2Start with the beadless architecture: two dark-dun Microfibett tails separated behind a slim, tightly twisted and visibly segmented dubbed abdomen; a fuller thorax; and saddle-hackle web clipped into a short angled wing bud. Rim Chung's original-style form uses natural beaver dubbing and hackle web. CDC- or Antron-wing ties, beads, curved hooks, flash, and tailless Avatar-style flies must remain labeled variations.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “BWO emerger”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

SummerPMDs, caddis, terrestrialsPMD emerger, elk hair caddis, ant, small hopper

Reviewed family · report says “PMD emerger”Pale Morning Dun PatternsPMD names an insect group, not one fly. Pale nymphs, trailing-shuck emergers, upright or low-riding duns, cripples, and spent-wing spinners stay visibly separate.See family guide

Reviewed pattern · report says “elk hair caddis”Elk Hair CaddisLook for a tented elk- or deer-hair wing, clipped hair head, dubbed body, rib, and hackle palmered along the body. The body color should be labeled because tiers often match different natural caddis colors.See photos & how to fish it + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

FallBWOs, midges, October caddisBWO dry, zebra midge, soft hackle, small streamer

Reviewed family · report says “BWO dry”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide

Reviewed pattern · report says “zebra midge”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 + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Start with Pa-Co-Chu-Puk and exact CPW rules before expanding the plan.

Use small indicators or dry-dropper rigs when water is low and clear.

Fish seams, plunge-pool tails, and banks rather than walking through them.

Stay ready for release changes below the reservoir.

Respect state park and SWA boundaries; public access is not continuous.

Access & responsibility

Know the entry. Know the exit.

CPW lists special rules for the below-Ridgway tailwater reach, including artificial-only catch-and-release water in defined sections. Verify the current boundary language before fishing.

Pa-Co-Chu-Puk at Ridgway State Park

The key public tailwater access with state park rules, fees, and managed fishing water.

Below Ridgway Reservoir gauge reach

The main flow reference and tailwater planning area for this report.

Billy Creek SWA

A CPW access point in the broader Uncompahgre corridor with land-specific rules.

Transparent sources

Check the facts behind the plan.

Last material review: 2026-05-31

flowRiverReports: Uncompahgre River below Ridgway Reservoir flowUSGS monitoring location: Uncompahgre River below Ridgway Reservoir backgroundColorado Parks and Wildlife Uncompahgre River reach accessColorado Parks and Wildlife Ridgway State Park accessColorado Parks and Wildlife Billy Creek SWA regulationColorado fishing special regulations safetyNational Weather Service forecast point near Ridgway Reservoir

Common questions

Before you leave.

What reach does this Uncompahgre report cover?+

It focuses on the Ridgway Reservoir tailwater and Pa-Co-Chu-Puk access, with broader nearby context.

Is this a good runoff backup?+

Often yes, because it is a tailwater, but release changes and park access still need to be checked.

Which flies should I carry?+

Small midges, BWOs, PMDs, caddis, scuds, worms, and a few small streamers are the core box.

What is the main safety issue?+

Sudden flow changes below Ridgway Reservoir and slick tailwater footing are the big concerns.