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Crystal River Fishing Information
Main Section - near Glenwood Springs, CO
This river article focuses on the Crystal River Main Section which starts below Redstone and ends at the confluence with the Roaring Fork River in Carbondale. If you’d like to learn more about the Crystal River Upper Section you can read about it here.
The Crystal River Main Section is an excellent fishery in the roaring fork valley. Â With so much water to fish in this area, the crystal commonly gets overlooked. Â There are bigger fish and likely more fish in both the Roaring Fork and the Frying Pan which is why they get more attention. Â With that said, you can still catch some sizeable fish and put up some good numbers on the crystal. Â With a ton of public access from the middle sections up to the headwaters, there is a lot of opportunity to find some solitude and willing trout. Â Rainbows and browns ranging from 8 – 16 inches are common as well as some brook trout and whitefish in this river and a variety of hatches show up sporadically throughout the year. Â With decent technique, patience and commitment, you can have a great day on the Crystal. Â Add this to your options when you’re up fishing around the Roaring Fork valley, you may just decide this is your new favorite river.
On the main section, there are mixed access areas of public and private so make sure to look at our map below if you’re a pro member to see where you can and can’t fish. The state hatchery releases brood trout which are large trout that have finished spawning into the crystal in this section giving you a chance at bigger trout than are found in the upper section of the Crystal River. Fishing is a bit more crowded here as well due to the proximity to carbondale and the main valley highway. It’s a great place to fish for the day if you’re looking for some variety and a chance at some larger trout.
More Information on the Crystal River
The Crystal River is a small to medium sized stream that flows from the Elk Mountains in Colorado. It is approximately 40 miles long and flows from an elevation of over 12,000 feet down to around 6,000 feet where it confluences with the Roaring Fork River in Carbondale. Its major tributaries include Yule Creek and the North Fork of the Crystal River with the North Fork holding some trout, but the main river is usually a better use of your time. It is also a popular destination for hiking, backpacking, and biking.
The Crystal River is home to several species of trout, including rainbow, brown, brook, and whitefish. The river is popular with fly fishers, but it is often not very crowded, making it a great destination for those seeking solitude. The river has average insect life and provides great opportunities for dry fly fishing, euro nymphing, and streamer fishing. The upper section of the river is the headwaters, which is the most remote and less accessible part of the river.
Common insects and hatches on the Crystal River include caddisflies, blue-winged olives, pale morning duns, and stoneflies. Some recommended fishing flies for these insects include elk hair caddis, pheasant tail, parachute Adams, and stonefly nymphs. When choosing fly patterns, it is essential to keep in mind the color and size of the insects that are present in the river. Hatch charts for the Crystal River can be found below along with more specific insect and fly selection information.
Fly fishing on the Crystal River is best in the spring and summer months, typically from May through October. The river tends to be at its highest flow in May and June, and the water clarity can be an issue due to the snowmelt. However, as the summer progresses, the water levels decrease, making the fishing conditions ideal for fly fishing.
Besides fishing, there are many other attractions nearby, including other recreational opportunities. There are several hiking trails and backpacking routes in the area, including the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness area. Other outdoor activities include biking, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. For those who enjoy geology, there are several interesting points of interest nearby, including the Maroon Bells and the Crystal Mill, which is an old water-powered mill located along the river. Additionally, there are several local breweries and restaurants in the area that are worth a visit.
Fish: Some Small-Sized Fish
Popularity: Low
Difficulty: Medium
Accessibility: Easy
Best Techniques: Dries & Nymphs
Best Seasons: Spring - Fall
River Type: Medium Freestone
Fish Types: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Whitefish
Dog Friendly: Yes
Located in the Colorado River Basin near Glenwood Springs, CO
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Fishable Seasons & Current Weather
The best seasons to fish this river are Spring - Fall. See the current weather reports for the next 5-6 days listed below for the nearest city.
Knowing what flies to use is only have the battle. You have to know when the insects are active on the water and when it's likely the trout are feeding on them. Refer to our hatch charts below to understand when the insect categories and some of the possible hatches on the river.
Midge Hatches
Midges hatch year round, but their importance is from September through winter into April. During the warmer months, the trout often focus on larger insects as they are more active on the water like mayflies, caddis and stoneflies.
Aside from Blue wing olives, mayflies are active most commonly from May to August in Colorado. There are many different mayfly hatches found on most rivers and the most common are listed below.
Blue Wing Olive: September throut winter to April
Colors: Green/Olive
Sizes: #16-24
Pale Morning Dun: June to Mid September
Colors: White, Yellow
Sizes: #14 - #20
Caddis Hatches
Caddis hatch starting early in May and continue to the end of October.
Colors: Olive, Green, Yellow, Tan, Orange, Brown and Black.
Sizes: #10 - #20
Stonefly Hatches
We have some great stonefly hatches in Colorado and while not all rivers carry all species of salmonflies, you can often fish stonefly adult patterns with confidence from May to September. Start off in bigger sizes and get smaller till September hits (size 8 - 16)
Golden Stone: June to August
Colors: Yellow, Tan
Sizes: #8 - #14
Yellow Sally Stonefly: Mid June to August
Colors: Yellow, Tan
Sizes: #12 - #18
Terrestrial Activity
Terrestrials don't hatch since they are out of the water, but they can have importance starting in Mid April and ending in September.
These are the the top flies we sell for this river. Use the hatch chart above to know what flies you will want to have in your fly box during your adventure on the river and then select the flies here 30 days before your trip to get them at a great price. All of our flies are hand tied to each order to ensure quality and to keep our prices low for you.
Click on a fly below to select a size and color for purchase.
Our fly assortments make fly selection easy. We take our entomology knowledge and years of fly fishing experience on these rivers to bring you the right fly patterns, including the correct colors, sizes and quantities to set you up for success. A good selection of flies will prepare you properly for anything the trout may be eating on the river and our fly assortments are specifically curated to maximize your success. Take a look at the assortments we provide below and add one to your box today. Use coupon code AST50 for $50 off and free shipping on these as well, just to help make fly fishing a little more affordable!
Click on any of the pictures to see what flies, colors and sizes we recommend in each assortment.
View our access map for the Crystal River and learn public and private access points as well as other notable features around fly fishing this river. We include headwater and confluence data and in an effort to not "hotspot" river access points that are better than others, we list every access point available. This serves two purposes. First, it keeps us from hotspotting, which is just showing the best spots and bringing unwanted and harmful attention to the specific access point. The second reason is while we want to help you catch fish and find great places to explore, we don't want to spell it all out for you. If you get it all spelled out, we're doing the exploring, not you. Missing out on the journey of exploring places to fly fish is one of the more enjoyable aspects of fly fishing. While not everyone has time to go explore everything in person, we provide some of the top level data to help you know if something is worth your time, then pass it off to you to explore and find your own adventure. Now enjoy the info, if you're on this page then this river is worth exploring! Go out and find some memories.
Crystal River Tips & Resources
Use these epic resources to get ready for your adventure. Whether you're planning your trip, learning your insects, improving your fishing with expert tips or getting detailed resources from the USGS streamflows or DoW, we got you covered to help you find the river and find the success you want.
This river article focuses on the Crystal River Main Section which starts below Redstone and ends at the confluence with the Roaring Fork River in Carbondale. If you’d like to learn more about the Crystal River Upper Section you can read about it here.
