When the water is 42 degrees or colder try midges, egg patterns and San Juan Worms, and for best results nymph, the slower pools. Rafters do not get to the river, in force, until the end of June and at 60,000 plus visitors a year this section of river can be a bit crowded at times. With the dams only releasing minimal flows typically until July, this section of river has very few days of muddy unfishable high water during the spring and early summer. The water temperatures begin to rise on the Upper Colorado in April as the spring Colorado sun strikes the low water. When big rains muddy up the Colorado River below Sheephorn Creek which enters the river in Radium, often Pumphouse to Radium can be a fly fishing guides savior, still offering fishable water clarity when the remainder of floatable water downstream has turned to mud. One of the secrets to the great dry fly fishing is this consistently cooler, clear water. Pumphouse actually gets cold water releases for most of the summer season, so as our other reliable freestone rivers like the Eagle River and Roaring Fork tributaries begin to drop, the dams begin to release water. The water can exceed 4,000 (cfs) some years for a few weeks and still fishes well, albeit rowing conditions at high water are dangerous. These tributaries can have an effect on the river flow, clarity and temperature. The river floats best between 8 cubic feet per second (cfs) but will fish well at only 400 to 600 cfs. The Upper Colorado River has several large dams on its tributaries above the Pumphouse launch. Drift boats work well above 500 cfs and below 3000 cfs while rafts are ideal in low and high water. The end of the float is slower with more braids. The canyon features faster rapids and waves with large boulders and care should be taken while rowing this section. The upper stretch is a mild braided meadow section. The Pumphouse to Radium river stretch provides mostly class 2 water but “Needles Eye” Rapid is class 3 or even a risky 4 water when the river is high (above 3000 cfs). Anglers can get out of the boat to wade fish wherever they want. River right is also almost all public water with exception of some small railroad parcels. Miles of Public Waterĭownstream of Pumphouse, is almost all BLM property along the river for about 4.2 miles to the next river access, Radium Recreation Area. Below Pumphouse, pulling the boat in for overnight camping is allowed and there are a few campsites with picnic tables along the river. Several cement boat launches, toilets, parking lots, designated camping areas and picnic tables are found at the Pump House Recreation Area. The BLM charges a nominal ($5 per day) parking or camping ($10 per day) vehicle fee for use of the developed recreation area. This developed recreation area is maintained along the river by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kremmling field office about twelve miles upstream. To arrive at Pumphouse from Vail, Colorado at Wolcott, head north 12 miles on Highway 131 to State Bridge, turn onto Trough Road and head north 18 miles to Pumphouse access. Travel about ten miles down this dirt road and come to access point marked by a large BLM sign. Pumphouse is located on Trough Road or Grand County 1, to get there from Kremmling, Colorado head south on Highway 9 for one mile, turn west onto Trough Road. The upper stretches of the Colorado River, as it descends from its source in Rocky Mountain National Park, offer some of the states finest float fishing for trout beginning at the Pumphouse Recreation Area. The scenery is spectacular and the fishing incredible. Float fishing on Vail Valley Anglers section of the Upper Colorado River begins immediately below the Class 5 white water of Gore Canyon at the Pumphouse Recreation Area. Float fishing the Colorado River between Pumphouse and Radium is one of western Colorado’s most popular floats for good reason.
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