Uncompahgre River Fly Fishing Guide: Pa-Co-Chu-Puk & Montrose

Colorado's most convenient technical tailwater - big, educated trout 30 minutes from our front door.

Why the Uncompahgre

The Uncompahgre River is the home water of Montrose, Colorado - a year-round fishery that runs from the San Juan Mountains above Ouray, through Ridgway Reservoir, and right through downtown Montrose before joining the Gunnison at Delta. The stretch that matters most to fly anglers is the tailwater below Ridgway Reservoir at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk, where consistent dam releases and rich tailwater biology grow rainbow trout, brown trout, and the occasional cutthroat to sizes that surprise anglers who have never heard of this river. These are educated, pressured fish that demand good presentations - which is exactly what makes the Uncompahgre one of the best classrooms in western Colorado.

Pa-Co-Chu-Puk: The Tailwater

Locally known as "Paco," the tailwater section begins directly below the Ridgway Reservoir dam inside Ridgway State Park and runs roughly a mile downstream through park property. A state park pass is required for access. Groomed gravel paths run the length of the water, making Paco one of the most accessible quality fisheries in Colorado - ideal for beginners, anglers with limited mobility, and anyone who wants big-fish potential without a wilderness approach. Do not mistake easy access for easy fishing: clear water and steady pressure make these trout famously technical. Long leaders, light tippet, and a stealthy approach are the price of admission.

The Montrose Town Section

From April through September, irrigation water from the Gunnison Tunnel joins the Uncompahgre just upstream of Montrose, adding flow and color to the town section. Summer fish here are less spooky than their Paco cousins and willing to eat larger nymphs, leeches, and streamers - a genuine lunch-break fishery for locals. In winter the tunnel shuts off, flows drop low and clear, and the town water fishes like a small technical stream with midges and baetis.

Seasons

The Uncompahgre fishes twelve months a year. Winter brings midge fishing for slow, steady fish at Paco. Spring means blue-winged olives and pre-runoff streamer bites. Summer delivers PMDs, caddis, yellow sallies, and terrestrials, plus strong flows through town. Fall is the sleeper season: BWOs return, brown trout color up and get aggressive, and the crowds disappear.

Techniques

Sight fishing is the name of the game at Paco. Locate a feeding fish, plan your approach, and make the first cast count. Tightline and euro-nymphing rigs excel in the riffles and runs; yarn indicators and small dry-dropper rigs are the play for spooky pods on flat water. Fluorocarbon tippet in 5x to 6x for nymphs, and don't hesitate to go smaller on flies than feels reasonable - #20-24 midges and baetis are standard fare here.

Hatches & Fly Patterns

Midges (year-round): #18-24 zebra midges, Demon Midges, Griffith's Gnats
Blue-Winged Olives (spring & fall): #18-22 JuJu Baetis, Sparkle Duns, RS2s
PMDs (summer): #14-18 Sparkle Duns, pheasant tails
Caddis (summer): #14-18 Elk Hair Caddis, cased caddis nymphs
Terrestrials (late summer): #14-18 ants and beetles
Leeches & worms (year-round): #12-18 black leeches, Mayer's Mini Leech, San Juan Worms
Streamers (town section, fall): Woolly Buggers, Kreelex, Mini Peanut Envy #6-10

Recommended Gear

An 8'6" to 10' rod in 4 or 5 weight covers the whole river - longer rods shine for tightline nymphing at Paco. Smooth drags matter when a 20-inch rainbow decides to leave the run. We stock Scott Fly Rods, Ross Reels, and Abel Reels - all machined right here in Montrose - along with everything else you need, five minutes from the town water.

Guided Trips on the Uncompahgre

Ed's Fly Shop runs guided trips on this water year-round: Pa-Co-Chu-Puk full day and half day walk & wade trips, Uncompahgre walk & wade, and a full-day float trip. Our guides fish this river on their days off - they know which runs are holding fish this week, not last month.

Current Conditions

Flows, hatches, and hot flies are updated weekly on our Uncompahgre River fishing report. Questions? Stop by Ed's Fly Shop at 432 E Main St in Montrose or call (970) 964-9991.