Best month to fish the Colorado River at Lees Ferry

Month-by-month fishing quality

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds on the Colorado River at Lees Ferry: flow and season. You need the river in its fishable-flow band — so a freestone in spring runoff is out no matter how good the hatch would be, while a dam-fed tailwater holds shape year-round. On top of that, the hatches and water temperatures line up best in November and December and March and April, which is why those months edge out the rest. The Colorado River at Lees Ferry's season runs year-round tailwater; prime november–april.

Lees Ferry is the 15-mile trophy-trout tailwater between Glen Canyon Dam and the head of the Grand Canyon — turquoise water running beneath 1,000-foot sandstone walls, holding thousands of wild rainbows. Cold, clear releases from Lake Powell create a year-round sight-fishing fishery on gravel bars and channels, with the river's level pulsing on the dam's daily power-generation schedule.

Where to fish the Colorado River at Lees Ferry

The walk-in water at the Ferry itself is wadeable on the gravel bars; the upper river to the dam is boat-access only and best with a guide who knows the shifting channels. Flows swing daily with power demand — fish the gravel bars on the lower, more stable end of the band.

Guided trips & lodges to book