North Fork of the White River – 09/15/2026

Time: 10:30AM – 4:00PM

Location: Between Trappers Lake and Buford

North Fork of the White River 09/15/2026 Photo Album

The week beginning with Monday, September 14 was my annual trip to the Ute Lodge in the Flattops area of Colorado. In 2026, however, I was joined by my wife, Jane, and our friend, Amy. Jane and Amy drove separately on Monday, while I navigated the two passes on the Flattops Scenic Byway in the Telluride. Jane and Amy were staying Monday through Wednesday to enjoy some hiking and scenery, while I planned to remain through Friday for a week of fly fishing, thus the two cars.

Super Start

Scene of Big Rainbow

Since Jane and Amy had each other for hiking companionship, I was free to fish as much as I desired, and Tuesday began my Flattops fly fishing blitz. I chose a favorite section of the North Fork of the White River, and by the time I geared up, assembled my Sage One five weight, and hiked down the road; I was ready to fish by 10:30AM. The air temperature was 61 degrees, as I departed from the Telluride, but the high was forecast to reach the low seventies. I packed my raincoat, but it was never removed from my pack.

My My, What a Fish

Deep Trough on the Left Produced

I was concerned about the stream level given the low snowpack and 2026 drought conditions, but I noticed only a small impact on the North Fork. I was able to wade to all parts of the river unlike some years, but the fish holding spots seemed very similar to higher volume years.

Love This Spot

I fished from 10:30AM until 11:45AM with an amber body chubby Chernobyl and prince nymph, and I logged seven spectacular rainbow trout. The second trout was a rainbow that crushed the chubby, and what a specimen it was! The fat slab was easily in the eighteen to twenty inch range. All of the morning catch were rainbows at least thirteen inches in length with several fifteen plus in addition to the beast.

Streamlined

After lunch I decided to go deeper, so I swapped the prince for a heavier 20 incher, and I added a second nymph in the form of a salvation. This combination yielded a pair of nice fish, but the pace of action slowed, and I experienced three very brief connections. I assumed the salvation was not quite what the fish desired, so I traded it for a supernova PMD. Voila! The chubby/20 incher/supernova combo clicked and remained on my line for the remainder of the afternoon. I moved the fish count from nine to twenty-two, and each fly was a contributor. Several respectable rainbows smashed the chubby, and the supernova and 20 incher split the remainder. A few of the additional thirteen trout landed in the afternoon were less than twelve inches, but otherwise the catch was once again hard fighting rainbows in the thirteen to sixteen inch range. All the White River trout fought extremely hard, and I was pleased to have my five weight in action.

Easily Over Twenty Inches

As is usually the case on this section of the White, I was very strategic with my casts. I skipped wide, shallow areas, and I minimized my coverage of marginal spots. Riffles over moderate depth and long slots and troughs were the most productive locations. Day one in the Flattops was a definite success, and stream flows seemed to be adequate.

Fish Landed: 22