River Reports

Uncompahgre River at Pa-co-Chu-Puk

This beautiful tailwater is the river below the Ridgway Dam in Ridgway State Park, it is considered one of the crown jewels in the Colorado State Park System. 

Flow 73.8cfs

Temperature 26.8°F

Wind 4 mph

Hi / Low 27/27

Current Conditions

December 16, 2024

Paco has officially entered the winter season. Flows are sitting between 50-60cfs. Fish have continued to feed actively sub surface. Nymphing is the way to go. With low flows, it is important to get your weight right so you are not dragging bottom every drift. Fishing small caddis larva in sz 18-20 and midge/mayfly nymphs in sz 18-22 have been putting fish in the net consistenly. Lead your rig with a bigger bug such as a leech, egg, or worm (#14-#18) for weight and as a good attractor.  Behind your point fly continue to drop small midge and baetis patterns, as they make up the majority of a trout's diet in this fishery. With lower flows and colder temps, these fish are not going to move much to eat your fly. Focus on getting the right weight and a good accurate drift if you want to catch some fish. Rely on light tippet and sensitive indicators to pick up light takes. 

Come into the shop and get stocked up on your midge and baetis fly patterns, we have the best selection on the Western Slope, and we can help you get rigged up for this rewarding Tailwater.

Demon Midge Red #22, Mighty Midge Red or Blue #22-24, Black Beauty #22-24, Massacre Midge #20-24, Mayer’s Mini Leech #16-14, Jujubee Midge Red #22, Juju Baetis #20-22, Sidewinder midge #22-24, Frenchie #14-18, Killer Mayfly, Two Bit Hooker, San Juan worm

River Information

The Uncompahgre River, or the “Unc” as it is locally known, births high in the windswept San Juan Mountains and slogs northward through the towns of Ouray, Ridgway, and Montrose as it makes its 75 mile voyage toward a marriage with the Gunnison River in Delta.  The premiere stretch of the Unc is the tailwater below Ridgway Dam in Ridgway State Park known as Pa-Co-Chu-Puk or “Pa-co.”  Pa-co is a tremendous year-round trout stream which boasts wild brown trout, a hodgepodge of wild and stocked rainbow trout, and Snake River cutthroat trout brood fish.  This tailrace easily exceeds the qualifications for Gold Medal Water and excels in the winter when other fly waters are hibernating and during runoff when other trout streams are roiling with high, chocolaty water.

     Further downstream, the Uncompahgre River runs through the town of Montrose and may be the best kept fly fishing secret on the western slope of Colorado.  The town stretch of the Unc offers great fly angling for browns, rainbows, and cutbows, especially during fall, winter, and early spring.  A couple of the best locales within Montrose are behind Home Depot and Riverbottom Park, but there is quality fly fishing throughout the town stretch.  Although the average fish size is much smaller, 20-plus inch trout are not uncommon.  Surprisingly, despite having high numbers of brown trout, and some hefty ones, the Unc is not regarded as an overly productive streamer fishery.

Seasonal Conditions

Spring

Spring

A good time on both Pa-co and Montrose run of the Unc due to mostly uncrowded conditions, increasing bug activity, and increasingly active trout. High water typically sullies the town stretch from late April throughout the first half of June, while Pa-co remains fishable. Nymphing with midges, BWOs, or caddisflies is a productive tactic.

Highlights

  • BWO Compardun #16-20
  • neon nightmare pink #22
  • Span Juan Worm #16-18
  • Bling Midge #20-24
  • Barr's Emerger #18-22
  • Two-Bit Hooker #18-20
Summer

Summer

Pa-co-chu-puk can be busy in the summer as there are over 200 campsites within a spey cast of the river, but the Montrose town stretch of the Unc can provide you a respite from the hordes of wader-clad humanity. Pa-co's most interesting summertime hatches are PMDs and green drakes and big fish can be duped on dries. Downriver, green drakes don't play much of a role but blanket caddis hatches and golden stoneflies give anglers options for both nymphing and dry fly fishing. Trout in the town stretch are notoriously easy to capture with nymphs.

Highlights

  • BDE Ext Body Green Drake #14
  • Foam Parachute Pink Cahill #16
  • Sparkle Flag PMD Q's #16
  • Juju baetis #18-22
  • Top Secret Midge #20-24
  • PickPocket Golden Brown #18
Autumn

Autumn

Dam releases out of Ridgway diminish substantially in autumn allowing for excellent sight fishing for big fish at Pa-co. PMDs and BWOs keep trout looking up until mid-October, but leeches possibly bring more quality fish to hand than any other offering. This is a fantastic time to catch your biggest brown trout of the year throughout the Uncompahgre River. In the town stretch, trout will still rise to small hoppers though nymphing with a big stonefly followed by a small mayfly imitation will likely produce more consistent results.

Highlights

  • Mayer's Mini Leech #16
  • Juju baetis #18-22
  • Juan's Slim Shady Baetis #20-22
  • Two-Bit Hooker #18-20
  • Top Secret Midge #20-24
  • Bling Midge #20-24
Winter

Winter

The Uncompahgre River, from Pa-co downstream through Montrose, remains mostly ice-free throughout winter. Late season is possibly the best timeframe to enjoy this river’s piscine pleasures. To find success with low, clear water you need to avoid cavalier wading, make gentle and accurate casts, and possibly reduce the size of your flies down to a size 20-24. Target the slow, deep pools which will often require blind casting. Wintertime provides you an opportunity to catch your best ‘bow of the year on the Unc.

Highlights

  • Neon Nightmare Pink #22
  • Top Secret Midge #20-24
  • Bling Midge #20-24
  • Tube Midge #22
  • Red anelid #18-22
  • Demon Midge #22