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I’ve fished rivers, streams, and lakes on trips to Colorado. For a day on the Colorado North Platte, I’d first choose between the meadow water of North Park and the rougher, boulder-filled Northgate Canyon. That choice determines where I’d start and how much walking I’d build into the day.
This guide covers the Colorado headwaters and Colorado side of Northgate, with named access points, seasonal conditions, and fly choices. To compare it with other destinations, use our Colorado fly fishing rivers guide.
Quick Answer: For Colorado North Platte fly fishing, compare the meadow river in North Park with Northgate Canyon. Verner is a valley fishing option; Routt Access starts a canyon walk or whitewater float. Prepare dry-dropper and nymph rigs, then check current conditions and the access rules for your chosen reach.
Other Rivers In Colorado
- Cache La Poudre River
- Yampa River
- Roaring Fork River
- Taylor River
- Eagle River
- Frying Pan River
- Rio Grande In Colorado
- Arkansas River
- Animas River
- Gunnison River
- Colorado River
- South Platte River
Find Your Colorado North Platte Access
The North Platte forms in North Park and meanders through the valley before entering Northgate Canyon near the Wyoming line. Brown and rainbow trout inhabit the Colorado upper river. Choose between a meadow-river day and a walk into the canyon before selecting your access.
For more destinations beyond this river, see our guide to fly fishing in Colorado. For this outing, use the named property’s access instructions and keep the Colorado boundary in your route.
Meadow Water In North Park
At Verner, you can fish the North Platte in the valley, but enter only from the established parking area. CPW prohibits all public access and angling south of the Jackson County Road 18 bridge. Check the property map and follow the posted boundaries.
Routt Access provides the other clear starting point. Here, a downstream fishing walk and a whitewater float start from the same access area but require different preparation.
Routt Access And Northgate Canyon
Routt Access, off Colorado 125, provides a raft put-in and access for anglers on foot. The downstream route becomes rougher farther into the canyon, with large boulders to work around. Allow time to retrace the walk and choose a return point you can reach comfortably.
A Northgate float involves whitewater and calls for a whitewater-capable craft. Arrange the boat, an experienced operator, and the complete takeout plan before choosing it as your fishing day.
For walking and wading, the Frogg Toggs Canyon II stockingfoot waders are one option if you need a pair. The linked listing is the gray medium version, so check the size and assemble the outfit before traveling.
Access Rules And The State Line
Read CPW’s current fishing regulations and notices for your named access or exact Northgate reach, then follow the signs on site. If your route continues into Wyoming, check that state’s access, licensing, and fishing rules too. Keep the state line marked on your map.
Choose Your Rig And Watch The Flow
Dry-dropper rigs and nymph rigs are established approaches on the Colorado upper North Platte. Stoneflies and mayflies are two insect families to include in your fly selection. Compare the insects you see with your flies, paying attention to their size and profile before choosing a pattern.
The SF slim fly box two-pack is a storage option for keeping your selections organized. Separate dry flies and nymphs so you can find the next fly without unpacking everything beside the river.
Build A Dry-Dropper
A dry-dropper fishes a floating dry fly and a nymph below it. The dry also serves as the indicator. One straightforward connection uses tippet tied to the bend of the dry-fly hook.
Tie on the dry fly first, attach a length of tippet to its hook bend, then tie the nymph to the free end. You now have a fly on the surface and another below it, with the dry providing the visible reference for the rig.
Carry spare tippet for rebuilding the dropper. The SF 3X, 4X, and 5X fluorocarbon assortment provides three sizes. Choose the size that suits the flies and setup you plan to fish.
Have A Nymph Rig Ready
Northgate contains boulder fields, deep pockets, and runs, and nymphing is an established option there. Work through the water in manageable sections, with a particular pocket or run in mind for each drift. Our guide to fishing nymphs explains the method in more detail.
Choose the outfit after deciding which presentation you want to fish. Our trout fly rod guide compares options for the rod you will carry.
Check The Northgate Flow Trend
The river commonly shifts from higher June flows toward lower August flows. The long-term record from USGS station 06620000, North Platte River near Northgate, supports that broad pattern. Plan the access and fishing approach around current conditions for your dates.
Use the Northgate gauge when checking that trend. It is the Colorado mainstem station used in this guide. The historical seasonal pattern cannot tell you whether a particular spot is suitable for wading today; assess the actual water and route before entering.
Questions About The Colorado North Platte
Routt Access on Colorado 125 provides a raft put-in and access on foot. The downstream route becomes rougher among large boulders as it enters the canyon.
Brown and rainbow trout live in the Colorado upper North Platte. This guide focuses on the Colorado headwaters and Colorado side of Northgate.
Dry-dropper and nymph rigs are established upper North Platte approaches. Include stonefly and mayfly patterns in your selection.
The historical June-to-August decline describes a seasonal pattern. Use current river conditions, access advice, and your own ability when deciding where to fish.
For a wider destination comparison, the U.S. fly fishing rivers guide brings together more river options. The Colorado links above keep your search within the state.
My Choice For A First Day On The North Platte
For a first day, I would start at Routt Access if conditions suited a walk along the Colorado side of Northgate. I would bring one dry-dropper setup and the flies for a nymph rig, check the gauge and CPW notices, and mark the state line before leaving.
My aim would be to fish a manageable stretch and leave enough time for the return walk. If the route or water called for a different plan, the meadow-access information would be the next place to look. I would leave the whitewater float for a visit with the boat, operator, and takeout already arranged.
Save This Fishing Guide For Later
Pin photos: Tom Koerner / USFWS and Tom Koerner / USFWS, public domain. Cropped with text added.
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