The mountains of Colorado are home to some of the best skiing in the world. And, the snow that falls on the ski hills eventually ends up in rivers for fishing. Like taxes, snowmelt runoff is inevitable on many of Colorado's favorite fisheries. When you want to go fishing in Colorado on a river near you, choosing the right fly is crucial. Here are some of the best flies for fishing in Colorado during snowmelt runoff.

Because most of the fishing during runoff is subsurface, our list only includes nymphs...because so often is the case when the water gets muddy the fishing needs to also get down and dirty.

Pat's Rubber Legs (Stonefly Nymph) in size: 8-112. Choose black, brown, or olive. These bulky flies mimic large stonefly nymphs and are great for heavy, turbulent water.

San Juan Worm in size: 12-14. Chose red, pink, brown. A classic runoff fly that mimics aquatic worms washed into the river by high water.

Prince Nymph in size: 12-18 and peacock herl with white biot wings. A versatile nymph that works well in various conditions, including runoff.

Hare’s Ear Nymph in size: 12-16 in natural, olive, or black An excellent all-purpose nymph that imitates a wide range of aquatic insects.

Woolly Bugger in size: 6-10 in black, olive, brown. Effective in murky water due to its movement and profile.

Sculpzilla in size: 4-8 in olive, black, brown. Mimics sculpin, a common forage fish in Colorado rivers.

Zonker in size: 4-8 in white, olive, black. With its realistic swimming action, it’s great for attracting big trout in dirty water.

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Be sure to read onWater fishing blog posts to plan better and fish smarter and get more out of your fishing.‍

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Five Keys to Planning Your Next Do It Yourself Fishing Trip and How to Make it Your Best One Yet

Three Reasons to Love Your Local Fly Shop

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