The Williams Fork flows north into the Colorado River at the town of Parshall, a small hamlet between Granby and Kremmling. The Colorado Division of Wildlife owns a property (known as the Kemp Unit) just south of Parshall, providing access to this fine little tailwater. A short hike over a sun-baked sagebrush flat is required to reach the stream from the well marked parking area.

I fished the Williams Fork a couple times during college. I enjoyed throwing hoppers here in late August, on my annual migration from Montana to Colorado before the beginning of the school year.

A few days ago, I returned to the stream and found the angling to be as pleasant as ever. I caught many beautiful trout on San Juan Worms, RS-2s, and Micro Pheasant Tail nymphs. I also enjoyed “classic Colorado” weather with sun and blue sky in the morning and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Compared to many tailwaters, the Williams Fork is high gradient and shallow. Most of the anglers I’ve met on the river fish the deeper pockets and the few pools. These areas definitely support fish, but don’t pass by the shallow shelf riffles which hold surprisingly large rainbows.

In addition to memories of colorful browns slashing my hoppers and feisty rainbows feeding in shin deep water, I will never forget the mosquitoes on this stream. Even in late summer, the biting insects can be bad, particularly by Colorado standards. When visiting this stream, come prepared with bug repellent and a long sleeve shirt, just in case recent rains have activated a blood-sucking swarm.

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