FISHING

Rifle is located in the center of the bulls-eye for some of the best trout fishing in the country.   Rifle sits on the banks of the  Colorado River and although the river is starting to transition to warm-water species as it flows westward past town, there are still large brown and rainbow trout in the immediate area.

To the east of Rifle, the famous Gold Medal fisheries of the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers are a just short drive away. The Colorado and its massive Yellow Sally and Caddis hatches is a great place to wet a line starting from Rifle in the west, moving east to Glenwood and then continuing all the way to its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park.

There are dozens of local guides and outfitters who will take you on a trip of a lifetime, floating in a drift boat or raft down the Colorado or the Roaring Fork.  These trips can be booked most of the year but are most popular from the end of the spring run-off to the end of September.

To the north of Rifle, the White River drainage and Trapper’s Lake offer great opportunities to catch a pure strain of native cutthroat trout.  

To the southwest are the 300 lakes on the Grand Mesa, regularly stocked with rainbows and other species.

Anglers pursuing warm water species will also find a number of great waters to fish including Rifle Gap Reservoir,  Harvey Gap Reservoir and Lion’s Pond. Rifle Gap Reservoir is a popular ice fishing destination during the winter months.