Ridgway State Park is located four miles north of Ridgway and 26 miles south of Montrose, Colorado. As late as mid-July, the north face of the San Juan Mountains still holds snow and as it melts, it eventually flows into Lake Como north of Silverton, at 12,221 feet in southwestern Colorado. From here, the Uncompahgre is born and runs north 75 miles to enter the Gunnison River in Delta. The Park holds many ...

fishing and recreational opportunities, such as hiking, biking, boating, and camping; not to mention the bounty of scenic beauty that rivals any destination in the Colorado Rockies. Ridgway Reservoir is stocked with Rainbow Trout and packed with Wild Brown and Cutthroat Trout, as well as Kokanee Salmon deeper in the lake. The reservoir is approximately 1,000 acres and there is a 1.5 mile-long section of river above and below the reservoir. Six dollars gives you access to this recreational paradise but the real fishing gem is the tail waters below the reservoir called Paco-chu-puk. The dam release regulates flow and temperature, creating an excellent tail water fishery with trophy size fish. Paco-chu-puk, which translates to mean Cow Creek in the UTE Indian language, holds Rainbows, large Browns, and Cutthroats that take imitations of the various insect and terrestrial populations that live in and around this stretch of fly fishing heaven. This creek enters the Uncompahgre River at the lower end of the Paco-chu-pak section of tail water. The entrance to Paco-chu-puk is just below the reservoir off Hwy. 550 and there is plenty of parking. For further information on this area contact us at (970) 209-2237 or visit our website at ToadsGuideShop.com.