The Uncompahgre River is a picturesque and productive tailwater fishery located in southwestern Colorado. Originating as snowmelt from the San Juan Mountains at Lake Como near Silverton at an elevation of over 12,000 feet, the river flows northward for approximately 75 miles through Ouray, Ridgway, and Montrose before ultimately joining the Gunnison River at Delta. The name Uncompahgre comes from the Ute language, meaning red water spring, likely referring to the natural hot springs near Ouray and Ridgway. The river transformed dramatically after the completion of Ridgway Reservoir in 1988, with the tailwater section below the dam developing into one of Colorado's premier fishing destinations. While not as widely known as some of Colorado's famous tailwaters like the Taylor, FryingPan, South Platte, and Blue Rivers, the Uncompahgre offers exceptional year-round fishing opportunities with healthy populations of large trout, particularly in the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk section (locally known as Paco) within Ridgway State Park.