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General Comments
Winter is starting to ease up on us. Recent warmer weather is starting to melt some of the ice along local streams, making for some areas of open water here and there. Notice that there are a few more reporting stations back on line, and flows are available for some waters for the first time since early December- a great sign! You'll find midges about the only thing hatching on most waters, but BWOs can't be far away. Most hatches occur during midday and early afternoons, although they may hatch nearly continuously. In general, a good exploratory setup is an attractor nymph trailing a midge larva or pupa pattern. Switch to a dry or dry/dropper rig during hatches with rising fish. We could be fishing in RMNP in a few weeks if the warm weather continues. Tailwaters are still the best bet. You should be thinking about trips to the Frying Pan (fishing great over there right now!), the Taylor, the Blue, the Yampa and other tailwaters. Be prepared for cold weather and sudden snow storms. Give us a call before heading out as we may have some anecdotal info based on what we have heard from customers and our own trips. N/A in the reports below indicates that the measuring station is shut down for the winter or frozen up.
Current streamflow conditions are available for these and other streams at the
Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
Note: Fly patterns in red are Laughing Grizzly exclusives.
| River | Hatches/Activity | What's Working | Go To Flies |
| Big Thompson | |||
| 20 cfs below Lake Estes. The canyon is frozen; focus on the stretch below Lake Estes. | Midges, a few BWOs, stonefly nymphs. |
Double nymph rigs most productive (eg, Flashy, PT or CJ trailing a Zebra Midge, Deep Blue Poison Tung or Barr Emerger). Otherwise, dries/emergers to match the hatch of the moment (which is probably a midge hatch), dry/dropper setups. |
Dries: Para Adams, BWO dries/emergers, Barr Emerger BWO, RS-2, WD-40, Griffith's Gnat or other midge adults/ emergers in very small (#24-30) sizes. Nymphs: Purple or pink SJW, Prince Nymphs and other stonefly nymphs, Deep Blue Poison Tung, Ray Charles, red, black or olive midge larvae, PT, CJ, Hare's Ear, Frank's Flashy. |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | |||
| Frozen and done for the season. | There are usually some small black and brown stones hatching this time of year if they can find open water from which to crawl to streamside structure. You'll see them on the snow streamside. | Same as the the Big T above. | |
| St Vrain | |||
| 20 cfs at Lyons. There is open water in the Buttonrock area. | No reports of late. Probably midges. | Double nymph rigs most productive (eg, PT or CJ trailing a Zebra Midge, Deep Blue Poison Tung or Barr Emerger. Dries/emergers to match the hatch of the moment, dry/dropper setups. | Same as the the Big T above. |
| Cache La Poudre | |||
| 33cfs at canyon mouth. | No reports of late. | Most effective strategy is a double nymph rig in deeper runs: Use an attractor nymph trailing a midge larva. Dries, dry/emerger or dry/nymph rigs during hatches. | Dries: BWO adults and emergers (Barr Emerger or RS-2), Para Adams, midge dries and emergers. Nymphs: Tak's Go2 Prince, PT, Jujubaetis, midge larvae/pupae patterns, Ray Charles, Poison Tung, large stone flies such as 20 inchers, Prince Nymph, Golden Stones. Pink or red SJW. Streamers: Buggers in black, olive or orange, leech patterns. |
| Fryingpan | |||
| 69 cfs below Reudi. Dry fly fishing is excellent during afternoon hatches. Flows are very low, - fish can be spooky, and will be in deeper water. Excellent! | Midges, eggs. Mysis just below the dam. |
Nymphing morning and late afternoons, dries/emergers during afternoon hatches. Try streamers during lulls in other fishing methods. | Dries: BWO Sparkle Dun, BWO Comparadun, #22-26 Para Adams, Barr Emerger, RS-2. Nymphs: PT, Midge pupae and larvae, eggs, Rainbow Warrior, Zebra/Black Beauty midges (black or red), EGGS, Mysis, San Juan Worm, Frank's Flashy. Streamers: Use smaller sizes: Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, etc. |
| Roaring Fork | |||
| Basalt to Carbondale: N/A cfs at FP confluence near Basalt. |
Midges, stonefly nymphs, eggs, worms. |
Heavier double nymph rigs fished in riffles and quieter water. Dry, dry/dropper rigs during hatches. Good streamer fishing using flies in blacks, whites and tans. | Dries: Pearl and Elk Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimis, H&L Variant, Royal Wulff, Red Humpy. Nymphs: Frank's Flashy, Graphic Caddis, SJW, Prince, 20 Incher, PT, CJ, RS-2. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Black Bugger, Northern Lights, White Clouser. |
| Carbondale to Glenwood: 394 cfs at Glenwood. | Midges, stonefly nymphs, eggs, worms. |
Heavier double nymph rigs fished in riffles and quieter water. Dry, dry/dropper rigs during hatches. Good streamer fishing using flies in blacks, whites and tans. | Same as above, plus Streamers: bunny patterns, buggers and the like. |
| Colorado | |||
| Parshall: N/A cfs Pumphouse: 444 cfs Fishing is good. |
Midges | Double nymph rigs. Use a mayfly nymph (PT, CJ, etc) trailing a midge larva. Streamer fishing is excellent. | Dries: Barr Emerger PMD, PMD dries, PMD Sparkledun, Barr Emerger PMD or BWO, orange or yellow Stimi, Yellow Sally Elk Hair Caddis, Adams/Para Adams. Nymphs: Barr's Pure Midge Larva, Garcia's Rojo Midge, PT, Prince, Jujubaetis, RS-2, PT, CJ, Tungstone, 20 Incher, microstones. Streamers: Buggers, Slumpbuster, Double Bunny, Bunny Leech. |
| Yampa | |||
| 47 cfs below Stagecoach. Fishing is good, but stealth is required in this very low water. The road is closed, so be prepared to hike or snowmobile the two miles into and out of the area below the dam. | Midges, BWOs, scuds. | Nymphing deeper runs and holes. Dries may work during hatches, which are usually pretty sporadic. | Dries: Midge dries, Griffiths Gnat, Trico dries and spinners, Barr Emerger, RS-2. Nymphs: Tabou Caddis Emerger, Frank's Flashy, Rainbow Warrior, midge larvae/pupae in black or red, typical tailwater nymphs, scuds in olive, rust orange, cream or tan, red or pink SJWs, Hare's Ear and Chamois Leeches, Miracle Nymph. |
| Arkansas | |||
| Leadville to Buena Vista. N/A at Granite. Fishing best from noon-4:00. | Midges | Double nymph rigs the best choice: a beadhead nymph (eg, PT, red, chart or black CJ) or stonefly nymph with a black midge, RS-2 or BWO Barr Emerger trailed behind. Dries to match the midge hatch, attractor dries. Focus on deeper holes and runs. | Dries: Para Adams, Stimulator, BWO dries, Barr Emerger BWO, RS-2. Nymphs: Prince, Tung Teaser, 20 Incher, midge larvae and pupae, BH PT, Hare's Ear, chartreuse caddis larva, CJ- black, red, chart. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, buggers. |
| Buena Vista to Salida 190 cfs at Salida. |
Midges. | Double nymph rigs the best choice: a beadhead nymph (eg, PT, red, chart or black CJ) or stonefly nymph with a black midge, RS-2 or BWO Barr Emerger trailed behind. Dries to match the midge hatch, attractor dries. Focus on deeper holes and runs. | Dries: Para Adams, Stimulator, BWO dries, Barr Emerger BWO, RS-2. Nymphs: Prince, Tung Teaser, 20 Incher, midge larvae and pupae, BH PT, Hare's Ear, chartreuse caddis larva, CJ- black, red, chart. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, buggers. |
| Salida to Canon City 308 cfs at Canon City. Fishing best from noon-3:00. |
Midges. | Double nymph rigs the best choice: a beadhead nymph (eg, PT, red, chart or black CJ) or stonefly nymph with a black midge, RS-2 or BWO Barr Emerger trailed behind. Dries to match the midge hatch, attractor dries. Focus on deeper holes and runs. | Dries: Griffith's Gnat and other midge adult/emergers, small Para Adams. Nymphs: Golden Stone, Prince, Tung Teaser, 20 Incher, BH PT, Hare's Ear, chartreuse caddis larva, CJ. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, buggers |
| 65 cfs below Pueblo Res. Ideal flows and water temps. A good bet for Front Range anglers. It's usually about 10 degrees warmer in Pueblo than up here. | A few BWOs, but mostly midges. |
Double nymph rigs (use a larger flashier attractor nymph in murky water) are the best bet early and late, but attractor dries, dry/dropper, dry, dry/emerger, dry/ dropper can work during hatches, typically 11:00-4:00. | Dries: Parachute Madam-X (PMX), Stimulators, Hoppers, Parachute Adams, Humpy, BWO dries/emergers, Barr Emerger BWO, RS-2, trico spinner/drowned trico spinner, Griffith's Gnat. Nymphs: 20-Incher, Wired Stone, Prince, Copper John, Icebreaker, Pheasant Tail, Brassie, San Juan Worm (orange and red), typical tailwater midge patterns. |
| South Platte | |||
| 195 cfs at Deckers 185 below Cheesman. Excellent dry fly action during BWO and midge hatches. |
Deckers: Regular and "BIG" Midges. Cheesman: Midges. |
Double nymph rigs your best bet mornings and late afternoons. Single/double dry, dry/emerger, dry/dropper rigs during hathes. | Dries/emergers: Barr Emergers, Sparkle Wing RS-2, BWO patterns, Para Adams, PMD, Yellow Sally, Griffiths Gnat. Nymphs: Mercury Midges, SJW, Scud, Stonefly, Mercury Black Beauty, Brassie, Red PT, Rainbow Warrior, Hot Tail Flash Egg, Mercury Flashback PT, Mercury Baetis, Buckskin. |
| Elevenmile Canyon 75 cfs Ideal conditions with good dry fly action. |
Midges. | Dries, dry/dropper, double nymphing- a beadhead nymph with some flash and a SJW is a good combo. 6x-7x tippet. | Dries: RS-2, Barr Emerger, WD-40, Para Adams, midges, Griffith's Gnat. Nymphs: Red, pink or brown SJW, Chamois Leech, Rojo Midge, Mercury Black Beauty, Brassie, Red PT, Rainbow Warrior, Flashback PT, Mercury Baetis, midge larvae/pupae patterns, Pure Midge, olive scuds or egg patterns. |
| Spinney Mtn Ranch (Dream Stream) 80 cfs. | Midges. | Dries, dry/droppers, double nymph rigs- a beadhead nymph with some flash and a SJW is a good combo. 6x-7x tippet. | Dries: RS-2, Barr Emerger, WD-40, Para Adams, midges, Griffith's Gnat, trico spinner/drowned trico spinner. Nymphs: Red, pink or brown SJW, Chamois Leech, Rojo Midge, Mercury Black Beauty, Brassie, Red PT, Rainbow Warrior, Flashback PT, Mercury Baetis, midge larvae/pupae patterns, Pure Midge, olive scuds or egg patterns. |
| North Platte | |||
| Grey Reef: 500 cfs. |
Midges. We've had some reports of big fish being caught, and fishing is good. | Nymphing almost exclusively | Nymphs: Scuds, Red SJW, Chamois Leech. Midges: PAL, Bionic Black/Silver, Bionic Brown, Split Back Trico, Split Foam Back Baetis Red Rock Worm. Other: Vanilla Buggers, Primrose and Black, Blue Poison Tung, Gray RS2, Eggs |