Current streamflow conditions are available for these and other streams at the
Colorado Department of Natural Resources web site.
Check out the FishLog for specific reports based on our recent trips.
General Comments
Stream flows are doen to more or less "normal" conditions, although some strams are still a little high, especially the Ark and the Roaring Fork. It's dry fly time almost everywhere, so hit the rivers and streams and enjoy the sight of a nice fish gliding up to the surface to sip your bug. Don't forget the high mountain lakes as an alternative. Be sure to take the essentials: sunscreen, insect repellent, polarized sunglasses, water, a hat and a light rain jacket.
| River | Hatches | What's Working | Go To Flies |
| Big Thompson | |||
| 161 cfs below Lake Estes. Flows have been reduced, so give the fish a few days to adjust. | Primarily PMDs and Caddis | Single/double dry, dry/emerger, dry/soft hackle, dry dropper rigs. |
Dries: Flip Flop Ant . Para Adams, PMD, Barr Emerger PMD, RS-2, Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis, Pearl and Elk Caddis. Nymphs: Tan Sowbug or Ray Charles, 20 Incher, Graphic Caddis in tan or green, PT, CJ, Hare's Ear. |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | |||
| Flows are down in all waters and fishing is outstanding. Go to the FishLog for a report. HOT SPOT | Red Quills, PMDs, Caddis, a few Green Drakes |
Single/double dry, dry/emerger, dry/soft hackle, dry dropper rigs. | Dries: Flip Flop Ant, LA Ant, hopper patterns, Rusty Spinner, Stimulator, Para Adams. Nymphs: small brown stone nymphs, PT, CJ, Frank's Flashy, pink or purple SJW, Graphic Caddis. |
| St Vrain | |||
| 275 cfs at confluence in Lyons. | Caddis and PMDs. a few Green Drakes are also on.
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Try dry/dropper rigs as for RMNP. Try fishing Meadow Park or Bohn Park in Lyons. | Dries: Elk Hair Caddis, Para Adams, PMD Nymphs: small PTs, Hare's Ears, Princes, SJW, caddis nymphs. |
| Cache La Poudre | |||
| 390 cfs at mouth of canyon | Caddis, Yellow Sallies and PMDs below N Fork; a few Green Drakes above | Single dry or dry/dropper rig | Dries: Stimulator, Madam X, Rusty Spinner, Para Adams, PMD dries, RS-2, WD-40, Barr Emerger, Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow Sally, hopper patterns. Nymphs: red Copper John, Prince, Graphic Caddis, Woolly Buggers |
| Fryingpan | |||
| 226 cfs at Reudi. Fishing is excellent. Best Mysis fishing in 10 yrs! HOT SPOT |
BWOs, Caddis, Rusty Spinners, a few PMDs and Drakes. Mysis below the Toilet Bowl and in the Flats. | Best dry action from 11-2. Lower river is Clearing up. Use 7x-8x fluoro tippet. | Dries: Pearl and Elk and Elk Hair Caddis, Rusty Spinner, BWO and PMD patterns, Green Drake, RS-2, Para Adams. Nymphs: Baetis, PT, 20 incher, Barr Emergers, Graphic Caddis, eggs, Mysis near the bridge and above. Streamers: black or olive Slumpbuster, black Buggers. |
| Roaring Fork | |||
| Basalt to Carbondale: 970 cfs at Basalt. Great for a float or wade fishing. HOT SPOT |
Caddis, BWOs, PMDs, Stoneflies. Fishing is Good to Great! |
Double nymph rigs such as a a Green Drake or stonefly nymph trailing a caddis pattern. Dry dropper rigs using a large attractor dry with an emerger or nymph. | Dries: Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Green Drakes, Stonefies.. Nymphs: Graphic Caddis, SJW, Prince, 20 Incher, PT, CJ, Tungsten Bead Baetis, RS-2. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Black Bugger, Northern Lights, White Clouser, |
| Carbondale to Glenwood: 1440 cfs at Glenwood HOT SPOT |
Caddis, Stoneflies, PMDs, Green Drakes, Rusty Spinners, Yellow Sallies. Fishing is Good to Great! |
Double nymph rigs such as a a Green Drake or stonefly nymph trailing a caddis pattern. Dry dropper rigs using a large attractor dry with an emerger or nymph.
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Dries: Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Green Drakes, Stonefies.. Nymphs: Graphic Caddis, SJW, Prince, 20 Incher, PT, CJ, Tungsten Bead Baetis, RS-2. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Black Bugger, Northern Lights, White Clouser, |
| Colorado | |||
| Parshall: 2950 cfs Pumphouse: 5240 cfs HOT SPOT |
PMDs, caddis Yellow Sallies, BWOs and a few Tricos in the Parshall area. PMDs, Rusty Spinners, Yellow Sallies and Caddis at Pumphouse. Salmonflies about done. |
Single/double dry, dry/dropper or double nymph rigs | Dries: PMD dries, Yellow Sally, Rusty Spinner, Elk Hair and other caddis patterns. Nymphs: Bitch Creek, 20 Incher, Kauffman's Stone, Baetis, Barr Emergers, PT, Prince, Graphic Caddis, SJW, Jujubee, Rainbow Warrior, RS-2, Sparkle Pupa. Streamers: Buggers, Slumpbuster. |
| Yampa | |||
| 97 cfs below Stagecoach Ideal conditions HOT SPOT |
Caddis and PMDs. Good spinner falls and caddis hatches late evening. |
Dry, dry/emerger, dry/dropper rigs | Dries: Para Adams, PMD dries and emergers, Griffiths Gnat, Elk Hair Caddis, Foam Caddis, Stimulator, Pearl and Elk Caddis. Nymphs: Prince, Pheasant Tail, Bead Head Hare's Ear, Tan SJW, Chamois Leech, Micro Egg, midge larvae, Micro May, mostly #20 and smaller. |
| Arkansas | |||
| Leadville to Buena Vista 2180 cfs at Granite. |
Midges in the am, BWOs in the pm Fishing is Picking up. | Dries: Griffith's Gnat,Yellow Sallies,PMD's, Comparaduns, Sparkle Dun, RS-2, Black Foam Caddis. Nymphs: Golden Stone, Caddis Larvae, CJ, BH PT, red/chartreuse Copper John, soft hackle Pheasant Tail, midge larvae. | |
| Buena Vista to Salida 840 cfs at Salida. |
PMDs, Caddis, Yellow Sallies | Dry, dry/emerger, dry/dropper rigs w/PMD nymph or emerger | Dries: PMD dries, Elk Hair and other caddis, Yellow Sally patterns, Stimulator. Nymphs: Concentrate on the dries, but the standards (PT, CJ, HE, etc) should work. Caddis nymphs and Graphic Caddis. |
| Salida to Canon City 1530 cfs at Canon City. |
Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Caddis, PMDs. | Dry, dry/emerger, dry/dropper rigs | Dries: Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow Sally, yellow Humpy Nymphs: Graphic Caddis, caddis nymphs, golden stones. |
| Below Pueblo Res 1140 cfs. Fishing is fair | Hoppers, BWOs and a few caddis. | Terrestrial dries along the edges and other quiet water | Dries: BWO, Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, hopper patterns. Nymphs: Dark Stone Nymphs, , BH Prince, GRHE, Barr Emergers, red SJW. Streamers: Black Woolly Buggers |
| South Platte | |||
| Cheesman/Deckers 400 cfs |
Sporadic caddis, PMD's and stones all day | Single/double dry, dry/emerger, dry dropper rigs. | Dries/emergers: Stimulator, hopper patterns, WD-40/Barr Emerger, grey RS-2, Para Adams, BWO sparkle duns, thorax duns, black caddis. Nymphs: PT, Micro May, Zebra, CJ, olive sparkle pupa, SJW, Sparkle Caddis. |
| Eleven Mile 339 cfs HOT SPOT |
Tricos, Caddis, Midges, PMDs, BWOs | Double trico/spinner dry, dry dropper, double nymphing. 5x-6x tippet. | Dries: Trico, drowned trico, Brooks Sprout, BWO dries and emergers (RS-2, Barr Emerger), Para Adams, Elk Hair and other Caddis. Nymphs: PT, Graphic Caddis, Micro May, Zebra, Black Beauty, scuds, SJW. |
| Dream Stream 285 cfs |
Tricos, BWOs, Caddis | Dries, dry/droppers. Use long leaders w/fine tippet. | Dries: Tricos (22-24), BWOs, 18-20), Elkhair Caddis. Nymphs: PT, Micro May, Zebra and , Miracle Nymph caddis larva, scuds, SJW. |
| North Platte | |||
| Grey Reef: 1600 cfs. |
Midges, BWOs, Tricos, a few Yellow Sallies | Nymphing, but dries during hatches | Nymphs: Rust Scuds, SJW, Chamois Leech. Midges: PAL, Bionic Black/Silver, Bionic Brown, Split Back Trico, Split Foam Back Baetis. Other: Vanilla Buggers, Primrose and Black, Blue Poison Tung, Gray RS2, Eggs |