Stream Reports
June 12, 2026
General Comments
Our low snowpack means we will have a short runoff that may end earlier then usual, although late snow- and rainstorms have helped a lot.If you're a small steam angler, get out there soon. Bigger rivers like the Colorado, Arkansas, Gunnison, and Roaring Fork will probably fish pretty well through mid-summer. Tailwaters, where flows can be managed for fish health as well as irrigation and downstream calls may provide reasonalble fishing through the summer. You can check river and creek flows from our home page Real Time Flows link, or by clicking the river names in the table below. We should probably be thinking about stillwater fishing, both locally and in high altitude lakes.
A note on bugs, hatches and fly selection:
While certain insects are actively hatching at certain times as we note below, the larval forms of all insects are always available in the stream. There may be several age classes of stoneflies, for example, at any given time; there are usually several types of caddis in most streams that hatch at different times, and trout will eat them any time they find them- same with mayflies; midges hatch almost every day, so you'll find a mix of larvae, pupae and adults almost all the time. The point we're making is that you don't always have to use a "match the hatch" approach. If bugs aren't hatching, or if your PMD imitation isn't working in July when the bugs are on the water, try a different pattern that imitates something else that lives in that stream or lake. The bugs are there, and the fish are eating them!
Give us a call before heading out as we may have some info based on what we have heard from customers and our own trips.
Click the links in the River and Flows column to access the up to date flow info.
Current streamflow conditions are available for these and other streams at the
Colorado Division of Water Resources.
| River and Flows | Hatches/Activity | Comments | Go To Flies |
| Big Thompson | |||
|
Above Lake Estes Below Lake Estes |
Midges and a few caddis and mayfles are hatching in the Olympus dam tailwater. Caddis, PMDs, midges and a few stoneflies are hatching in the canyon. |
Double nymph rigs will work in deeper runs and pools. Use a matching dry or dry/dropper rig when fish are rising or for searching the water. |
Dries: PMD dries, Para Adams, Chubby Chernobyl, Stubby Chubby, Parachute Ant, Amy's Ant, Stimulator, Elk Hair and other caddis, Midge dries and emergers Nymphs: Pink San Juan Worm, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Two-Bit Hookers, Blue Poison Tung, Zebra Midge, Prince Nymph, 20 Incher Stone, Golden Stone Streamers:Thin Mint, Wooly Buggers, Platte River Special, Leech patterns. |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | |||
|
Moraine Park |
Caddis, PMD and midge hatches | Dry/dropper rigs would be our choice Try a double nymph rig in deeper runs. Fall River has been fishing well, esp with skinny Pink San Juans. |
Same as the the Big T |
| St Vrain | |||
|
Below Buttonrock Dam
Combined North and South in Lyons |
Midges, a few caddis and PMDs. Caddis, stonefly, midge and mayfly nymphs in the canyon and Buttonrock tailwater. | Dry/dropper rigs may be effective. Double nymph rigs should be productive in deeper runs. | Same as the the Big T |
| Cache La Poudre | |||
| At canyon mouth | PMD, stonefly, caddis and midge hatches. Midge, caddis, stonefly and mayfly nymphs. | Dry/dropper rigs should be effective. Double nymph rigs should be productive in deeper runs. |
Dries: PMD, Para Adams, Midge dries, Chernobyl Ant or Chubby Chernobiyl, Elk Hair Caddis, Stubby Chubby, Elk Hair and other caddis payyerns Nymphs: Pheasant Tail 18-22, Copper John 18-22, Flashback Scud Olv. 18-20, Sparkle Wing RS2 18-22, Jig Baetis 18-20, Brassie 18-22, Bling Midge 20-24, WD-40 18-22, Two Bit Hooker 16-18, Copper Rib RS2 18-22, 20 Incher Stone, Golden Stone Streamers:Thin Mint 8-12, Buggers 8, Sparkle Minnow 8, Hot Head Leech 10, Black Wooly Bugger 10, |
| Blue River | |||
| Below Dillon Res. | Midges, BWOs, Mysis shrimp. | Mysis patterns are a good choice below just below the dam. Otherwise, typical tailwater midges and small mayfly nymph patterns. Streamers can also be effective at times. |
Dries: Small dries like a Para Adams, Griffith's Gnat and midges. BWO dries. Nymphs: Barr's Pure Midge, black or gray, RS2, Miracle Nymph, JuJuBee, Black Beauty, Rainbow Warrior, red midge patterns, Mercury Midge, PT, CJ. Hare's Ear, dark to flashy midge larvae and pupae patterns, Golden Stone nymphs, San Juan Worm, eggs, etc. Streamers: Thin Mints, buggers, Pat's Rubber Legs, etc., |
| Below Green Mtn Res | Midges, BWOs, stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs | Typical tailwater flies and rigs. Double nymph or dry/dropper rigs. Streamers. | Same as Silverthorne except Mysis. |
| Eagle River | |||
|
At Avon
At Gypsum. |
Midges, PMDs, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, Caddis. Typical larvae/nymphs of all insects. | Dry/dropper setups. Attractor nymphs trailed by an RS2, midge or BWO nymph/emerger are good combos. Streamers |
Dries/Emergers: PMDs, Parachute Adams, RS-2, Griffith's Gnat, Matt's Midge, Yellow Sally, Chubby Chernobyl, Stubby Chubby, Elk Hair and other caddis dries.. Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs, Eggs, Pheasant Tail, Micromay, Prince, Coppper John, San Juan Worm, Midge larvae (Zebra Midge and the like), etc Streamers : Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, Pine squirrel leeches, Mayer's Mini Leech etc. |
| Fryingpan | |||
| Below Reudi Reservoir. | Midges, in the morning. BWOs hatch daily, usually in the early afternoon. Mysis shrimp are often available on the first half mile below Reudi Res. | Nymphing morning and late afternoons, dries/emergers during midday to afternoon hatches. Use smaller flies above mile marker 8. | Dries: BWO adults and emergers, midge patterns, Stuck in the Shuck midge emergers, Para Adams, Barr Emerger, Jujubaetis, RS-2, grey or black midge dries down to size 30 or 32, Mole Fly Nymphs: Green Drake nymphs, olive Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, PT, Midge pupae and larvae, eggs, Rainbow Warrior, Zebra/Black Beauty midges (black or red), Brassies, Eggs, Mysis, pink San Juan Worm . Streamers: Use smaller sizes: Black or olive, Mayer's Mini Leech. |
| Roaring Fork | |||
|
Above FP confluence near Basalt
|
Midges, BWOs, caddis and stoneflies. Best fishing is at Jaffe Park and downstream from Basalt. | Double or/triple nymph rigs. Dries and dry/dropper rigs |
Dries: BWO and midge dries: Griffith's Gnat, Sprout midge, EHC, Para Adams, Elk Hair and other caddis, Golden Stone, Yellow Sally. Nymphs: Stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs, Pat's Rubber Legs, Pheasant Tail, Copper John, eggs, San Juan Worm. Streamers: Black Bugger, Northern Lights, White Clouser, Pat's Rubber Legs, Mayer's Mini Leech, Pine Squirrel Leech, Mayer's Mini Leaeh. |
| At Glenwood Springs. | Midges, BWOs | Same as above. | Same as above |
| Colorado | |||
|
At Pumphouse
At Parshall At Glenwood Spgs |
BWOs and PMDs inn the mornings, caddis and golden stones in the afternoons. Stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs.
|
Try a dry/dropper rig during hatches, otherwise nymph rigs. | Dries: Stoneflies, midge patterns, Stuck in the Shuck midge emergers, Para Adams, Barr Emerger, Jujubaetis, RS-2, grey or black midge dries down to size 30 or 32, Elk Hair and other Caddis, Yellow Sallies, PMDs. Chernobyls/Chubbies. Nymphs: Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, PT, Midge pupae and larvae, eggs, Rainbow Warrior, Zebra/Black Beauty midges (black or red), 20 Incher and other stonefly nymphs, Brassies, Eggs, Mysis, pink San Juan Worm, Pat's Rubber Legs. Streamers: Use smaller sizes: Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, etc. |
| Yampa | |||
|
Below Stagecoach Res
At Steamboat Springs |
Midges, Caddis, PMDs, Yellow Sallies. | Nymphing deeper runs and holes amd along the banks in town . Use typical tailwater patterns and rigs on the Stagecoach tailwater. |
Dries: Parachute Adams, midge dries, Griffiths Gnat, RS-2, Barr Emerger and other emergers, Mole Fly. Nymphs: Rainbow Warrior, midge larvae/pupae in black or red, 20 Incher Stone, Prince Nymph, SJWs, Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail Streamers: Thin Mint #8-12, Zonker #6-10, Slump Buster #6-10. |
| Arkansas | |||
| Leadville to Buena Vista: At Granite SWA. | Caddis hatching now with golden stones, PMDs and Yellow Salies to come soon. Caddis, mayfly, midge and stonefly nymphs. | Caddis or midge dries during hatches; nyumphing otherwise. |
Dries: Elk Hair and other caddis dries, Para Adams, PMDs, Yellow Sally, Chernobyls and Chubbies, Griffith Gnats and Sprout midges Nymphs: Golden stones, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares Ear or Copper John, Zebra Midge, Black Beauty, WD-40 or Top Secret Midge. |
| Buena Vista to Salida: At Salida. |
Caddis are hatching, along with sparse golden stones and Yellow Sallies. Caddis, mayfly, midge and stonefly nymphs. | Caddis or midge dries during hatches; nymphing otherwise. |
Dries: PMDs, Chernobyls and Chubbies, Yellow Sally, Para Adams, Elk Hair and other caddis Nymphs: Golden stones, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares Ear or Copper John, Zebra Midge, Black Beauty, WD-40 or Top Secret Midge. |
| Salida to Canon City: At Canon City. | Caddis. PMDs, Red Quills and Yellow Sallies below Salida. Hoppers are starting to become common. Caddis, mayfly, midge and stonefly nymphs. | Match the hatch with dry/dropper setups; nymphing otherwise |
Dries: PMDs, Red Quill, Yellow Sally, Chernobyls and Chubbies, Para Adams, Griffith Gnats and Sporut midges Nymphs: Golden stones, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares Ear or Copper John, Zebra Midge, Black Beauty, WD-40 or Top Secret Midge. |
|
At Pueblo Tailwater:
|
Midges, BWOs. Caddis, mayfly, midge and stonefly nymphs. | Typical tailwater patterns |
Dries: BWOs, Elk hHir and other caddis patterns, Parachute Adams, Griffiths Gnat, midge dries and emergers Nymphs: Mercury Midge, RS II, WD40, Graphic Caddis, Tabou Caddis, Hares Ear, San Juan Worm Streamers: Buggers, Near Nuff Crayfish, Pat's Rubber Legs, Thin Mint |
| South Platte | |||
| At Deckers. | Midges, BWOs, | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. |
Dries: BWOs, Parachute Adams, Griffith Gnat, Matt's Midge, Parachute Adams, Barr's Visa Dun, Blue Dun, Sparkle Dun, and Hi Vis Baetis Midges: Mercury Midge, Top Secret Midge, Mercury Blood Midge, Pearl Jam, Brassie, Buckskin. Nymphs: UV Scud tan, San Juan Worm brown, Frenchy, Graphic Caddis, caddis larva, Darth Baetis, Chocolate Thunder, Black Zebra Streamers:Olive Crystal Bugger, White Crystal Bugger, Pine Squirrel Leech (olive, black, rust, and gray), Meat Whistle, and Slumpbuster (olive or rust) |
| Below Cheesman Res. | Midges, BWOs, | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. | Pretty much the same as Deckers. |
| In Elevenmile Canyon | BWOs, midges | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. | Pretty much the same as Deckers. |
| At Charlie Meyers State Wildlife Area (Dream Stream). | Midges, BWOs | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. | Pretty much the same as Deckers. |
| North Platte | |||
| North Platte at Gray Reef | Midges, BWOs | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. | BWOs, Midges. |
| North Platte at Miracle Mile. | Midges, BWOs | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. | BWOs, Midges |
| North Platte | |||
|
At Gray Reef At Miracle Mile |
|||