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Blue River Below Dillon Reservoir
Conditions
After an unexpected period of overflow/top water release from Lake Dillon, the river has returned to a tailwater situation with low and steady flows typical of late summer. Results will be most consistent on subsurface patterns for Midges and Baetis along with Mysis imitations as you get closer to the dam. With the lower flows look for fish to be laid up in deeper, more defined runs where they have a sense of cover. On overcast days and in the evening once the light is low, we continue to see fair results on a mix of Caddis and parachute Mayfly imitations, along with small to mid-sized attractors. Look for those fish that are interested in dry flies to be well dispersed in all water types, in particular those that are tougher to nymph – pockets and edge water.
On those days when we do get heavy rain, there has been some color in the river as feeder creeks and run-off from the streets pours in throughout town and below. When that happens we have been seeing some good results on the classic dirty water nymph patterns such as leeches and San Juan imitations. That is still a rare occasion and town remains one of the more stable destinations in this summer of low flows, high temps and mud slides that are happening in other drainages. As such there are days when it is a popular spot and crowds can be thick.
Flies
Sparkle Bug, Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator #16, Parachute Purple, Melon Quill, Parachute Adams, Hippie Stomper, Trude, Parachute Extended Body PMD, Parachute Silhouette Dun, Red Neck Midge, Glassy Brassie, Mirage Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, Brassie, Biot Midge, Lil Spanker, Tungsten Psycho May-Black, Tube Midge – Black or Red, RS-2 – Black or Dun, WD40 – Black or Chocolate, Zebra Midge, BTS Mysis, Stalcup’s Mysis, Flossy Worm, San Juan Worm, Split Case PMD, Pheasant Tail #18-22.
Current Water Data
Blue River Below Green Mountain
Conditions
After jumping up to a moderately good flow around 700 for a while, the release from Green Mountain has been cut back some and is having a hard time settling in at a consistent flow for more than a couple of days. As it is now it’s in the upper 400s, which is a bit of a tweener flow: being on the high side for wading across the river and being on the low side for legally navigating the river in a boat. That is to say a lot of boats get hung up under 500 cfs and are technically trespassing, so make a realistic assessment of your boat’s limitations and your ability before floating the ranch stretch. If you do make it down there on foot or afloat, action has been solid on PMDs and Green Drakes, along with some decent Caddis activity. In the morning action has been most consistent on the nymph imitations for those hatches along with beaded searching nymphs and Stonefly patterns. As the day moves into afternoon the dry fly bite really picks up and continues into evening.
Flies
BH PT, Perdigon Nymph, Quill Body Jig in dark olive, Deep Dish Green Drake Pat’s Rubberlegs, Masked Marauder, Psycho Prince, Duracell Jig, Split Case PMD nymph, Beaded Epoxy Mini Mayfly Brown, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Barr’s Emerger PMD, Stimulator, Sparkle Bug, X Caddis, Parachute Purple, Melon Quill, Parachute Silhouette Dun, Extended Body Green Drake, Colorado Green Drake, CDC Parachute Flav, Lawson’s PMD, Burk’s Silhouette Sulphur
Current Water Data
Colorado River Above Kremmling (Parshall)
Conditions
The stream flow at Parshall is actually at 460 cfs, we are having trouble getting a link to the correct gauge below the confluence with the William’s Fork.
Flows have been relatively stable below the confluence with the William’s Fork thanks to a good release of water coming from the dam. This is a solid volume for spreading fish out, as many stretches should have bank-to-bank coverage offering good distribution in all water types. Action has been decent on a wide range of options including Tricos, Baetis and Caddis. Nymphing will remain most consistent throughout the day, and set up as a traditional tandem nymph rig. Use of mix of imitations for those hatches along with small to mid sized Stonefly and searching nymph patterns. Look for fish early in the day to be towards the tail outs of runs and pools, steadily moving up closer to the top of those runs and into the bottom of riffles as the day moves to late morning/early afternoon where they will feed on drifting nymphs prior to a hatch. As the emergence happens look for risers in the riffles and along edges.
Flies
Sparklebug, Peacock Caddis, Body Double Caddis, Stimulator, Parachute Extended Body BWO, Winger Parachute, No Hackle Slate Gray, GT Adult Trico, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Flashback Hare’s Ear, Miller’s Tactical + One, Flossy Worm, CDC Pheasant Tail, Pheasant Tail #14-18 -beaded and not- Magic Fly, Two Bit Hooker in Black, Darth Baetis, RS2, Tungsten Micro Mayfly Brown, Tungsten Juju Baetis, Aero Baetis, Buckskin, Silver Bullet Minnow, Goldie, Heisenberg White, Mini Peanut Envy white, Sex Dungeon cream, Sculpzilla
Current Water Data
Colorado River Pumphouse to Dotsero
Conditions
The River has reopened all the way down to Dotsero and water temps have stabilized. However, it should be noted that water quality down below Horse Creek is still in poor shape due to extensive run-off and debris that ran into the river from flash floods earlier this summer. With flows around 1100 in the Pumphouse to State Bridge stretch, and a little higher below there, conditions are in the best shape since early June. Clarity and temperature are ideal for fish health and results are decent most days, although there are those that are better than others. There are still Tricos and Rusty Spinners to be found very early in some locations, with a growing number of Baetis later in the day throughout. Results remain most consistent on nymph imitations for those hatches along with Stonefly imitations, beaded searching patterns and Euro style jigs. Terrestrial fishing is picking up, and can produce decent results for those committed to dry fly fishing on sunny days. However, the better dry fly action will be any day that offers cloud cover and then you can add in small to mid sized attractors, parachute Mayfly patterns and some Caddis dries. As well, with the changing temperatures and days getting shorter we are seeing an increased interest in streamers. Although this can vary greatly from day-to-day.
Flies
Sparklebug, Stimulator, Hippie Stomper, Parachute Adams, Parachute Purple, Parachute Ant, CDC Ant, Foam Beetle, Chubby Chernobyl, Dave’s Hopper, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Masked Marauder, Psycho Prince, Yeager’s Soft Hackle, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Jigged Perdigon, Pearl and Orange Jig, Duracell, Iron Sally, GB Biot Stone Golden, Sculpzilla, Silver Bullet, Sex Dungeon
Current Water Data
Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs
Conditions
The lower river is under assault from upstream flash floods that have brought debris and very dirty water to the mix, even with relatively consistent quality water mixing in from the Roaring Fork. It may be quite some time for this section to recover, as it will need a major flush from next year’s snow-melt to really start to push debris and sediment downstream.
Flies
Current Water Data
Arkansas River Above Buena Vista
Conditions
The summer water releases from upstream dams has ended, opening up large stretches of river that are not normally available to wading anglers. Most notably through narrow, canyon like sections from Granite down to BV, such as the “Numbers”. Typically during summer the volume of water in the river make it tough to wade due to the swiftness and steep gradient of the river. Now as water levels have dropped that steep, narrow landscape is easily wade-able, offering good access to fish that haven’t felt much pressure since early in the spring. Dry dropper rigs with either a terrestrial or mid sized attractor on the surface, followed up with a beaded searching pattern is the best way to start. Later in the day if you are getting good interest in the dries then switch up and throw smaller attractors, parachute mayfly imitations and Ants and Beetles. And we are just entering into the prime streamer season on a river that is 90% Browns.
Flies
Stimulator, Chubby Chernobyl, Madam X, Elk Hair Caddis, Sparkle Bug, X Caddis, Peacock Caddis, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Miller’s Tactical Plus One, Red Collar Leggy PT, Duracell, Copper John, BH Pheasant Tail, BH Hare’s Ear, Psycho Prince, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J, Iron Sally, Perdigon, Flossy Worm, Silver Bullet, Slumpbuster, Sculpzilla, Tungsten Thin Mint.
Current Water Data
Arkansas River Salida Area
Conditions
Now that the summer water call has ended, flows are very comfortable for wading anglers to fish the entire river from one side to the other. While at the same time making it a bit tougher for floating anglers to cast at fish without alerting them of their presence due to the low flows. That being said we find that narrower sections of river tend to be a little more productive, as they give fish a bit more cover thanks to deeper lies. Terrestrials, attractors and beaded searching nymphs are the cornerstone to any rig at this time of year. There are still Golden Stones and Caddis scattered around, but look for growing numbers of Baetis to drive the action for the next several weeks. As well, this is the time of year for streamers on a river that is 90% Brown Trout.
Flies
Chubby Chernobyl, Madam X, Stimulator, Snowshoe Sally, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Red Collar Leggy PT, Duracell, Copper John, BH Pheasant Tail, Psycho Prince, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J, GB Biot Epoxy Stone, My Gal Sal, Matt Demon Stone, Iron Sally, Flossy Worm, Silver Bullet, Sparkle Minnow, Tungsten Thin Mint
Current Water Data
Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs
Conditions
Flows remain low, but there is still enough water to bounce a boat down on the main stretch from Carbondale to Glenwood. Although with the condition of the lower Colorado, traffic has been very thick and nymph rigs have been most productive as fish shelter deep in the center of the channel. Beaded searching patterns, small Stonefly imitations and Baetis variations are a good place to start. In the upper parts of the valley, wade fishing has been strong around Basalt and in the public wade stretch just downstream from Aspen.
Flies
Chubby Chernobyl-multiple colors and sizes, Stimulator, Sparkle Bug, Elk Hair Caddis, Peacock Caddis, BH Pheasant Tail, BH Prince, Duracell Jig, Chartreuse Copper John, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J, Pat’s Rubber legs, RS2, Tungsten Micro Mayfly, Juju Baetis, Darth Baetis, Tungsten Psycho May
Current Water Data
Williams Fork River Below Dam
Conditions
A little bit of consistency is returning to the river after a period of fluctuating releases aimed at helping the Colorado deal with low flows and high temps. We have seen a steady uptick in the release to solid flows for fishing this smaller tailwater. This will allow for fish to be well distributed in all water types, allowing for anglers to spread out from the low water runs and pools. We anticipate a steady rise in action as fish re-establish themselves in the rejuvenated river bed.
Flies
Breadcrust, Buckskin, Pheasant Tail, GB Biot Stone Golden, Poxyback PMD nymph, Epoxy Micro Mayfly Brown, Miller’s Tactical Plus 1, Chartreuse Copper John, Two Bit Hooker, Milkman, Psycho Prince
Current Water Data
Eagle River
Conditions
Wade fishing has been decent along this popular river, particularly in the sections above Eagle. Although now that water temps are dropping and fishing closures in the lower valley have been lifted we are seeing a rebound to the public water sections near Gypsum. But we still encourage you to carry a thermometer and keep an eye on temps in the afternoon and be prepared to move upstream if temps climb above 65. Tricos continue to be the most widely distributed hatch and patterns for them have been productive. As well, look for Baetis to fill in as they begin to emerge for the next couple of months. Euro style jigs, Caddis pupa, beaded searching patterns and small Stonefly imitations are also turning plenty of heads.
Low and clear flows will make for very sensitive fish. Drop your tippet down to 5 or 6x and be very deliberate in your movements. Slow, steady steps without too much splash or quick movements, which might alert fish to your presence before you get a cast to them.
Flies
Stimulator, Sparkle Bug, X Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Chubby Chernobyl, GT Adult Trico, Indicator Spinner Trico, RS2, Tungsten Psycho May Black, Magic Fly, Drowned Trico, Juju Baetis, Darth Baetis, Bullet Quill, Duracell Jig, Perdigon Nymph, Miller’s Tactical Plus one, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Psycho Prince, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J