Detailed Reports - Click on a location for details.
Blue River Below Dillon Reservoir
Conditions
Flows in town remain stable and offer a solid level for winter fishing. At this point of the year the majority of trout diet will consist of Midges, with a few remaining Baetis and a minor flow of Mysis shrimp from the reservoir. Clarity is gin clear and those anglers that drop to 6X typically fare better than those throwing larger sizes. Even though flows are low, don’t overlook the need for weight. That can often be the biggest difference for success.
Traffic overall this fall has been below average thanks in part to the early snow and sub zero temperatures at the end of October. However, with the bounce in temps we may see a slight uptick in pressure.
Flies
BTS Shrimp, Tim’s Mysis, Stalcup’s Mysis, Buckskin, Andrew’s 5-0 Midge, Red Neck Midge, Glassy Brassie, Mirage Zebra Midge, Desert Storm, Rainbow Warrior, Black Beauty, Brassie, UV Emerger, Biot Midge, Lil Spanker, Tungsten Psycho May-Black, Rojo Midge, Tube Midge – Black or Red, RS-2 – Black or Dun, WD40 – Black or Chocolate, Zebra Midge, Flossy Worm, Gummy Worm, Sparkle Worm, Jake’s CDC Leech, squirrel leech, #20-#24 Pheasant Tail, #24-26 Parachute Adams
Current Water Data
Blue River Below Green Mountain
Conditions
The end of the water transfer has dropped flows back down to a very solid level for wading anglers. At this point, you can cross the river and more than double your access further down the canyon. Baetis and Midges make up the bulk of the insect activity at the moment and patterns for those are working well. In addition to that, larger searching nymphs and jigged patterns along with Pats, San Juans and streamers remain productive.
Flies
BH PT, Perdigon Nymph, Quill Body Jig in dark olive, Darth Baetis, Magic Fly BWO, Tungsten Psycho May, Parachute Extended Body BWO, CDC Baetis Dun, Slate Gray No Hackle, Winger Parachute, Parachute Purple, Rubberlegs, Psycho Prince, Duracell Jig, Flossy Worm, Sparkle Worm, etc. Sculpzilla, Sex Dungeon, Cheech Leech, Sparkle Minnow etc
Current Water Data
Colorado River Above Kremmling (Parshall)
Conditions
Flows have settled in at typical fall levels, somewhere in the 300 cfs neighborhood. (It’s hard to tell at this time of year as some equipment in the upper elevations begin to have problems with icing.) Action has been strong on a Baetis and Midge patterns nymphed throughout the day, with pockets of rising fish as conditions allow. In addition to that, aggressive browns have been responding well to streamer pattern as they are wrapping up their spawn.
The work that had been ongoing on the Williams Fork should be wrapping up, if not already done. (We haven’t been able to get confirmation from CPW) If that continues there is the slight chance that you may encounter some off color conditions, particularly as you move into the area just below the confluence. What little of that that has occurred has been minor and cleared relatively quickly.
Flies
Pat’s Rubber Legs, Flashback Hare’s Ear, Miller’s Tactical + One, Flossy Worm, CDC Pheasant Tail, Bead Prince, Psycho Prince, Breadcrust, Pheasant Tail #14-18 -beaded and not- Redemption BWO, Darth Baetis, Split Case BWO, Tungsten Micro Mayfly Brown, Tungsten Juju Baetis, Aero Baetis, Root Beer Float, Zebra midge in black, Sparkle Worm, Silver Bullet Minnow, Goldie, Heisenberg White, Mini Peanut Envy white, Sex Dungeon cream, Sculpzilla
Current Water Data
Colorado River Pumphouse to Dotsero
Conditions
Flows are down but, still very solid for early November. At this level you should still be able to run a Dory through most of the sections and a raft through all of them. At the same time, wade fishing at this level is great, as you can cross the river in many places.
The spawn continues to be an issue here, as with many places, and we would like to urge you to avoid spawning fish at all costs. That doesn’t mean don’t fish this stretch, rather don’t target fish in the shallows, whether they are on beds or not. Many times those fish that are “hanging out” below the redds are not just Rainbows looking to eat drifting eggs, a lot of the time there are Browns that were spooked off the redds by people standing over them in order to fish to the fish below the redds. Give em a break and let them finish up the most stressful time of year for them without being harassed. There has been plenty of action in the deeper structure and pools along with fish sipping drifting Baetis and Midges on the flats.
As well, with the colder overnight temperatures, you may want to focus on areas early in the day that get more direct sunlight in order to spur both insect and fish activity. As the day warms and sun reaches it’s high point most of the river should be productive.
Nymphs for the Baetis and Midges have been productive fish in tandem with either a Pat’s or a beaded searching pattern. Once you start seeing emerging bugs, switch up to smaller dries for fish sipping those drifting adults.
Flies
Pat’s Rubber Legs, Psycho Prince, Yeager’s Soft Hackle, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Duracell, Lil Spanker, Millers Tactical Plus 1, Foam Wing RS2, Tungsten Psycho May, Darth Baetis, Zebra midges, Parachute Extended Body BWO, Winger Parachute, GT Adult BWO, Sparkle Flag BWO, Parachute Purple, Hippie Stomper, Sculpzilla, Silver Bullet, Sex Dungeon, Cheech Leech, Crystal Bugger
Current Water Data
Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs
Conditions
With it’s lower elevation and position below some key tributary streams, the lower Colorado offers a great combination of warmer temps and healthy stream flows. Although a better location for floating due to access issues, there are some spots to wade if you put in the effort. Action continues to be decent on a good mix of all three methods, although nymphing will be most consistent throughout the day. Look for fish to rise for Baetis mid day when they are present. Other wise nymph patterns for them along with mid-sized to larger searching nymphs and stones. And the steamer fishing has been decent. We wouldn’t call it lights out but, if you put in the effort, you should pull some fish.
Flies
Pat’s Rubber Legs, Tungteaser, CDC BH Pheasant Tail, Bead Prince, Duracell Jig, Tungsten Pheasant Tail, Bead Hares Ear, Yeager’s BH Soft Hackle J, Zebra Midges, San Juan Worm patterns, Lil Spanker, Tung Psycho May, Big Spanker, Rainbow Warrior, Magic Fly, RS-2, Bead Eggs, Otter Egg, Flossy Worm, Sex Dungeon, Heisenberg Streamers, Sculpzilla, Silver Bullet.
Current Water Data
Arkansas River Above Buena Vista
Conditions
As we mentioned above, things were looking pretty bleak the last week of October when temperatures plunged well below zero and the upper river started to ice up. But thanks to a dramatic rebound in those temps, the river is once again ice free. For how long, we’re not sure. Keep in mind that at the higher elevations the window of opportunity will be shorter than down river. Hayden Meadows might still produce a bit of action but, we would head down to at least the Granite area, where we saw some good fish activity mid-afternoon this week, under sunny skies. As with just about everywhere right now it’s going to be Baetis and Midges, with a mix of small to mid-sized searching nymphs. Look for spots adjacent to deeper pools, along seams where fish can shelter overnight then move into slightly faster currents mid-river once the water warms and insects start to drift/emerge. Low and clear flows will dictate a lighter tipper but, 5x should do the trick in most spots. Have a spool of 6 with you just in case.
Flies
Pat’s Rubber Legs, Miller’s Tactical Plus One, Red Collar Leggy PT, Duracell, Copper John, BH Pheasant Tail, BH Hare’s Ear, Lil Spanker, Hot Wire Prince, Psycho Prince, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J, Iron Sally, Hammerhead Jig, Tungsten Psycho May, Tungsten Micro Mayfly, Beaded Biot Midge, Flossy Worm, Silver Bullet, Sparkle Minnow.
Current Water Data
Arkansas River Salida Area
Conditions
The river in the Salida area is in great shape as solid flows for this time of year (about 370 cfs) are offering enough cover for fish, while still providing easy wade fishing and no pressure. Baetis and Midges remain the bulk of the insect activity, with nymphing being the most consistent throughout the day. However, you can find pockets of rising fish if you keep your eyes open. With the low and clear flows, we still find that fishing a dry-dropper set up can be more effective than a bobber rig. In great part to the presentation being slightly less obnoxious, not to mention that you may actually get a bonus rise to your dry that you wouldn’t on the bobber. Look for fish to be off the banks and into slightly deeper lies where they are less susceptible to predators and can shelter out of the current during the cold overnights. As the day warms up look for them to move up into slightly faster currents to feed on drifting insects below the surface. If you do happen to find some rising fish, use a small attractor as a point fly followed up with your favorite adult Baetis imitation.
Flies
Purple parachutes, Ext Body Parachute BWO, No Hackle Slate Gray, Winger Parachute Pat’s Rubber Legs, Red Collar Leggy PT, Duracell, Copper John, BH Pheasant Tail, Lil Spanker, Psycho Prince, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J, Iron Sally, Hammerhead Jig, Tungsten Psycho May, Tungsten Micro Mayfly, Beaded Biot Midge, Flossy Worm, Silver Bullet, Sparkle Minnow.
Current Water Data
Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs
Conditions
The Fork continues to fish fairly well with a mix of Midge and Baetis patterns, both dry and nymph. Flows are getting down to a point where dories are doing a bit of bumping and grinding but rafts should be fine all year. Keep in mind that the Two Rivers boat ramp in Glenwood Springs is closed for a construction project through April , so if you are floating the lower river make sure to familiarize yourself with alternative take-outs. As with all the freestones at the moment, late morning to mid-afternoon has been best, as the water needs a bit of time early in the day to warm.
Flies
BH Pheasant Tail, BH Prince, Duracell Jig, Chartreuse Copper John, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J,Foam Wing RS-2, Tungsten Psycho May, Darth Baetis, Flashwing RS-2, Split Case BWO, Pat’s RL, San Juan Worm, Pat’s Rubber legs
Current Water Data
Williams Fork River Below Dam
Conditions
Flows remain low as a stream restoration project has been ongoing by CPW. That was supposed to be wrapping up about the first week of November, but we have not gotten any confirmation of that yet.
In the interim, weekends should be free of equipment in the river if you want to check out the progress. It will be interesting to see how the work has affected not only resident fish but also insect populations and stream direction/travel with new features.
Midges and Baetis should be the seasonal hatches but again, we don’t know how the stream work is impacting that. It would also be worth trying patterns that are more typical of stream disturbance, such as Caddis patterns, San Juan Worms and searching patterns.
Flies
Gulper Special, Darth Baetis, Slate No Hackle, Breadcrust, Duracell Jig, Perdigon Nymphs, Poison Tung, 5-0 Midge, Pure Midge Larva, Flashback Pheasant Tail, RS-2, Foam Wing RS-2, Buckskin, Tungsten Psycho Mayfly, Barr’s Emerger, Miller’s Tactical Plus One
Current Water Data
Eagle River
Conditions
There continues to be good action along the Eagle, particularly down lower after the cold October we had. Now that it has warmed back up there should be some increase in action in the Wolcott area, as well. Baetis, Midges and the usual Eagle searching patterns have been most productive. Look for fish to be “Holed Up” early in the day conserving energy during overnight lows. As the day warms up they have been moving up into lighter riffles and currents to feed on drifting insects.
Flies
Duracell Jig, Tungsten Psycho May, RS-2, Juju Baetis, Darth Baetis, Aero Baetis, Perdigon Nymph, Miller’s Tactical Plus one, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Psycho Prince, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Yeager’s Soft Hackle J, Sparkle Worm, Glister Grub, Huevos