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Finally, Winter has arrived here in the high country. With last week’s snow and coder temperatures things are stating to actually feel like December. We are starting to see an increase in ice formation on both still waters, as well as a greater amount of our freestone rivers. We are expecting a continuation of this weather pattern at least for a few more days, which may may bring with it additional snow to lure some folks off the river and onto the slopes. A bonus for those of you that may be headed to the river, less competition.
As the the cold settles in, we expect the prolonged access to some of our high altitude locations that we have been enjoying to diminish. Especially: The Blue north of Silverthorne, The Colorado west of Parshall, as well as below Kremmling, and The Arkansas above Buena Vista to name a few. There are still some freestone options out there: The Arkansas near Salida, The Roaring Fork as well as the lower Colorado. And as is the norm for this time of year, there are plenty of Tailwater options available.
With the Winter Solstice only a day removed, keep in mind that fishing this time of year can be an exercise in patience. Overnight lows and the limited amount of daylight hours will affect the fishing and when you want to focus your efforts. Particularly the freestones, may take some time to “heat up” and when they do, the time window may be short. The “silver lining” to this is that now the days are getting longer and we can anticipate spring and open water.
Don’t hesitate to call us for current conditions, we’ll do our best to try and interpret changing stream flow readings with you. Or follow us on Twitter @coloradoangler, where we try to post changing conditions as we learn about them.
Detailed reports on the right side of this page will give more specific information on a particular stretch of river. Make sure to check those out for your river of interest, as they will be able to answer questions pertaining to hatches and flies.
Please feel free to call us at The Colorado Angler, at any time to discuss any questions and concerns you may have about the current conditions. There is a lot of information here on this page as well as on our main page at www.TheColoradoAngler.com but, space is limited and we may not have answered all of your questions. We want to make sure you get the information you are looking for. Toll Free 855-CO TROUT (268-7688) or stop by and see us in the Summit Place shopping center in Silverthorne, next to Blue Moon Bakery, Exit 205 on I-70, then south 1 block. Spring Hours: Monday – Saturday 8 am – 6 pm, Sunday 8 am – 5 pm
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Blue River Below Dillon Reservoir
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| Flow: 53 cfs. |
Conditions: Town continues to provide some of the more consistent action throughout the Blue River valley. With steady flows and water temperatures comes reliable food sources for hungry fish. Action has returned to a more seasonable level as we move into the heart of Winter but, results are still positive. Expect to have to put in a little more effort for fish with the shorter days and narrower food supply. The most productive method throughout the day is nymphing with a mix of Midge and Baetis patterns and throwing in a few Shrimp and egg patterns for good measure. With the low flow we find that the Mysis imitations constitute a smaller percentage of the daily diet than those patterns representing aquatic insects. Certainly fish with your favorite Mysis pattern while working the water in town, just don’t be too focused on forcing that to work when Trout are steadily chowing on drifting Midges. Once the flow climbs back above 100 cfs, then there is a more even distribution of feeding on Shrimp and insects. Town Flies: RS-2 #22-24, STD Baetis #20, Black or Chocolate UV Emerger #22-24, Kingery’s Cap’n Hook #20-22, Pure Midge Larva #20-24, Black Beauty #20-24, Split case BWO #20, Winter Baetis #20-22, Desert Storm #20-24, Rainbow Warrior #20, BTS Mysis #16-20, Stalcup’s Mysis #16-18, #22 BWO Adult, Adult Midge Dark, Brook’s Sprout Midge #22-24, Parachute Adams #24-26 .
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Blue River Below Green Mountain
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| Flow: 197 cfs. |
Conditions: Winter flow levels have settled in over the past couple of weeks now. This stretch remains a solid option for wade anglers looking to keep their season going. Make sure to exercise caution when making you way down to the river. The hill is very steep and now with snow on it footing can be treacherous. Once you make it to the river, access is very comfortable for steady waders and consistent flows mean stable fish. Still seeing good amounts of Baetis on some days and building Midge activity that will continue over the winter months. Most action will be on subsurface patterns but, for the opportunistic dry fly fan, there are chances for intermittent surface feeding. As always down here, don’t overlook the larger nymphs in the system, as we find fish throughout the year will still capitalize on a hearty offering when presented well. Try running a double nymph rig with a larger bead head for the Green Drakes or Stoneflies that are well established in the Canyon, followed up with either a Baetis or Midge pattern for a more timely offering. Flies: Big bead heads: Hare’s Ear, Tungteaser, Pheasant Tail, Stubby Stone, Twenty Incher, Rubberlegs, Psycho prince. Smaller Hatches: Juju Baetis (Standard and Purple), Barr’s Emerger BWO, Redemption BWO, Split Case BWO, Tung Psycho May BWO, Baetis Big Bear, Zebra Midge, Rojo Midge, Pure Midge Larva, Jujubee, Biot Midge, UV Emerger Floaters should note: Floating is done for the season, river levels are much too low. The river volume on this stretch of water can change on an infrequent schedule and often. It is important to know the flow before you launch and make an honest assessment of your ability and watercraft capability. Please respect private property rights along the river.
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Colorado River Above Kremmling
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| Flow: 140+/- cfs. |
Conditions: Fishing remains good around Parshall area. Flow above Williams Fork has dropped to about 100 cfs, while below there has slightly more volume. Although this is always a popular area, crowds should thin as the days shorten. This stretch is never a bad option as it always holds potential for great fishing, especially when the Midges pop in the winter. Flies: Sparkle wing RS2, big bear baetis, two bit hooker, black pheasant tail, mercury black beauty, biot midge. Sparkle Dun BWO, winger parachute BWO, Adams.
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Colorado River Pumphouse to Dotsero
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| Flow: 260-450 cfs. |
Conditions: Water levels have dropped to winter flows and should settle in at or slightly below this level for the duration of the season. With the sub-zero temperatures linking together for a few days, this stretch is going to be hit hard. While there may be a few spots of open water scattered along the river, as well as the farther down the corridor from State Bridge you get, most of the river here will be done for some time. There may be some open water that gets a good amount of sunshine and feel free to give it a shot if you are in the neighborhood but, by no means would we recommend a destination trip to this stretch of the Colorado. Flies: Large stones, Tungteaser, Rubberleg, Sexstones, Beaded Pheasant Tails, Beaded Hares Ears, RS2’s, Split Case BWO, Barr’s Emerger, Juju Baetis, Blue Ribbon Emerger. Gulper Special, BWO Sparkle Wulff, Winger Parachute, CDC Baetis Dun
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Colorado Below Glenwood Springs
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| Flow 1180 cfs. |
Conditions: A good option for the early winter as the lower altitude and warmer climate is a couple of weeks behind the river in the upper basin. Look for a variety of nymph patterns under indicators to be producing good results as well as some remaining streamer fishing for fall Browns. Conditions and action will start to become day to day for the shortest days of the year now. A cold snap can bring flow ice to the river, especially early in the day and may shut things down for a couple of days but, with a just a couple of sunny days of above freezing temperatures and this stretch can provide some fairly decent winter fishing. As is the case with most freestone fisheries in the state this time of year, action is best mid day to late afternoon. Flies: Autumn Splendor, White Zonker, Slump-buster, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Tungteaser, Bead Prince, Twenty Incher, Hunchback Green Drake nymph, Tungsten Pheasant Tail, Bead Prince, Bead Hares Ear, Zebra Midge, Rojo Midge, Poison Tung, Juju Baetis, STD Baetis, Various Egg imitations.
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Arkansas River Above Buena Vista
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| Flow: 78 cfs. @ Granite |
Conditions: With overnight lows in the single digits to sub-zero, the upper river is for the most part, done for the season. Maybe as you get down towards BV, some action is being had mid day as temperatures warm, both air and water. Look for fish to be holding in the tail-outs of pools and runs, moving up towards the head as things warm mid afternoon. Still a few Baetis around but, the majority of activity will be to Midge imitations. Tandem nymph rigs utilizing a Beaded searching pattern such as a Pheasant Tail or Hot Wire Prince, followed up with either a Baetis or Midge trailer will be your best producers. Flies: Beaded Hares Ear, Hot Wire Prince, Beaded Pheasant Tail, Copper John, RS-2, Zebra Midge, Poison Tung, Jujubee, Juju Baetis, Barr’s BWO Emerger, Winter Baetis, Rojo Midge,WD40
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Arkansas River Below Buena Vista
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| Flow: 175+/- cfs. |
Conditions: As you drop lower along the Arkansas river, action does improve with the warmer temps, especially in the Salida and below stretches. Still a few more Baetis in the river along with good amounts of Midge activity. Action has been best on a variety of Beaded searching and stonefly nymphs combined with some Baetis and Midge trailers. As well, streamer buffs are still reporting enough interest from fall browns to give it a go stripping your favorite bugger or other streamer pattern while prospecting along the river. Flows are low and clear, which can make fish very wary, particularly under mid-day sun. Try to move slow and keep wading to a minimum when possible. Flies: Bead Head Pheasant Tail # 14-16, Tungstone Golden #12-16, Tungsten Yellow Sally, Iron Sally, Chartreuse Copper John #12-16, Chartreuse Hot Wire Caddis, Hot Wire Prince, Parachute Extended Body BWO, Juju Baetis, Split Case BWO, Zebra Midge, Garcia’s Rojo Midge, RS-2 and Poison Tung
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Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs
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| Flow: 343 cfs. |
Conditions: Another spot where action and conditions will be day to day depending on current weather. Wade fishing along the Fork continues to offer good opportunities up and down the valley. And floating is still possible in rafts. Action has been solid with nymph rigs throughout the day with a mix of imitations for those Blue Wing and Midge hatches. Keep an eye out for fish to be rising during times when adult insects are present. For the streamer junkies, now is a great time of year to work the river with the lower flows exposing some normally deeper lies and aggressive fish still whacking the well retrieved imitation. With the lower elevation in the Glenwood area up towards Carbondale, day time temps have been down right warm and offer a great late season destination. Flies: Twenty Incher, Tungteaser, Stubby stones, Beaded Pheasant Tail, Tungsten Juju Baetis, Psycho Mayfly, STD’s, Barr’s Emerger, BWO dries, Zebra Midge, UV Emerger,Rainbow Warrrior
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South Platte River, Middle Fork
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| Flow: 15+/- cfs. |
Conditions: That’s a wrap, at least for this part of the river. Cold air and wind will work in tandem to lock up the river and freeze out the anglers. Flies: (When it starts to de-ice in the spring) Chartreuse Copper John, Rainbow Warrior, Egg Patterns, Hot Wire Prince, Beaded Flash Prince
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South Platte, Dream Stream
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| Flow 87 cfs. |
Conditions: Reports of ice on the very tail end of this “Tailwater”. The culvert hole at the gauging station is open and everything up stream from there but, if you head down towards Eleven Mile from the county road, it will start to ice over. Consistent flow and easy wading has anglers liking the conditions on this famed piece of water. The prospect of large lake fish still hanging in the river post-spawn only heightens the excitement for the trophy seeking fishermen. Use stealth and delicate presentation to increase your odds at fighting one of these brutes. Please take care to not wade through spawning beds or disturb fish which may still be spawning. Flies: Black RS-2, Barr’s Drowned Trico, Black Copper John #22, Juju Baetis, Zebra Midge Black/Silver, Buckskin Caddis, Mercer’s Poxyback PMD, Poxybiot Nymph, Egg Patterns, Pure Midge Larva, Cap’n Hook
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Williams Fork River Below Dam
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| Flow 45 cfs. |
Conditions: Flow is getting down to minimal levels as winter sets in and water allocations from the reservoir are depleted. Sufficient holding water will be reduced in many stretches and anglers intent on fishing this tailwater will need to focus on the few remaining spots with enough depth to cover trout. Keep an eye on flows here and maybe think about another destination once it gets below 25-30 cfs. As is typical of this popular fishery, fall crowds were pretty big at times but, that should be easing now with the days getting shorter. If you do go, keep in mind that this piece of water sits in the infamous Grand County Inversion. With that comes some pretty extreme temperatures, often times the day time temp might not get out of the single digits during January. make sure to plan accordingly. Flies: Pure Midge Larva, Rainbow Warrior, Rojo Midge, Biot mayfly Emerger, #20-22 Green Copper John, Zebra Midge, RS2’s, 5-0 Midge, UV Emerger, BWO dries.
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Antero Reservoir
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Conditions: Ice is on, albeit inconsistent with the recent mild temperatures and wind. This should stabilize over the next week or so with the weather forecast we are seeing. If you are into fishing the “Hard Water”, this is a pretty good option. Give us a call if that is your thing and we may have a current report as a couple of the boys here find it therapeutic to sit over a hole in the ice in the dead of winter. Flies: Yankee Buzzer, Jumbo Juju, Tak’s Chironomid, Garcia’s Rojo Grande Midge, Rapunzel Damsel, Poxyback Calibaetis Nymph, Hare’s Ear, Copper John
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Spinney Mountain Reservoir
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Conditions: Also getting to be late in the year for this popular impoundment. The ramps are closed, but anglers are still able to hand launch until ice on.Flies: Garcia’s Rojo Grande, Jumbo Juju, Skinny Nelson, Zebra Midge, Hare’s Ear, CDC Calibaetis Nymph, Rapunzel Damsel Nymph, Hale Bopp Leech, Ruby Eye Leech, CDC Pheasant Tail, Copper Johns in various colors.
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Delaney Buttes Lakes
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Conditions:Things here are pretty much finishing up for the season as well. Ice is on. Flies: Egg Patterns, Bead Pheasant Tail, Bead Hare’s Ear, Copper John, Jumbo Juju, Zebra Midge
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