General Comments
While we're still dealing with occasional snow and cold temperatures, take heart; the days are getting longer and we'll soon be heading into spring. The local rivers are mostly frozen, but the Big T and North St Vrain offer good fishing opportunities below their respective dams. Now is the time to be thinking about winter tailwaters, with smaller tippets (6x-7x) and fluorocarbon. Most tailwaters still have hatches of midges and a BWO or two, so you may still see some dry fly action- in fact, you can catch fish on dries in the dead of winter when midges are hatching, and they hatch most days, especially those nice crisp but sunny winter days. There's no need to be on the river first thing in the morning: most days fish best from about 10:00 to 3:00. Generally speaking, you should fish a midge larva/pupa behind a beadhead nymph near the bottom of the deeper holes. Some of the best tailwaters around the state are the Taylor below Taylor Park Reservoir, the Frying Pan below Reudi Reservoir, the Blue below Dillon Dam, the Yampa below Stagecoach Reservoir and locally, the Big T below Olympus Dam in Estes Park. 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.
Current streamflow conditions are available for these and other streams at the
Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
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| River and Conditions | Hatches/Activity | What's Working | Go To Flies |
| Big Thompson | |||
| 20 cfs below Lake Estes. Canyon is mostly frozen. | Midges, a few BWOs, stonefly nymphs. | Nymphing is the best bet. Double nymph rigs productive (eg, Flashy, PT or CJ trailing a Zebra Midge, Deep Blue Poison Tung, Barr Emerger or pink SJW). Dries/emergers to match the hatch of the moment, dry/dropper and hopper/dropper setups if fish are rising, hoppers and other terrestrials. | Dries: Para Adams (#16-26), any good PMD or BWO or PMD or BWO emerger pattern, Barr Emerger, hoppers, ants, beetles, Elk Hair Caddis. Nymphs: Purple or pink SJW, Prince Nymphs, Hot Wire Prince and other stonefly nymphs, Deep Blue Poison Tung, Ray Charles, red, black or olive midge larvae, PT, CJ, Hare's Ear, Tarheel Caddis Larva, Mike's Improved Bling Midge. |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | |||
| RMNP streams are frozen. | Nymph rigs if you can find open water. | Same as the the Big T above. | |
| St Vrain | |||
| 35 cfs at Lyons. The river is fishable on the full length of the Buttonrock stretch. | Midges, stonefly nymphs | Match the hatch when fish are rising. Attractor dries including hoppers, beetles and ants working well. Beadhead prince nymph trailing a SJW always a good bet. | Same as the the Big T above. |
| Cache La Poudre | |||
| N/A cfs at canyon mouth. Best fishing is on the lower river. | Midges. | Nymphing still the best bet. Double nymph rigs productive (eg, Flashy, PT or CJ trailing a Zebra Midge, Deep Blue Poison Tung, Barr Emerger or pink SJW). Dries/emergers to match the hatch of the moment, dry/dropper and hopper/dropper setups if fish are rising, hoppers and other terrestrials. | Dries: Hoppers, PMX, BWO, PMD, Para Adams, Elk Hair Caddis. Nymphs: Tak's Go2 Prince, PT, Jujubaetis, midge larvae/pupae patterns, Ray Charles, Poison Tung, large stone flies such as 20 inchers, Prince Nymph, Golden Stones. Pink or red SJW, Hot Wire Prince, Tarheel Caddis Larva, Mike's Improved Bling Midge. Streamers: Buggers in black, olive or orange, leech patterns. |
| Blue River | |||
| 53 cfs below Dillon Res. Should remain around this level for the winter. | Midges. Some BWOs. Mysis below Dillon Dam/Res. | The usual tailwater nymphs and midges. Mysis patterns below the dam. North of town, fish BWO nymphs trailing a San Juan Worm or midge larva- dries during hatches. | Dries: Adams/Parachute Adams #20-26, Griffiths Gnat, BWOs #20-22 Nymphs: Barr's Pure Midge, black or gray RS2, Miracle, JuJuBee, Black Beauty, red midge patterns, Mercury Midge, PT, CJ. Hare's Ear, etc. |
| 200 cfs below Green Mtn Res. | No reports | Double nymph rigs. | Dries: BWO, attractors and terrwestrials Nymphs: Stoneflies, Prince, Barr Emerger BWO. Streamers: Girdle Bug, Woolly Buggers |
| Eagle River | |||
| 195 cfs at Gypsum. | Midges, eggs, stonefly nymphs. | Nymphing is the best producer. Attractor nymphs trailed by an RS2, midge or mayfly nymph are good combos. Midge and BWO dries will produce during hatches. | Dries: Parachute Adams, RS-2. Midge dries like a Griffith's Gnat, BWO, Barr Emerger. Nymphs: Eggs,PT, Micromay, Prince, CJ, etc. Tarheel Caddis Larva. Streamers: Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, etc. |
| Fryingpan | |||
| 91 cfs below Reudi Reservoir. Fishing well. | Midges, eggs, a few BWOs on warmer days. Mysis below the dam. | Nymphing morning and late afternoons, dries/emergers during midday to afternoon hatches. Good BWO hatches morning and afternoon. Still some good Green Drake hatches. | Dries: #20-24 BWO Sparkle Duns and Comparaduns, #22-26 Para Adams, Barr Emerger, Jujubaetis, RS-2, midge dries down to size 30 or 32. Nymphs: PT, Midge pupae and larvae, eggs, Rainbow Warrior, Zebra/Black Beauty midges (black or red), Brassies, Eggs, Mysis, pink San Juan Worm, Tabou Caddis Emerger. Streamers: Use smaller sizes: Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, etc. |
| Roaring Fork | |||
| Basalt to Carbondale: N/A cfs above FP confluence near Basalt. Open and fishable in the Basalt area. |
Stonefly nymphs, Midges, eggs, BWOs, caddis. | Trail a midge larva or BWO nymph behind a big stone nymph. Otherwise, double nymph rigs or driy/emerger combos (during hatches with surface feeding activity) are the order of the day. | Dries: Same as the Pan. Nymphs: stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs, PT. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Black Bugger, Northern Lights, White Clouser. |
| Carbondale to Glenwood Springs N/A cfs at Glenwood Springs. | Stonefly nymphs, Midges, eggs, BWOs. | Same as above. | Same as above. |
| Colorado | |||
| Parshall: N/A cfs Pumphouse: N/A cfs |
Midges, stonefly nymphs, eggs. | Streamers are a good bet during these higher, off color water periods. Double nymph rigs with a standard beadhead nymph trailing a BWO emerger such as a Barr Emerger or RS-2. a midge pattern or red SJW. Try a smalll Adams or BWO during hatches. | Dries: Para Adams, Griffith's Gnat, PMD, BWO, hoppers, ants. Nymphs: Midge larvae/pupae, PT, Prince, RS-2, PT, CJ. 20 Incher, Halfback. Streamers: Buggers, Slumpbuster, Double Bunny, Bunny Leech, Girdle Bugs. |
| Yampa | |||
| 42 cfs below Stagecoach. Road closed Jan 1-March 31, but open for walk-in or snowmobiles. Flows this low make for tough fishing. N/A cfs at Steamboat Spgs. |
Stagecoach: Midges, scuds, worms. Steamboat area: Midges |
Nymphing deeper runs and holes. Dries may work during hatches, which are usually pretty sporadic. | Dries: Midge dries, Griffiths Gnat, RS-2. Nymphs: Tabou Caddis Emerger, Rainbow Warrior, midge larvae/pupae in black or red, typical tailwater nymphs, scuds in olive, rust orange, cream or tan, red or pink SJWs, Hare's Ear and Chamois Leeches, Miracle Nymph. |
| Arkansas | |||
| Leadville to Buena Vista: 326 cfs at Granite. Ice is building on the edges, and slush can be found most mornings except for the stretch below Pueblo Res. | Midges, stonefly nymphs | Same as BV-Salida below. | Same as BV-Salida below. |
| Buena Vista to Salida: 466 cfs at Salida. Ice is building on the edges, and slush can be found most mornings except for the stretch below Pueblo Res. | Midges, stonefly nymphs | Focus on nymphing the deeper holes and runs. A stomefly nymph followed by a midge larva/pupa is the best set up. | Dries: Para Adams (22-26), RS-2, Griffith's Gnat, any good BWO (#18-20) and/or BWO emerger pattern, hoppers, Stimulator, PMX. Nymphs: Prince, 20 Incher, midge larvae and pupae, BH PT, Hare's Ear, chartreuse caddis larva, golden stones, CJ- black, red, chartreuse. Streamers: Autumn Splendor, buggers. |
| Salida to Canon City: 544 cfs at Canon City. Ice is building on the edges, and slush can be found most mornings except for the stretch below Pueblo Res. | Midges, stonefly nymphs | Same as BV to Salida section. | Same as BV to Salida section. |
| Below Pueblo Res: 66 cfs. Fishing pretty well, but conditions are more typical of winter tailwater conditions. |
Midges. | Double nymph rigs with a beadhead/attractor nymph (esp a big stonefly) trailing a midge larva pattern or SJW. Hopper/dropper rigs. | Dries: Parachute Adams, RS-2, PMX, Hoppers. Nymphs: Prince, Copper John, Icebreaker, Pheasant Tail, Brassie, eggs, San Juan Worm (orange, pink or red), typical tailwater midge patterns. Streamers: brown buggers or Autumn Splendor. |
| South Platte | |||
| 121 cfs at Deckers. Fishing fair. | Midges, BWOs. | Midge behind a beadhead nymph. | Dries: Griffiths Gnat and other midge dries, BWO dries, Para Adams- all very small- #20 and smaller, RS-2, WD-40, Barr Emergers, Elk Hair Caddis, Tricos (spinners and sunken). Nymphs: Very small PTs, Hare's Ears, Mercury Midge, Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, eggs, Top Secret Midge. Medallion Midge. |
| 126 cfs below Cheesman. Fishing fair. | Midges, a few Tricos, BWOs. | Midge behind a beadhead nymph. | Dries: Griffiths Gnat and other midges, Para Adams- all very small- #20 and smaller, RS-2, WD-40, Barr Emergers, Tricos (spinners and sunken). Nymphs: Very small PTs, Mercury Midge, Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, brown body midge larva, midge pupa patterns,Top Secret Midge. Medallion Midge. |
| Elevenmile Canyon: 123 cfs. Fishing pretty well. | Midges, BWOs. | Copper John, SJW, RS-2, Rainbow Warrior, JUjubee, Jujubaetis fished deep. Dries to match the hatch of the moment. | Dries: Griffiths Gnat and other midges, Para Adams- all very small- #20 and smaller, RS-2, WD-40, Barr Emergers. Nymphs: Very small PTs, Mercury Midge, Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, SJW, Top Secret Midge. Medallion Midge. |
| Charlie Meyers State Wildlife Area (Dream Stream) 122 cfs. | Midges. | Double nymph rigs, dry or dry/dropper | Dries: RS-2, WD-40, Para Adams, midges, Griffith's Gnat. Nymphs: Red, pink or brown SJW, Chamois Leech, Rojo Midge, Mercury Black Beauty, Brassie, Red PT, Rainbow Warrior, Flashback PT, midge larvae/pupae patterns, Pure Midge, olive scuds or egg patterns, Top Secret Midge. Medallion Midge. Streamers: Streamers are effective for bigger browns moving up from 11 Mile. Try Autumn Splendors, Woolly Buggers (olive, black, brown), Girdle Bugs in mottled colors. |
| North Platte | |||
| Grey Reef: 500 cfs. | Midges, cranefly larva. orange scuds, black Zebra Midge. We've had some reports of big fish being caught, and fishing is good. | Nymphing almost exclusively | Nymphs: Scuds, Red SJW, Chamois Leech, Hot Wire Prince, Cranefly Larvae. Midges: PAL, Bionic Black/Silver, Bionic Brown, Split Back Trico, Split Foam Back Baetis Red Rock Worm. Other: Vanilla Buggers, Primrose and Black, Blue Poison Tung, Gray RS2, Eggs |