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Overall Report
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Updated: 07/25/08
We are happy to report good fishing almost everywhere. The Roaring Fork's on fire, the Ark's great, we've got drakes on the Blue.... It's hard to go wrong right now!
The Roaring Fork is now officially on!!! If you have already experienced it, we know you want to do it again, so call soon to book your favorite guide. Space is limited!
Water We Guide On
Through town, caddis dries and nymphs have been taking some fish, but the real story is what's going on between town and Green Mountain. Green Drakes, Caddis, PMDs, and Yellow Sallies are all hatching right now and the dry fly fishing has been excellent! Make sure to fish double dries to cover your bases.
The fishing through Silverthorne has remained consistent. San Juan worms and Mysis shrimp have been the main stay, but people are reporting catching fish on a few larger patterns as well (PMD, Drake, and Caddis stuff). Be sure to keep the midges handy though as with the warmer water temps there have been HUGE midge hatches. The caddis are generally coming off later in the day through Silverthorne, and running a double dry set up with a Green Drake down to a caddis may not be a bad idea on a slow, cloudy afternoon...
Recommended Flies through Silverthorne: Sands Epoxy Mysis, Randy's Mysis, Solitude Mysis, Miracles, JuJuBees, WD-40's, Johnny Flashes, RS-2's, Randy's Baetis, Miracles, UV Emergers, Black Beauties, Cheeseman Emergers, Hatchinig Midges, Desert Storms, Disco Midges, Crown Jewel, Tung Studs, CDC Prince, Flash Prince, Pink San Juan worms, Foam Body Caddis, Peacock caddis, Goddard Caddis, Yellow and Orange Stimis, Rainy's Foam Body Ant
Recommended Flies between Silverthorne and Green Mountain: Pearl and Elk Caddis, Rainys Caddis, Wilcox Special, Crystal Stimmulators, Hairwing Green Drakes, Colorado Green Drakes, Para Extended Body Green Drakes, Silhouette Dun PMDs, Sparkle Dun PMDs, Brooks Sprout PMDs.
We are still getting reports of lots of caddis below Green Mountain, but still no word on the Green Drakes below the dam.
Recommended Flies: Tung Teasers, 20 inchers, Barr's stonefly, Wire stone, hotwire caddis, graphic caddis, buckskin caddis, San Juan worms, swing caddis, hot butt caddis, Tungsten Hare's Ear Olive, North Fork Special, Mighty Mite, PT Cruzers, Wilcox Caddis, Rip Cord Caddis, Tungsten Z wing Caddis, Hot wing caddis
A NOTE ABOUT FLOATING JURASSIC PARK: We have been fielding quite a few calls about floating Jurassic Park. We are strong advocates of boaters rights and want you all to have a good time down there. We are also happy to provide FISHING information, flies and other tackle for this area. We do not however, float this section of river commercially nor do we run shuttles for private floaters; therefore, we do not feel comfortable providing information about boating it. The only boating advice we do feel comfortable giving is that there are several obstacles in the river that require strong oarsmanship, and that safe flows vary from boater to boater.
The upper Colorado is PMD central right now! PMDs are hatching everywhere starting around 10:30. Dry fly fishing gets really good around 1:30 or 2 with a little cloud cover. Also, every stick or piece of grass you pull up from the river is completely covered in caddis casings. We are starting to see a few caddis adults as well, but not nearly in the numbers as the PMDs. Yellow Sallys are also coming off. I had a guide trip up there yesterday and was throwing a Yellow Sally dry to a PMD dry and we couldn't keep the fish off our flies! The fishing should continue to get better as the flows decrease.
Recommended Flies: Bitch Creek Rubberlegs, 20 inchers, Tung teasers, San Juan Worms, Miltary mayfly, hunchback PMD, Silhouette dun, Gidgits, Big Bear Beatis, JuJu Beatis, Hotwire prince, Tyler's Fakey Nymph, Sparkle Dun, Brooks Sprout PMD, PMD pullovers, Snowshoe Dun, Graphic Caddis, Yuba Pupae, Rip Cord Caddis, Tung Stud, Hotwire Caddis, Barr's Stonefly nymph, Poxy Back Yellow Sally nymph, Hot Butt Yellow Sally, Clark's Yellow Sally
Hopper/Dropper season has finally arrived on the Upper Colorado. Yellow Sallys, PMDs, and Caddis are still coming off in droves, but the big foam bugs have been working pretty well too. We have fielded a lot of questions about water clarity from Pumphouse down to State Bridge, and the truth of the matter is that it is fishable all the way down to Dotsero with plenty of visability. GO FLOAT!!!
Recommended Flies: Bitch Creek Rubberlegs, 20 inchers, Tung teasers, San Juan Worms, Miltary mayfly, hunchback PMD, Silhouette dun, Gidgits, Big Bear Beatis, JuJu Beatis, Hotwire prince, Tyler's Fakey Nymph, Sparkle Dun, Brooks Sprout PMD, PMD pullovers, Snowshoe Dun, Graphic Caddis, Yuba Pupae, Rip Cord Caddis, Hopicators, Dave's Hoppers, B/C Hopper, Charlie's Hopper
The flows south of Leadville have finally dropped to a fishable level--barely. Fish have been holding in any soft water pocket and are on the feed, looking for any caddis-like fly they can find. Just be careful wading because that water is still cooking through those channels pretty good.
Recommended Flies: Rainy's Foam Body Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Peacock caddis, Pearl and Elk caddis, Hi-Vis Caddis, Barrs Web-Wing Caddis, Stimis, Renegades, Hot wire princes, tung studs, chartreuse copper johns, Graphic Caddis, Hotwire caddis, Super Pupae, Morris May, Squirrel Nymphs, Green Hornets
Fishing has been excellent in the Salida area with dries and dry/dropper combos. Float trips have been particularly productive- Don't forget your dry shake!
Try Designated Hitter Golden Stones, Melon Quills, Caddis Dries, Tung Stones, Tung Teasers, Tungsten Flash Bugs, And Red Legs Hoppers.
"Go West Young Man." This may not be the right time period, but the same theory still applies...GO FLOAT THE ROARING FORK!!! The post-runoff flows have dropped to a fishable level and the fish are on the feed. Green Drakes are hatching right before dark, but there is good hopper/dropper action throughout the entire day. Sallys, Caddis, and PMDs also are getting good action.
Recommended Flies: 20 inchers, Tung teasers, San Juan Worms, Miltary mayfly, hunchback PMD, Silhouette dun, Gidgits, Big Bear Beatis, JuJu Beatis, Hotwire prince, Tyler's Fakey Nymph, Sparkle Dun, Brooks Sprout PMD, PMD pullovers, Snowshoe Dun, Graphic Caddis, Yuba Pupae, Rip Cord Caddis, Hopicators, Dave's Hoppers, B/C Hopper, Q's sparkle Green Drake, Neely's Green Drake, Colorado Green Drake, Crown Jewel, BH Green Drake nymph, Parachute Green Drake
Hard to get a read on the Dream Stream right now. The flows out of Spinney have been changing regularly. From what I gather, when flows are stable for a few days fishing is good...
Recommended flies: Miracle Midges, Rojo MIdges, Black Beauties, Johnny Flash, RS2's, Rainy's Micro scud Olive, small pheasant tails, scuds, eggs, worms... be sure to bring the whole fly box as the flows have been fluctuating enough that its hard to predict what will be working.
Muddy Creek could become fishable if the flows continue to drop. Hopper/dropper set ups usually work quite well in the summer.
Lots of good reports from Spinney. Calibaetis have been hatching, with the Damsels also coming off. Some small pike have been caught as well.
Choice Hare’s Ear, Squirrel Nymph, Rojo Midge, Tung Teaser, Tungsten Prince, Olive Scuds, any calibaetis nymph, Twenty Inchers, Psycho Princes, Chironicones, Calibaetis spinners, Calibaetis Dun, Calibaetis cripples, Blue Damsels, Damsel nymphs.
The Willy's Fork has finally dropped to a fishable level for the first time since before runoff. BWOs, Caddis, and PMDs should all be working well in the near future.
Recommended Flies: San Juan Worms, Miltary mayfly, hunchback PMD, Silhouette dun, Gidgits, Big Bear Beatis, JuJu Beatis, Hotwire prince, Tyler's Fakey Nymph, Sparkle Dun, Brooks Sprout PMD, PMD pullovers, Snowshoe Dun, Graphic Caddis, Yuba Pupae, Rip Cord Caddis, Tung Stud, Hotwire Caddis,
This creek is always flowing cold and foamy. Try using limes and salt if needed. Longnecks are the preferred choice, but almost any variety will catch a buzz.
Other Local Water
Becuase we do not guide on the following rivers, we cannot give the same detailed information that you find for the Water We Guide On. However, the streamflows are continuously updated, and we've done our best to give you a general idea of what to expect on these waters for this time of year.
I have heard tons of good reports from Delaney Buttes Lakes lately. Suspend your nymphs and be ready for some serious action.
Wolly Buggers, Conehead Streamers, Guides Choice Hare’s Ear, Squirrel Nymph, Tung Teaser, Tungsten Prince, Twenty Incher Olive Scuds, Psycho Princes, and Chironicones.
Reports of TONS of Caddis. Not sure about anything other than that. It should be fishing well soon.
Gore Creek has finally dropped to a fishable flow. We haven't gotten any reports on it yet, but it should be fishing very good. Caddis should start soon.
Ten Mile can be a good fishery, but it is more of a summer fishery than a winter/spring fishery. If you can find some soft water through Ten Mile canyon, there could be fish holding, but your best bet will be up by Copper Mountain for river fishing during runoff. Head to the inlet into Dillon right now for your best bet.
Recommended Flies: SJ worms, Otter egg patterns, Tung Stud, Tyler's Fakey Nymph, Hotwire princes, Black Beauties, UV midges, RS2s, Olive and Red Zebra Migdes, Sprouts Emerger
Clear Creek Below Georgetown lake is clear enough to fish. It will get some discoloration as it flows through Clear Creek Canyon and into Golden, but the flows are beginning to drop. Fish will still be in the softer water, but as things slow down and warm up the fishing on Clear Creek should really pick up.
Anglers have been having good success nymphing from Keystone down to Lake Dillon.
Recommended Flies: SJ worms, egg patterns, pheasant tails, hare's ears, zebra midges, Disco midges, Rojo Midges
The Pan is a great option right now. The clarity will remain good even as the flow increases. Look for lots of action along the banks and in soft water areas. There should be some fairly consistent midge hatches as well, so keep an eye out for those.
Recommended Flies: SJ worms, egg patterns, mysis shrimp, disco midges, UV emergers, Rs2's, Brook Sprout's
View Archived Fishing Reports
Disclaimer: Fishing reports are only as good as yesterday's information. Please
understand that while we strive to provide you with the most accurate information
available we can only relay yesterday's news. We also can't control the weather,
which plays a major role in hatches and trout activity. So, if we report a great
hatch, and you arrive at the river the next day to find no bugs we're terribly
sorry but that's why its called fishing - Enjoy the ride!
