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General Comments
Fall means great dry fly fishing just about everywhere, and streamers on bigger rivers. Primary hatches are Blue Wing Olives, Caddis, Midges, and some leftover PMDs, Red Quills and Tricos. Make sure your fly boxes are well stocked representative patterns. Dry dropper rigs are effective.
A note on bugs, hatches and fly selection:
While certain insects are actively hatching at certain times as we note below, the larval forms of all insects are always available in the stream. There may be several age classes of stoneflies, for example, at any given time; there are usually several types of caddis in most streams that hatch at different times, and trout will eat them any time they find them- same with mayflies; midges hatch almost every day, so you'll find a mix of larvae, pupae and adults almost all the time. The point we're making is that you don't always have to use a "match the hatch" approach. If bugs aren't hatching, or if your PMD imitation isn't working in July when the bugs are on the water, try a different pattern that imitates something else that lives in that stream or lake. The bugs are there, and the fish are eating them!
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.
Note: Fly patterns in red are Laughing Grizzly exclusives.
| River and Conditions | Hatches/Activity | Comments | Go To Flies |
| Big Thompson | |||
| 40 cfs below Lake Estes 33 cfs above Lake Estes |
Midges, BWOs, caddis, stonefly and mayfly nymphs in the canyon and tailwater. BWOs, caddis and PMDs are hatching. | Double nymph rigs will be most productive. Use a small matching dry when fish are rising. | Dries: BWO and PMD dries and emergers, Para Adams size 18-24, Griffith's Gnat, gray or black Sprout Midge, size 20-24. Nymphs: Copper John, Pat's Rubber Legs, RSII, Blue Poison Tung and other midge larvae/pupae, Prince, San Juan Worms, Thin Mint, 20 Incher, midge larvae, etc. Streamers: Wooly Buggers, Platte River Special, Leech patterns. |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | |||
| 11 cfs in Moraine Park |
Midges, stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs. Midges, some BWOs, PMDs and caddis are hatching. | Double nymph rigs will be most productive. Use a small matching dry when fish are rising. | Same as the the Big T |
| St Vrain | |||
| 20 cfs in Lyons 31 below Buttonrock Dam |
Midges, BWOs, caddis, stonefly and mayfly nymphs in the canyons and Buttonrock tailwater. | Double nymph rigs will be most productive. Use a small matching dry when fish are rising. | Same as the the Big T |
| Cache La Poudre | |||
| 70 cfs at canyon mouth. Flows are higher further up. | Midges, BWOs and some PMDs are hatching. Midge, caddis, stonefly and mayfly nymphs. | Double nymph rigs will be most productive. Use a small matching dry when fish are rising. | Same as the the Big T |
| Blue River | |||
| 100 cfs below Dillon Res. | Midges, BWOs, Mysis shrimp. | At these flows, mysis patterns are a good choice below the dam. Otherwise, typical tailwater midges and small mayfly nymph patterns. Streamers can also be effective at times. | Dries: Small dries like a Para Adams, Griffith's Gnat and midges. BWO dries. Nymphs: Barr's Pure Midge, black or gray RS2, Miracle, JuJuBee, Black Beauty, Rainbow Warrior, red midge patterns, Mercury Midge, PT, CJ. Hare's Ear, dark to flashy midge larvae and pupae patterns, Golden Stone nymphs, San Juan Worm, etc. Streamers: Thin Mints, buggers, Pat's Rubber Legs, etc., |
| 190 cfs below Green Mtn Res | Midges, BWO;, stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs | Typical tailwater flies and rigs. Double nymph or dry/dropper rigs. Streamers. | Same as Silverthorne except Mysis. |
| Eagle River | |||
| 78 cfs at Avon 133 cfs at Gypsum. |
Midges, BWOs, PMDs and Yellow Sallies are hatching. Stonefly, midge, caddis and mayfly nymphs are always available | Attractor nymphs trailed by an RS2, midge or BWO nymph/emerger are good combos. | Dries/Emergers: BWOs, Parachute Adams, RS-2, EHC, Barr Emerger. Nymphs: Pat's Rubber Legs, Eggs, PT, Micromay, Prince, CJ, San Juan Worms, etc. Streamers: Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, etc. |
| Fryingpan | |||
| 288 cfs below Reudi Reservoir. | Midges, Caddis, BWOs, and PMDs hatch daily, usually in the early afternoon. Mysis shrimp are often available on the first mile below Reudi Res. | Nymphing morning and late afternoons, dries/emergers during midday to afternoon hatches. | Dries: BWO adults and emergers, midge patterns, Stuck in the Shuck midge emergers, #20-24, #22-26 Para Adams, Barr Emerger, Jujubaetis, RS-2, grey or black midge dries down to size 30 or 32, Elk Hair and other Caddis. Nymphs: Green Drake nymphs, olive Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, PT, Midge pupae and larvae, eggs, Rainbow Warrior, Zebra/Black Beauty midges (black or red), Brassies, Eggs, Mysis, pink San Juan Worm. Streamers: Use smaller sizes: Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, etc. |
| Roaring Fork | |||
| 376 cfs above FP confluence near Basalt ~575 cfs at Carbondale. |
Caddis, Midges, PMD adults and nymphs, golden stoneflies, craneflies; stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs | Double/triple nymph rigs. | Dries: BWO and midge dries: Griffith's Gnat, Sprout midge Nymphs: stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs, Pat's Rubber Legs, PT, eggs, SJW. Streamers: Black Bugger, Northern Lights, White Clouser, Pat's Rubber Legs. |
| Carbondale to Glenwood Springs: 579 cfs at Glenwood Springs. | Caddis, Midges, BWO adults and nymphs, golden stoneflies, craneflies; stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs | Same as above. | Same as above |
| Colorado | |||
| Pumphouse: 668 cfs Glenwood Spgs: 1590 cfs. |
Stonefly, caddis and mayfly nymphs. Caddis, Golden Stones, Skwala Stones, Yellow Sallies, Red Quills, PMDs and some Tricos are hatching. | Nymphing and streamers. Focus on quiet water and along the banks. | Dries: BWO adults and emergers, midge patterns, Stuck in the Shuck midge emergers, #20-24, #22-26 Para Adams, Barr Emerger, Jujubaetis, RS-2, grey or black midge dries down to size 30 or 32, Elk Hair and other Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Chernobyls/Chubbies. Nymphs: Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, PT, Midge pupae and larvae, eggs, Rainbow Warrior, Zebra/Black Beauty midges (black or red), 20 Incher and other stonefly nymphs, Brassies, Eggs, Mysis, pink San Juan Worm, Pat's Rubber lLgs. Streamers: Use smaller sizes: Black or olive Slumpbusters, black or olive Buggers, etc. |
| Yampa | |||
| 26 cfs below Stagecoach Reservoir Stagecoach tailwater is closed 49 cfs in Steamboat Springs Fish mornings only: water temps are approaching 70 degrees in the afternoon. |
Steamboat area: Midges, PMDs; caddis, stonefly and mayfly nymphs. Caddis, Yellow Sallies and PMDs are hatching. | Nymphing deeper runs and holes amd along the banks in town . The usual tailwater rigs and flies for the Stagecoach tailwater. | Dries: BWO dries and emergers, midge dries, Griffiths Gnat, RS-2 and other emergers Nymphs: 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: 127 cfs at Granite SWA. | Midges, Gray Drakes, Caddis, Golden Stones and Yellow Sally hatches. | Nymphing morning and late aternoon; BWO or midge dries during hatches. | Dries: BWOs, Para Adams, Griffith Gnats and Sporut midges Nymphs: Golden stones, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares Ear or Copper John, Zebra Midge, Black Beauty, WD-40 or Top Secret Midge. |
| Buena Vista to Salida: 245 cfs at Salida. |
Midges, Caddis, Golden Stones and Yellow Sally hatches. | Nymphing morning and late aternoon; BWO or midge dries during hatches. BWO hatches have been strong, especially on overcast days. | Dries: BWOs, Para Adams, Griffith Gnats and Sporut midges Nymphs: Golden stones, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares Ear or Copper John, Zebra Midge, Black Beauty, WD-40 or Top Secret Midge. |
| Salida to Canon City: 219 cfs at Canon City. | Midges, Caddis, Golden Stones and Yellow Sally hatches. | Nymphing morning and late aternoon; BWO or midge dries during hatches. BWO hatches have been strong, especially on overcast days. | Dries: BWOs, Para Adams, Griffith Gnats and Sporut midges Nymphs: Golden stones, Pheasant Tail, Prince, Hares Ear or Copper John, Zebra Midge, Black Beauty, WD-40 or Top Secret Midge. |
| Pueblo Tailwater: 56cfs. |
Midges, BWOs | Typical tailwater patterns | Dries: Parachute BWO #20 - 22,, Griffiths Gnat #16 - 20, Nymphs: Mercury Midge #18 - 22, RS II #18 - 22, WD40 #18 - 22, Graphic Cadis #14 - 16, Tabou Caddis # 14 - 16, Hares Ear #8 - 16, San Juan Worm #12 - 16 Streamers: Buggers, Near Nuff Crayfish, Pat's Rubber Legs, Thin Mint |
| South Platte | |||
| 152 cfs at Deckers. | Midges, BWOs, Caddis | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. Flows are much higher than normal. Wading is difficult. | Dries: Griffiths Gnat and other midge dries, BWO dries and emergers, Para Adams- all very small- #20 and smaller, RS-2, WD-40, Barr Emergers. Elk Hair and other Caddis patterns. Nymphs: Very small PTs, Hare's Ears, Micro May, Mercury Midge, Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, eggs, Top Secret Midge. Medallion Midge, San Juan Worm (red, wine, pink, brown), Two-bit Hooker, Orange or tan scuds, Graphic Caddis, Barr's Cranefly Larva. |
| 151 cfs below Cheesman Res. | Midges, BWOs, Caddis | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. Flows are much higher than normal. Wading is difficult. | Pretty much the same as Deckers. |
| 95 cfs in Elevenmile Canyon. | Caddis, BWOs, midges | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. Flows are much higher than normal. Wading is difficult. | Dries: BWO and BWO emergers. 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. |
| 118 cfs at Charlie Meyers State Wildlife Area (Dream Stream). | Midges | Typical tailwater rig and flies. Dries when fish are rising. Flows are much higher than normal. Wading is difficult. | Dries: RS-2, WD-40, Para Adams, midges, Griffith's Gnat, Matt's Midge, Trico and Sunken Trico, Yello Sally. Nymphs: Buckskin, red, pink or orange SJW, Chamois Leech, Rojo Midge, Mercury Black Beauty, Brassie, Red PT, Rainbow Warrior, Flashback PT, caddis larvae/pupae patterns, Pure Midge, olive scuds or egg patterns, Top Secret Midge, Medallion Midge, Buckskin. Streamers: Try Autumn Splendors, Woolly Buggers (olive, black, brown), Girdle Bugs in mottled colors. |
| North Platte | |||
| Grey Reef: 500 cfs. Miracle Mile: 525 |
Midges, cranefly larva. orange scuds, black Zebra Midge. | We've had some reports of big fish being caught, and fishing is very 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 |