Recent fishing reports for Colorado 8/18

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[size 1]Here are some of the local fishing reports for your state by Region. This information comes directly from the DOW and other sources. Some of the reports include some fly fishing information as well. [/size]
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South Platte River - Deckers - August 14th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Fair
Flow: 500 cfs

Clarity: Poor

Water Temperature: High 40 to low 50’s

Major Food Organisms: Midges, caddis, yellow sallies, pmd’s, caddis, and baetis

Hatches: Midges, caddis, yellow sallies, pmd’s, caddis, and baetis

14 Day Forecast: If the rains subside, look for a gradual clearing of the Deckers area and fishing to pick up. Recent rains have discolored the feeder creeks, which have had adverse effects on the South Platte below Cheesman Reservoir. Flows should remain between 450-600 cfs for several days.

Tips and Other Information: Blown Out!

Effective Patterns: #20-22 Mercury Midge, #18 Mighty Mite baetis, #16 Nuke Egg, Red and Pink San Juan Worms, #20-22 Mercury Baetis, #20-22 Bead Head Barr’s Emerger (pmd), #18 Mercury PMD, #18 Micro San Juan Worm, #18-22 Dorsey’s Mercury Pheasant Tail, #14 Orange and Olive Scuds, #20-26 Parachute Adams, #20-24 Hi Vis Baetis, and #20-22 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun.

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Arkansas River - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Fair
Stream Flow [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/uv?07094500"]click here[/url]]

Current Conditions

Flow: 628 Salida

Clarity: Good between Granite and Canon City

Water Temperature: Mid 50’s

Major Food Organisms: Midges, caddis, pmd’s, red quills, and yellow sally stoneflies

Hatches: Midges, caddis, pmd’s, red quills, and yellow sally stoneflies

14 Day Forecast: Look for flows to continue to drop and fishing to improve by the day.

Tips and Other Information: Plan on excellent fishing between Salida and Granite. The flow is still a little on the high side, however, fishing is still good along the edges of the stream. Dry fly fishing is picking up with caddis and “attractors” and dry-dropper rigs have been effective around the islands, back channels, and the edges of the stream. Nymphing has been very good too with an assortment of small bead heads trailed with a Mighty Mite Baetis, or Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail in a size #18. Things couldn’t be much better in the Arkansas Valley. If the water is too high for your “liking”, move up river above Granite where the flow is just about right! Heavy rain-fall may impact the clarity of the stream on any given day.

Effective Patterns: #18 Bead Head Breadcrust, #20-22 Mercury Baetis, #16 Puterbaugh Caddis, #16 Hi Vis Caddis, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, #10 Cone Head Black Bugger, #10 Golden Stonefly, #10 Barr’s Tung-Stone, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS II, #18 Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18-22 Barr Emerger #18 (baetis), #18-22 Black, Blue, Red, and Chartreuse Copper Johns.

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Taylor River - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Current Conditions

Flow: 318 Almont

Clarity: Excellent

Water Temperature: Low to mid 40’s

Major Food Organisms: Midges, caddis, pmd’s and yellow sallies

Hatches: Midges, caddis, pmd’s and yellow sallies

14 Day Forecast: Look for excellent flows and great fishing between the dam and Almont. Most of the major hatches are done now, with the exception of a few caddis, and baetis.

Tips and Other Information: The river is still a “fuzz” high, and getting to the fish is the biggest challenge. As the flow drops (250 cfs), the “attractor” dry fly fishing will come into focus. Nymphing is your best choice right now, and an assortment of small beads will fill the bill. I like the water just above the Almont Post Office; it is treating anglers very well right now!

Effective Patterns: #16-18 Mysis, #18-22 Pheasant Tails, #18-20 Bead Head Pheasant Tails, #16 Rubber Legged Copper Johns, #18-20 Bead Hare’s Ear, #20-22 Mercury Baetis, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS-II, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 San Juan Emerger, #22 Brassie, and #22-24 Dorsey’s Black Beauty.

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Roaring Fork - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Current Conditions

Flow: 623 Glenwood

Clarity: Excellent

Water Temperature: Mid 50’s

Major Food Organism: Pmd’s, caddis, and green drakes

Hatches: Midges, pmd’s, caddis, and yellow sally stoneflies

14 Day Forecast: Look for explosive dry fly fishing with green drakes, caddis, and pmd’s.

Tips and Other Information : The Roaring Fork continues to fish very well between Carbondale and Basalt. Effective rigs consist of Bead Head Princes, Bead Head Buckskins, and Sparkle Wing RS II’s. Flows are now very manageable for the walk-wade fisherman in the Basalt and Carbondale areas. A nice baetis hatch has been coming off around 1:30 and several fish are rising in the slower pools. The dry fly fishing around/near the back channels and islands has been nothing short of excellent. During the same time frame there are lots of nice fish suspended in the water column feeding voraciously on mayfly nymphs. A #20 Mercury Baetis hammered these fish last week! “Attractors” fished tight to the bank has been very effective. Effective patterns include Sparkle Wing RS II’s and Mercury Pheasant Tails. Anglers are catching lots of medium sized browns and several, nice plump rainbows in the 14-16 class. Dry/dropper rigs along the banks, as well as streamers, are producing several nice fish too! Floating the river is a great option at this time too.

Effective Patterns: #12 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun (Green Drake), #10 Hen Wing Green Drake, #16 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun (pmd), #10 Barr’s Tung-Stone, #14-18 Bead Head Breadcrust, #16 Rubber Legged Copper John, #14 Prince, #18 Bead Head Pheasant Tails, #10 Cone Head Buggers, #18 Sparkle Wing RS II, #18 Mercury Baetis, and #10 Green Drake Nymphs.

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Blue River - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Current Conditions

Flow: 110 cfs below Dillon, 220 above Green Mountain Reservoir

Clarity: Excellent

Water Temperature: Mid 40’s to high 50’s

Major Food Organisms: Midges, pmd’s, caddis, red quills, yellow sallies and pmd’s

Hatches: Midges, pmd’s, caddis, red quills, yellow sallies and pmd’s

14 Day Forecast: Look for excellent hatches of pmd’s, caddis, red quills, and green drakes.

Tips and Other Information: In town fishing remains very good between Town Hall and the Dam. Effective patterns include #20 Mercury Pheasant Tails, Sparkle Wing RS II’s and WD 40’s. The lower river—the section above Green Mountain Reservoir—is fishing very well at this time, and nothing should change soon. Expect excellent hatches of midges, caddis, baetis, green drakes, and red quills. Nymphing has been productive with #18 Mercury Pheasant Tails, and Sparkle Wing RS II’s. Dry dropper rigs have been especially effective on the lower river. Try a Rubber Legged Stimulator and drop a #18 Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail. Recent rainfall is helping with water levels, especially on the lower reaches above the reservoir.

Effective Patterns: #16-18 Mysis Shrimp, #14 Pink San Juan Worm, #20-22 Mercury Blood Midge, #12 Green Drakes, #16 PMD’s, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #8 Brown Stonefly Nymphs, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #16-20 Mercury PMD Nymph, #20 Brassie, #20-22 Black Beauty, #18 Bead Head Prince, #18 Bead Head Breadcrust, #18 Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tails, and #20-22 WD 40 Brown

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Colorado River - Upper - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Current Conditions

Flows: 204 Parshall

Clarity: Good

Water Temperature: Mid 50’s below the confluence of the Williams Fork, and mid 60’s above the confluence.

Major Food Organisms: Midges, pmd’s, caddis, green drakes, tricos, and yellow sallies

Hatches : Midges, pmd’s, caddis, green drakes, tricos, and yellow sallies

14 Day forecast: Look for excellent hatches of tricos and overall good fishing in the Kemp-Breeze, Sun Set, Powers, and Reeder Creek areas. Expect the flows to range between 250-400 cfs between Parshall and Kremling.

Tips and Other Information: Although the river is a bit on the skinny side, a skilled nymph fisherman will hook several nice fish in the Lone Buck and Paul Gilbert areas. The trico hatch in the morning has been nothing short of excellent too. Flies of choice have been #20 Mercury PMD’s, #20 Sparkle Wing RS II’s, #20 Mercury Pheasant Tails, and #18 Bead Head Buckskins. For the trico hatch use Stalcup’s CDC Trico Compardun. The best fishing is no doubt in the morning! Water temps are rising fast, keep an eye on them, and refrain from fishing if they exceed 67 degrees! Below the Williams Fork, fishing has improved immensely with the recent flow increase from the dam. Productive patterns include #18 Bead Head Buckskins, and #20 Sparkle Wing RS II’s. The trico hatch between the confluence and Sun Set Ranch has been very productive. Again, Stalcup’s CDC Trico Comparadun is the ticket. Lots of caddis in the late afternoon, and several fish rising between 5:00 p.m. and dark. The mosquitoes are hardly noticeable at this time, which is great news.

Effective Patterns: #18 Flashback Mercury PT, #10 Barr’s Tung-Stone, #18 Mighty Mite Baetis, #16-20 Dorsey’s Mercury PMD, #18-20 Bead Head Buckskin, #20-22 PMD Sparkle Dun, #18 PMD, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, #20-22 Black Beauty, #20 Mercury Midge, and #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS II.

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William's Fork River - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Fair
Flow: 191

Clarity: Excellent

Water Temperature : Mid 40’s

Major Food Organisms: Midges, caddis, baetis, red quills, and tricos

Hatches: Midges, caddis, baetis, red quills, and tricos

14 Day Forecast: Now that Williams Fork Reservoir is full, look for consistent flows of 150-250 cfs for the remainder of the summer. The flow will vary depending on senior water right holders, and the recent weather patterns. If it dries out, look for Denver Water to increase the flow again.

Tips and Other Information: Fishing remains productive on the Williams Fork. Crowds are heavy, so pay close attention to good manners. I saw a real “bone head” move last week, when a guy cut me off. I just sat there shaking my head in disbelief. Williams Fork Reservoir is almost full (fifteen feet from the top), which is great new for both the Williams Fork and lower Colorado. Effective patterns include #18 Buckskins, #18 San Juan Worms, and #18 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tails. Fish lots of weight and concentrate your efforts in the upper third of the prime runs. Look for strong hatches of baetis around 1:00 p.m. and expect lots of fish in the shallow riffles feeding hard on these mayfly nymphs. The dry fly fishing has been very good on the lower end of this property and near the confluence of the Colorado River. Both #20 Parachute Adams and Sparkle Duns have been the ticket. As far as nymphing is concerned, a two-fly rig consisting of a #20 Mercury Baetis, and a #18 Mercury Pheasant Tail is very effective between, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The mosquitoes are hardly noticeable at this time, which is great news.

Effective Patterns: #16 Bead Head Breadcrust, #18 Bead Head Black Beauty, #20 Mercury Midge, #18 Buckskin, #18 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20 Sparkle Wing RS II, #22 Stalcup’s Trico, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, and #16 Red Quill.

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South Platte River - North Fork - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Stream Flow [[url "http://dwr.state.co.us/Hydrology/flow_graph.asp?ID=PLAGRACO&MTYPE=DISCHRG"]click here[/url]]

Current Conditions for Boxwood Gulch, Long Meadow, Farmer’s Union, and North Fork Ranch

Flow: 161 cfs Grant

Clarity: Good

Water Temperature : Low 40’s to high 40’s

Major Food Organisms: Midges, green drakes, red quills, yellow sallies and caddis

Hatches: Midges, green drakes, red quills, yellow sallies and caddis

14 Day Forecast: Look for excellent fishing with mayfly nymphs, caddis nymphs, and midge imitations. Flows should stay in the 100-250 cfs range for the next several weeks. With all the recent rain, Denver Water reduced the flow. As things dry out, expect the flow to bounce back up. Denver Water is bringing the vast majority of its water through the Roberts Tunnel (rather the Cheesman Canyon). Fishing is tough when the flow exceeds 250 cfs.

Tips and Other Information: Fishing remains very productive on the North Fork of the South Platte River. Anglers should come prepared for hatches of green drakes, caddis, and red quills. There has also been excellent midge hatches in the a.m. Between 8:00 a.m. and noon, the best rig has been a #16 Red Copper John dropped with a #18 Mercury Flashback PT. In the afternoon, use Stalcup’s Green Drake Nymph as your “attractor” and drop a #18 Flashback Beadhead Pheasant Tail or a #18 Flashback Mercury Pheasant Tail. The Green Drake hatch has been awesome as of late!! Lots of fish feeding in the slow pools. The most productive pattern has been Mathew’s Sparkle Dun (Green Drake) in a size 10. Heavy rain-fall may impact the clarity of the stream on any given day. In the event the stream turns “off-colored” fish a Pink San Juan Worm and you’ll pick up a few fish.

Effective Patterns: An assortment of small bead heads (#16-18 Pheasant Tails, #16-18 Hare’s Ears, #16-18 Copper Johns, and #14-18 Breadcrusts), #18 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #14 Pink San Juan Worms, #16 Nuclear Eggs, #20 Sparkle Wings RS II, #22 Mercury Black Beauties, #14 Red Quill, #12 Green Drake, #20 Mercury Brassies, and #20 Zebra Midges.

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South Platte River - Cheesman Canyon - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Fair
River Flow and Gage Height [[url "http://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/current?type=flow&group_key=huc_cd&search_site_no_station_nm=south+platte"]click here[/url]]

Flow: 207

Clarity: Poor

Water Temperature: Mid 50’s

Major Food Organisms: Midges, baetis, pmds, yellow sallies, and caddis

Hatches: Midges, baetis, pmds, yellow sallies, and caddis

14 Day Forecast: Now that Cheesman Reservoir is full, expect average flows (around the 250 cfs) for the remainder of the summer. As of last week the lake was spilling over the top.

Tips and Other Information: Last Thursday’s guide trip was one to remember, and, not for reasons you might imagine. Around 3:30 p.m. a storm was setting up over the Schoonover Gulch area, and I looked at Chris Wells, my partner, and said “this does not look good”. The sky turned black, it looked like the sun was setting. Within 30 minutes we experienced one of the hardest rainstorms I’ve witnessed in the “canyon” in twenty years—it was ugly! Flash flood doesn’t explain what Chris, and I witnessed that day. I watched the river raise to 800-900 cfs in a matter of minutes, trees, debris, and ash-blackened water rushed through the canyon. I almost cried, the canyon had been fishing so well. We knew; this was the nail in the coffin. Above Cattle Crossing a washout was depositing huge amounts of sediment, in fact, there was so much debris (ash, burned bark, pine needles and so on) you could comb it with your fingers. The water was a thick as hydraulic oil. I could only think about the huge number of brown trout that now resided in the middle canyon. What was their fate? There is no doubt this was one of the most depressing moments in my thousands of hours in the Cheesman Canyon area. Currently the water is off-colored, the stream-bed is clogged with debris, and to make matters worse the Denver Water Board dropped the flow to 200 cfs. Needless to say, fishing is extremely poor, and no one is certain what the fish loss is from this horrible incident. We’ll keep you posted, and in the mean time you’ll see my truck parked on the Blue, Williams Fork, and Arkansas Rivers.

Effective Patterns: #14 Pink San Juan Worms, #14 Nuclear Eggs, #20-22 Mercury Midges, #22 Mercury Baetis, #18 Mercury PMD’s, #22 Black Beauty, #20-22 Churhill’s Sparkle Wing RS II’s, #18 Micro San Juan Worms, #22-26 Parachute Adams, #20-22 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #24 Top Secret Midge, #20-24 Hi-Vis Baetis, #20-22 Matt’s Midge, #16 Sparkle Dun, #22 Cannon’s Suspender Midge, #22-24 Z-Lon Midges, #22-26 Griffith Gnats.

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South Platte River - Spinney Mountain Ranch - August 15th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Flow: 153 cfs

Clarity: Good

Water Temperature: High 50’s to mid 60’s

Major Food Organisms : Midges, caddis, micro caddis, pmd’s, yellow sallies, and tricos

Hatches: Midges, caddis, micro caddis, pmd’s, yellow sallies and tricos

14 Day Forecast: Anglers can expect excellent hatches of pmd’s, caddis, and tricos. Spinney Reservoir is full now, in fact, Antero is beginning to fill with some water too. Look for good flows for the remainder of the summer season.

Tips and Other Information: Flows are conducive for good fishing at the “Dream Stream”. Expect the best fishing to be in the morning between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. during the trico hatch. Fishing is slow in the afternoon from the lack of hatching aquatic insects and the warmer water temps (mid to high 60’s). You’ll see a few midges, a sporadic pmd, but that’s it until the trico duns hatch just before dark. Between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., Stalcup’s CDC Trico Comparadun has been working well for the duns, spinners and drowned tricos after the hatch. During the non-hatch periods, nymphs of choice have been #18 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tails, #22 Barr’s Emerger (baetis) and #18 Buckskins. Cover lots of ground and sight nymph when possible; it will pay dividends in the long run.

Effective Patterns: #16-20 Dorsey’s Mercury PMD, #16 Barr’s Emerger (pmd), #18-20 Churchill’s Sparkle Wing RS II, #22 Green Machine, #18 Micro San Juan Worm, #18-20 Dorsey’s Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18-20 Buckskin, #20-26 Parachute Adams, #20-24 Griffith Gnat, #20-24 Hi-Vis Baetis, #22 Stalcup’s CDC Trico Spinner, #16 CDC Biot PMD, Cannon’s Bunny PMD, #12 Yellow Stimulator, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, #16 Puterbaugh Caddis, and #22 Cannon’s Bunny Midge.

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Gunnison River - August 16th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Great
Current Conditions

14 Day Forecast: Look for excellent fishing in the weeks to come. The flows are perfect, and dry fly fishing with “attractors” is really picking up. Look for fishing to get better by the day.


Flow: 486 cfs, Gunnison

Clarity: Good

Water Temperature: Mid to high 50’s

Major Food Organisms: Caddis and green drakes

Hatches: Caddis and green drakes

Tips and Other Information: Plan on excellent fishing between Almont and Blue Mesa Reservoir. I can’t ever remember the Gunnison River fishing this well—it is on FIRE! “Attractors” such as H & L Variants, Royal Wulffs, and Renegades have been moving lots of fish in riffled water that is 18-24 inches deep. Nymphing has been productive too, with a Barr’s Tung Stone trailed by a Sparkle Wing RS II. Lots of nice browns and rainbows averaging 14-16 inches. The kokanee Salmon are starting to enter the river from Blue Mesa, and egg patterns will become very effective in weeks to come!

Effective Patterns: #18 Bead Head Prince, #10 Barr’s Tung-Stone, #18 Bead Head Breadcrust, #18 Barr Emerger, #18-20 Sparkle Wing RS II, #10 Green Drake Nymph, #10 Hen Wing Green Drake, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, #10 Green Drake Nymphs, #18-20 Bead Head Flashback Bead Head Pheasant Tail, #20-26 Parachute Adams, and #18-22 Copper Johns.

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Eagle River - August 16th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=92,re"]Blue Quill Angler[/url]
FISHING: Great
Current Conditions

14 day Forecast: Expect an excellent flow and superb fishing. Plan on good dry fly fishing with “attractors”, caddis, micro caddis, midges, baetis, and red quills.

Flow: 207

Clarity: Good, the lower river (below Wolcott) is suffering from off-colored water when we get heavy afternoon rain showers. Your best bet is to fish near between Wolcott and Gore Creek.

Water Temperature: Mid 50’s

Major Food Organism: Midges, pmd’s, red quills, caddis, and yellow sally stoneflies

Hatches: Midges, pmd’s, red quills, caddis, and yellow sally stoneflies


Tips and Other Information: Plan on excellent fishing with both nymphs and dry flies. A #14 Prince, dropped with a #20 Sparkle Wing RS II’s has been a great rig as of late. Expect good hatches of caddis, baetis, and red quills and excellent dry fly fishing along the edges, and shallow riffled areas. The dry fly fishing really picks up around 3:30 pm. You’ll see midges, bwo’s, red quills, and caddis all hatching at the same time. Dry-dropper techniques in the pocket water have been producing several nice browns between 12-14 inches. Heavy rain-fall may impact the clarity of the stream on any given day. The lower river is still fishable, but it is off-colored from recent rainfall that “swells” feeder creeks. The upper river between Wolcott and Gore Creek is fishing the best.

Effective Patterns: #8 Stonefly Nymphs, #14-16 Bead Head Breadcrust, #14 Prince Nymphs, #18 Flashback Pheasant Tails, #18 RS II’s, #16 Red Copper Johns, #16 PMD’s, #16 Red Quills, and #12 Yellow Stimulators.

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I don't always trust my own states fishing reports sometimes as I have seen different thing happen than what they said.

These particular reports were from other sources that are more reliable. The name of the source is at the top of each of the reports.
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