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Fishing Reports (Updated 7.14.08)

Colorado River

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The Upper Colorado has been real good the last few weeks and it should continue to fish well. Get ready to play bumper boats out there as it has been crowded, but lots of bugs have been hatching. Usual summer patterns with it being better in the mornings and afternoons/evenings. Rating 4/5

Flies: BH Buggy Stone, Bitch Creek (black), Golden Stones, 20 inchers, san juan worms, prince nymphs (formerly), graphic caddis, caddis, pmd's, rusty spinners, yellow sallies, hoppers, buggers

 

Eagle River

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Runoff is finally over and the Eagle is on fire right now (so is Gore Creek)! Caddis are VERY thick in the afternoons, and nymphing is great all day. Water is still pretty high, so be careful wading and look for slower deeper water past riffles to hold the most fish. Rating 5/5

Flies: Rainbow Warriors (Red and Black) #18 - #20, copper johns #14 - #20, prince nymphs #14 - #18, pheasant tails (soft hackle and mercury) #14 - #20, rs2's #18 - #20, barr emergers #18 - #20, graphic caddis #16 - #18, elk hair caddis (olive and tan) #14 - #18, cdc caddis (olive and tan) #16 - #18, caddis stimulators #14 - #16

 

Blue River

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Blue River (In Town): The river in town has been fishing well, and is running about 375 cfs.  I'm guessing the flows will stay fairly steady around this point for most of the summer, and the fishing should be good.  Plenty of mysis right under the dam, and warmer water temps will help with bug activity.  Great dead drifts are always the key on this fishery, and with the lower flows I would start using 6x fluoro again. Rating 4/5

Flies: Mysis shrimp #14 - #18, pheasant tails (mercury and soft hackle) #16 - #20, rainbow warriors #18 - #20, black beauties #16 - #20, barr emergers #18 - #20, juju B's and baetis #18 - #20, don kings uv midge #20 - #22, san juan worms

Blue River (between Silverthorne and Green Mountain reservoir): We've finally hit "fill and spill" on the Blue, with warm water from the top of Lake Dillon flowing into the river via the glory hole. This dramatically increases the bug hatches throughout the river, and gets the fish feeding. A few drakes and pmd's have been out, but mostly just caddis the last few days. Look for the drakes and pmd's to be in full swing next week, so get out there and try to get a lunker on a dry fly! I do better on the surface down river (slate hole area) during these hatches, but have been able to get some risers in town as well. Rating 4/5

Flies: Prince nymphs #14 - #18, copper johns #14 - #18, hares ear #14 - #18, stones (golden and black), san juan worms, pheasant tails (all variations) #14 - #20, graphic caddis #14 - #18, mercury rs2's #18 - #20, caddis, pmd's, green drakes, stimulators

Lower Blue River (below Green Mountain Reservoir):  The water is real high right now and there are better options. Some rafters will still go at these flows, but I wouldn't recommend fishing this river until it gets back down under 1000 cfs. Rating 1/5

Flies:  Try different caddis variations until you find one they seem to be keying on (cdc, elk hair, etc.) #14 - #18, Golden Stones #10 - #18, flash prince nymphs #14 - #18, pheasant tails #16 - #20, mercury pheasant tails #18 - #20, 20 inchers #12 - #14, kaufmann stones #12 - #16, zebra midges #18 - #22, gray biot midges #18 - #22, rainbow warriors #18 - #20, graphic caddis #16 - #18

 

Roaring Fork River

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The drakes are finally here and the Fork is fishing great!  The drakes have been popping fairly late in Glenwood (7-8 pm), and at different times of the afternoon on other parts of the river.  Caddis are out thick too, and we've been getting some great fish on dries.   River is still pretty big so make sure you have an experienced oarsman, and stop and nymph eddies and other slow water.  Make sure you are getting your nymphs deep enough, as we got some really nice fish tight lining down 9 feet or so. Rating 5/5

Flies:

Nymphs-20 inchers #8 - #12, prince nymphs #10 - #16, san juan worms, pheasant tails (all variations) #12 - #16, stone flies #6 - #14, green drake nymphs #10 - #12, copper johns #12 - #16     

Dries-elk hair caddis (tan and olive) #14 - #18, different drake patterns #10 - #12, cdc caddis #16 - #18, stimis #10 - #14, little yellow stones, light cahills, pmd ext body.

 

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