Including Rocky Mountain National Park - Moraine Park
All reports are up-dated on Wednesdays each week during the summer season and every other week during the winter season (November - March). Reports will not be up-dated the week following holiday weekends. Good luck and good fishing, The Fish Phone.
Report Date: 9/8/2010
Rivers:
Rocky Mountain National Park - Moraine Park
The Big Thompson River is reported in (Region 2) due to the fact it flows out of Estes Park down through the Upper Front Range.
Fishing conditions:Although the flows in the park may be a bit on the high side, the fishing has been good. Shallow nymph rigs or dry dropper set ups have been good ways to take fish. Hatches are just starting to get going so the best dry fly fishing is still ahead of us. San juan worms and small stones have been good sub surface while small attractors and terrestrial have done well up top. In lower elevation lakes like Sprague the midges have been providing good action, but places like the Loch may need another week or so to wake up. All the drainages in the park are fishing well. Glacier creek was good over the holiday, the Big T was a bit tough, but Fall and Roaring both produced very well. The Park is good and getting better. Wild Basin is a good fish as well and lakes like Sandbeach offer good hikes and good fishing alike. Soon caddis, pmd's, drakes, and quills will be hatching bringing hungry fish to the surface. Terrestrials however, can be deadly on a windy day. Beetles, ants, and hoppers in smaller sizes are excellent fly choices for the Park. Lakes such as Fern, Dream, and Loch Vale have all fished great this past week. Good midges, ants, beetles, and pink sjw.
NYMPHS: Zebra Midges in red or black #16-20, Poison Tungs #16-18, Micro Mayfly #18, Rainbow Warrior #18, Pheasant Tails #18-22, Tungstones #12-16, Split Foam BWO #16-20, San Juans #10-16, Girdle Bug #6-10, Caddis pupa #12-18. DRIES: PMX #10-14, Stimulator #10-16, Fat Albert #8-14, Parachute Adams #10-20, Griffiths Gnat #16-22, Elk Hair Caddis #12-18, Beetles and ants.
Blue River
A tributary of the Colorado River Approximately 75 miles long, Headwaters originate in Southern Summit County, The riverruns north andflows past towns of Blue River and Breckenridge then river then flows through Dillon Reservoir (region 3). North from Dillon the river runs north, northwest where it flows into Green Mountain Reservoir, then the river joins the Colorado 13 miles downstream at the Town of Kremmling. Fish species: Wild Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brown Trout
Lower Section - Below Green Mountain Reservoir to the Confluence with the Colorado River
Flow: Below Green Mountain Reservoir: 330 CFS / (Regoin 3) - below Dillon Reservoir: 80 CFS Clarity: Green cast Fishing conditions: The Blue can be a great place to spend a day hunting big fish below either dam, much less pressure below Green Mountain if you are willing to walk a little.
Trout:Good
Flies: NYMPHS: Benton's shucking midge claret (#22), Red anilid or red pure midge (#20-24), Green Disco midge (#20-22), BWO Barr emerger (#20-22), Black Biot midge emerger (#20-24), grey or black RS-2 (20-24), Crystal Mysis shrimp (#18), Miracle nymph (#20-22), Desert storm (#22) DRIES: Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Parachute Adams(#20-22), Adult Black midge (22), Extended body BWO (#20-22)
Lures: Spinners - rainbow or yellow and silver Bait: Power bait, salmon eggs and Night-crawlers
Cache Le Poudre
Listed in (Region 2) as part of the South Platte Drainage.
Colorado River
Colorado's Largest River originating from La Poudre Pass Lake where it flows into Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Reservoir below the Rocky Mountain National Park, The Colorado River flows for over 1450 miles into Mexico. The Upper Colorado River flows from Lake Granby to Parshall and then Parshall to Glenwood Springs (Region 1). The river then continues through Colorado into (Region 3), where it flows through the town of Grand Junction and later is joined by the Green River in Utah.
Fishing conditions: Fishing is heating up on the Colorado! Dry dropper to the soft edges is taking fish but the nymphing has been awesome. Nymph San Juans on point, with small stone or mayfly droppers. The flows are high but the fish are still there, just fish the edges. The edges clear first and the current is softer here allowing the fish to still feed. Fish the edges and eddys along the bank with dry dropper or nymph rigs. Black streamers pulled slowly through these soft edges and seams have caught some fish during high water. The caddis hatches have been excellent, with pmd's and rusty spinners present as well. Lightning bugs are good choice of flies during the higher water, and caddis in the evening can be epic!
Trout: Good
Flies:DRIES: Parachute Adams#10-26, Griffiths Gnat #10-24, Challenged Baetis #18-22, CDC BWO #18-22, Extended Body BWO's #18-22, Foam Stone #2-8, Stimulator #8-18, Club Sandwich #6-10, PMX #6-12, Fatboy Hopper #8-12, Fat Albert #8-14, X-caddis #12-18. NYMPHS: Girdle Bugs #6-10, Electric Caddis #14-16, Barr Emergers #16-22, Black Copper Johns #16-18, San Juan Worms, Eggs and Glo-Bugs, Brassies #18-24, Leeches #8-12, Zebra Midge #18-22, Chewee caddis #14-18, Electric caddis #14 16, Rubber leg stones #2-8. STREAMERS: Wooly Buggers #6-12(olive, black, and brown), Sculpzilla #6-8, Weamer Streamer #8-4, OBS, Sculpin Patterns #12-6 tied in black and olive.
Lures: Panther Martins, Kastmasters, Crocodiles
Bait: Power bait, salmon eggs and Night-crawlers
Middle section - Pump House to State Bridge
Flow: Near Kremmling: 944 CFS / Dotsero: 1,630 CFS Clarity: Green cast
Fishing conditions: Flows are dropping and the hatches have developed nicely. Caddis, PMD's, Sallies, and Golden Stones are all on the menu. There are still tons of stonefly nymphs in the river so old rubber legs is an excellent choice for a bug this time of year. Large dry dropper rigs to the edges are working good and the hatches of summer are starting. Golden Stones, caddis, sallies, and mayflies are all starting. Dry fly season is here. THE STREAMER BITE has been excellent with larger streamers in lighter colors like cream or ginger. A large Foam Stone Dry with rubber legs below fished along the bank will catch fish consistently all day long. As you get closer to state bridge the clarity really gets bad and the fishing gets tough. Flashy streamers like Trinas Bugger Beotch, Goldilox, and Bedar Buggars are also good flies right now. Other good flies are san juans and princes in larger sizes. Hatches will start to develop again in a few weeks with caddis and golden stones starting first. By mid July the hopper fishing should be prime time.
Trout: Good
Flies: DRIES; Terranasty #2-8, Rogue Foam Stone #2-6, Barrett's Golden #4-10, Rogue Golden Stone #6-10, Amy's Ant #8-10, Chubby Cherynoble #6-10, PMX #8-14, Club Sandwich #4-10, Cloud Hopper #4-10Big junk is on the menu. NYMPHS; Good point flies are san juan worms(red, brown, wine) #10-16, Girdle Bugs #6-10, Rainbow Warriors, Electric Tungsten Caddis #14-18, Rubber Leg Stones as big as you can throw, Eggs and Glow-Bugs, Leeches, Cranefly Larva and small streamers. When the waters start to stain use more flash on your flies and increase the size. Try Pheasant Tails, Princes, Lightning Bugs, or Copper Johns. Get big and nasty with your point fly and make sure it has rubber legs. Stones are still in the water so keep mister rubber legs on the hook. STREAMERS: Streamers can be good on the Colorado with visibility Try: Pine Squirrel Leeches #12-6, Crystal Buggers #10-4, Zonkers #8-4, Sparkle Minnows #10-6, Goldilox #6, Bread n Butter #4-8, Sculpzilla #4-10, Duneons #6, Articulated Monkeys #4-8, and Vanilla Bugger #6-10.
Lures: Panther Martins, Kastmasters, Crocodiles
Bait: Power bait, salmon eggs and Night-crawlers
Gore Creek
A main tributary to the Eagle River approximately 12 miles long, the river flows through the White River National Forest north of Vail Colorado. Fish species: Rainbow and Brown Trout
Gold Medal Water- special regulations from Red Sandstone Creek to Eagle River
Flow: Above Red Sandstone Creek at Vail: 52 CFS Clarity: Clear Fishing conditions: The Gore is at perfect summer low flows.
Trout: Fair
Flies: DRIES; Parachute Adams (#18-24), Adult black midge (#22), Grifiths Gnat (#20-22) Extended Body BWO (#18-20), CDC Copmaradun BWO (#18-20) NYMPHS; Prince's(#18), Pheasant Tail's (#18-22), Grey, black or red midge larva (#18-22), Red or Green Disco midges (#18-22) .Chartreuse or peach Eggs (#16-18 )BWO Barr Emerger(#18-22), Quasimoto's (#16-18) Biot Midge Black or grey (#22) Cravens JuJu midge (#20-22), Crave's JUJU Beatis (#18-20), Biot BWO Emerger (#18-20). Lures: NR
North Platte River
A medium sized river flowing north from Colorado into Wyoming along the west slope of the Medicine Bow Mountains. Fish species: Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat Trout.
Gold Medal Water and wild trout waters - special regulations apply along most of the river.
Flow: Near Northgate: 284 CFS Clarity: Clear Fishing conditions: Good
Trout: Good Flies: Dry flies like stimulators and various Bead-headed nymphs. Lures: Panther Martin's and Cast-masters (yellow and gold)
Yampa River
A tributary to the Green River approximately 250 miles long. The river rises in the flattops of northwestern Colorado in the Routt National Forest and flows northwest to Steamboat Springs where it abruptly turns west where it joins the Little Snake River. Fish species: Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat Trout
Flow: Below Stagecoach Reservoir: 87 CFS / Steamboat Springs: 185 CFS / Below Craig: 418 CFS / Deer Lodge Park: 591 CFS Clarity: Green cast on main river and clear below dam in tail water Fishing conditions: Lots of private property along the river, be sure you know where you are. Fishing is good on the Yampa, mid week is less crowded. Nymphing is the preferred method although there are reports of Midge hatches in the afternoons when it's been getting cloudy. Fishing has been very good on dries as well.
Trout: Good to excellent
Flies: DRIES;Grifiths Gnat (#18-22), Parachute Adams (#18-22), Extended Body BWO(#18-20), Adult Black Midge #22), NYMPHS; BWO Barr Emerger's (#20-22), Red or Black Zebra Midge (#20-22), Miracle Nymph's (#20), Red or Green Disco Midges (#20-22), Rainbow Warrior (#20), Grey or Black W-D40 (#20-24), JUJU Midge (#20-22), Pink San Juan Worms (10-12) Olive Pheasant Tails (#20), Pink or grey Scuds Lures: NR Bait: Power bait, salmon eggs and Night-crawlers
Lakes:
Delaney Butte Lakes
Comprised of three small lakes; East, North, and South, located 10 miles west of Walden. Open to ice fishing.
Clarity: Lake Level: All lakes are full, about 70 degrees Boating conditions: Good Fishing conditions: Good
Trout:Fair to Good, best at East and South Delaney Flies: Wooly Buggers, midge emergers,chironomids, scuds Lures: Tube jigs, Kastmasters, Tazmanian Devils, spoons, crayfish jigs, small split-tail grubs, rooster tails
Granby Lake
A 7256 acre lake, located in the Arapaho Recreation Area, immediately north of the town of Granby. Open to ice fishing.
Clarity: Clear to 15 feet Lake Level: Full - 66 degrees Boating conditions: Watch for floating debris Fishing conditions: Good
Trout: Good - Try the inlet streams or Columbine Bay Flies: Woolly buggers and streamers Lures: Mepps, Panther Martin's, Krocodiles, Tasmanian devils. Bait: Power bait, salmon eggs and Night-crawlers
Mackinaw (Lake Trout): Good early a.m. - try around the northern & southern walls in Arapaho Bay. Try trolling 65 to 90 feet of water.
Lures: Kastmaster tipped w/ sucker meat, large white, gold or silver spoons, Rapala's, Jigs
Bait: Sucker Meat Kokanee:NR - try 35 to 45 feet of water Lures: Small spoons and spinners, Wedding Rings Bait:
Grand Lake
A medium sized lake, located on the west border of the Rocky Mountain National Park, next to Shadow Mtn. Lake and north of Granby Lake. Open to ice fishing.
Clarity: Lake Level: Full Boating conditions: Boat inspections began May 15 at the Grand Lake public boat ramp from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Ramp will be open to nighttime use. Fishing conditions: Good
Trout:Good, try the north inlet Flies: Woolly buggers, various nymphs Lures: Mepps, Krocodiles, Tasmanian Devils, spoons, Rapalas Bait: Power bait, salmon eggs and night-crawlers
A 2125 acre lake, located 15 miles north of Silverthorne on the Blue River. Open to ice fishing.
Clarity: Lake Level: High Fishing conditions: Watch for floating debris Fishing conditions: Fair, warm weather and alot of boat activity is making fishing tough
Trout:Fair Flies: Woolly buggers, streamers, midges, egg patterns Lures:Kastmasters, Tasmanian Devils, orange Gulp grubs, Pistol Pete Bait: Salmon eggs and Night-crawlers, orange or red power bait
A 780 acre lake south of Steamboat Springs in the Yampa valley. Open to ice fishing.
Clarity: Lake Level: 15 feet down, 72 degrees Boating conditions: Opened May 1, 2010 for boating - Mandatory inspections. Morrison boat ramp will be closing for the season on Aug. 13th, and the marina boat ramp will close Sept. 7th. The lake will be closed to boating starting Sept. 7th. Fishing conditions: Fair
Trout:Fair Flies: Woolly buggers and streamers, crayfish patterns, mosquitos Lures: Panther Martins, Kastmasters (silver) and spoons, crayfish lures Bait: Power bait (green, pink, orange), Salmon eggs, Night-crawlers
Pike: Fair - most fish being caught are under 20" inches. Flies: Try Large streamers, whisters and cluaser minnows.For the surfacing fish use mouse and frog patterns. Lures: Spoons, ¾ oz Krockadiles, Husky Jerk, perch colored Rapalas, X-raps Bait: Sucker meat or dead minnow
Steamboat Lake
A 1053 acre lake, located 26 miles north of Steamboat Springs on road 129. Open to ice fishing.
Clarity: Lake Level: Full, about 74 degrees Boating conditions: Good, mandatory inspections Fishing conditions: Good
Trout:Good - try 10 to 30 feet of water Flies: Woolly buggers and streamers, also try nymphs below a indicator, various dry flies Lures: Jigs, Mepps, Panther Martins, Kastmasters, purple Cleos, Shad Raps Bait: Power bait, salmon eggs and Night-crawlers
