With apologies to Noah, perhaps an ark might be of considerably more use on Colorado’s primary fishing rivers right now than a mere drift boat.
Consider these impediments to angling:
A gush of 6,200 cubic feet per second coursing the Roaring Fork River through Glenwood Springs.
A chocolate percolation of 4,700 cfs rushing down the Animas River at Durango.
A surge of up to 3,800 cfs on the Rio Grande upstream from Del Norte.
Even the Blue River, not much more than a trickle from the base of Dillon Dam a week ago, clipping along at a brisk 900 cfs, most in a half-decade.
So it goes these days at most Colorado rivers not pinched by a dam: heavy flows, discolored water. Enter at your own risk.
Most fishermen cringe during runoff, particularly one that performed as unpredictably as this.
So why is Trapper Rudd smiling?
As proprietor of Cutthroat Angler trout shop in Silverthorne, Rudd has watched the Blue River shrivel under low-flow regimes for years, a condition that stifles populations of fish and the insects on which they feed.
When Dillon Reservoir filled last week, spilling excess water through the Morning Glory Spillway near the dam, the shop owner barely could contain himself. What’s a few days of lost fishing when the whole health of a river is at stake.
“When I saw white water on the Blue River, I was so happy I hardly could contain myself,” Rudd said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
High water similarly spells long-term relief for trout streams in most other parts of the state, particularly in the southwest. Parched by drought for the first part of the decade, rivers such as the Animas, Rio Grande and dozens of tributaries now reap the rewards from one of the heaviest snowpacks in recollection.
Even regions where snow depths proved unspectacular are experiencing a prolonged runoff resulting from unusual weather patterns. Following cold spring weather, a hot spell in late May briefly brought a powerful flush of snowmelt. Then, after more cool temperatures, a second rush began just over a week ago.
This pattern generally means a delay in what most stream enthusiasts consider prime fishing time, certainly compared to what they’ve experienced in recent years.
“This is strange when you look at what we’ve had recently, when there’s been really good fishing in June,” said Bruce Lee, who operates the Straightline shop in Steamboat Springs, where the Yampa River measures a huge 1,600 cfs.
As veterans such as Rudd and Lee know well, the tradeoff comes in August and September, when rivers that lately have suffered low flow and life-threatening temperature instead will have ample water.
That said, here’s a rundown of current conditions:
Arkansas River
Although the flow swelled to 1,700 cfs below Salida, the water is surprisingly clear and fishing good along the edges with attractor flies such as Prince nymph. Clarity is particularly good from Buena Vista upstream.
Blue River
As soon as levels begin to fall, fishing should be exceptional with an impending hatch of Green Drake mayflies coupled with a migration of large rainbow trout pushed down from their low-water hideout just below Dillon Dam. Part of the water reduction will occur in early July, when Denver Water begins pumping Lake Dillon water, probably as much as 200 to 300 cfs out through Roberts Tunnel.
Colorado River
At 1,600 cfs, the river near Parshall is difficult to wade, although water temperature and insects are agreeable. Much of the surge comes from the Williams Fork tributary, a torrent at 657 cfs.
Gunnison Country
The Gunnison River is running 2,660 through town, but is starting to clear, with good fishing on caddis, stoneflies and streamers. The Taylor River is running at 333 from the dam, 607 at Almont, clear and fishable. The big blowout occurs on the Lake Fork, where a flow of 1,122 cfs is huge for this small stream.
North Park
North Platte River flows are high – 1,900 cfs at Northgate Canyon – but relatively clear for anglers pounding the banks. Smaller streams such as the Michigan and Illinois can be fished successfully with streamers.
Rio Grande
Even with the heavy flow, the river has sufficient clarity for streamers and other sub-surface attractors. “The fish we’re catching are fat and healthy. They’re eating well,” said Steve McCormick of Wolf Creek Angler in South Fork.
Roaring Fork
“We’re toast right now,” Drew Reid of Roaring Fork Angler in Glenwood said of the torrent. “I’ve been telling people we’ll be fishing by July 4 if we’re lucky, but I don’t know about that.”
Reid said the Fork will be floatable at 3,000 cfs. Farther upstream, the filling of Ruedi Reservoir pushed the Frying Pan River up to 500 cfs on Friday, which means it will take a couple of days for the trout to settle into a feeding pattern.
South Platte system
Totally controlled by dams and with a low snow pack, most segments of the river are low – 32 cfs below Spinney, 26 cfs below Elevenmile and 220 cfs below Cheesman.
Southwest streams
The Animas, upper San Juan and all Colorado tributaries are extremely high. The San Juan flow below Navajo Dam in New Mexico is being lowered to 500 cfs to facilitate a search for a fisherman presumably swept away when the flow was nearly 10 times that.
Yampa River
Anglers pounding steamers and stonefly nymphs against the bank actually enjoy good success through Steamboat Springs. But the river rages beyond control below the confluence with the Elk River.
Listen to Charlie Meyers at 9 a.m. each Saturday on “The Fan Outdoors,” KKFN 950 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com
