In the lull before runoff, most Colorado rivers offer agreeable, even improving fishing. Here’s a rundown of key locations:
Colorado: With a flow of 331 cubic feet per second at Parshall, the blue-winged olive hatch has begun, adding spice to the midge activity. Trout are responding to large stonefly numphs. A caddis hatch has begun downstream near Glenwood Springs.
Blue: A rainbow run up from Green Mountain Reservoir has boosted activity. Fish are taking anything red: midges, eggs, worms, red Copper John nymphs. In Silverthorne, a flow of 116 cfs has spurred a bite on mysis, midges and baetis nymphs.
Eagle: Good conditions above Wolcott, muddy below. BWO hatch has begun, along with large olive midges. Flow is 418 cfs at Gypsum. Good action with olive, black and tan streamers.
Gunnison: At 460 cfs, the river is fishing well on size 16 stoneflies, Buckskin nymphs and San Juan worms. Very little surface action.
Roaring Fork: A major caddis hatch has begun, with action on swinging emergers. Below Carbondale, water is murky early.
South Platte: Action is consistent everywhere but below Spinney, where 44 cfs flow and sunshine make fishing tough. Flows are 144 at Deckers and 42 in Elevenmile Canyon.
Yampa: Starting to get muddy on warm days, but fishable using streamers in bank-side eddies.
