That giant, drippy snowmelt sponge covering Colorado’s high country finally has started to dry up. Let the stream fishing begin.
As much as three weeks later than normal, flows have plummeted on most major rivers. Anglers venturing out for the weekend generally will find water that remains quite high, mostly clear and, above all, fishable.
Perhaps more than any time of the year, fisherman are advised to keep close tabs on what will be radically changeable flows over the next two to three weeks. This can be best achieved by connecting with Colorado Water Talk on the Internet, downloading the station list and dialing up the desired stream.
Here’s a rundown of conditions and prospects for key rivers:
Arkansas: Water volume has dropped by half over the last 10 days to 1,600 cubic feet per second (cfs)at Wellsville. Trout continue to hang along the edges, rising to a Pale Morning Dun hatch from noon to 5 p.m. most days. Brown trout are in good condition.
Big Thompson: Stable at 264 cfs, with daytime hoppers and evening caddis. Smaller patterns work best.
Blue: Caddis are swarming through Silverthorne and below, where a flow of 500 cfs is barely half of last week. Below Green Mountain, it’s a robust 991 cfs.
Colorado: Water clarity remains an issue at Pumphouse, with a flow of 2,390 cfs. A hopper/dropper combo fished near shore gets results. The flow below Glenwood Springs remains a massive 6,000 cfs, but fish are taking large nymphs. A spectacular caddis hatch occurs after 7 p.m.
Eagle: The flow on Tuesday measured 1,030 cfs, dropping about 100 cfs each day. Caddis are cavorting in water that’s remarkably clear. Partial clarity extends even to the lower river.
Gunnison: Stubbornly high flows of 800 cfs from the East River tributary keeps this river from dropping. The Gunnison remains at 1,530 through town, but clarity is good all the way to Blue Mesa Reservoir. Swarms of caddis bring fish to the surface on the upper river, along with large PMDs up to size 12. The Green Drake hatch is at least two weeks late, casting some doubt on whether it ever will coalesce as a significant event.
Poudre: Volume is diminishing rapidly, now 850 cfs at the canyon mouth. Expect PMDs in the morning, caddis from mid-afternoon into evening. Small hoppers also are a factor in the slack water along the bank.
Rio Grande: Water clarity is almost perfect at 1,300 cfs in anticipation of an impending Green Drake hatch. Surface fishing is good on a double dry fly, or dry and dropper. Streamer fishing, with dark Muddlers or Slump Busters, produces well in the evening.
Roaring Fork: Trout remain close to shore in a flow that finally has dipped below 3,000 cfs and falling. Float fishermen score with nymphs and scattered dry caddis during daytime, with a visibility of about 3 feet. An exciting Green Drake hatch occurs during a magic half-hour before dark.
Yampa: Crystal clear at 335 cfs, the Yampa is nearing its prime through Steamboat Springs, with daytime hatches of PMDs and Yellow Sally stoneflies. An evening caddis blizzard completes an active day. A heavy flow from the Elk River keeps the lower Yampa running very high.
Charlie Meyers: 303-954-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com
