May 6, 2008

Please call 970-586-2110 for daily conditions

Big Thompson - Canyon

Running at 57.8 cfs. There is a lot of weed in the river at the moment and can make fishing difficult, due to flies coated with slime. However, The Big T has been fishing very well, despite those difficulties. Blue Wing Olives are available for the trout especially on cooler, overcast or rainy days when you can have some exceptional fishing with Dries. Size 18-22 BWO Hatchmasters, BWO Spotlights, BWO Thorax, BWO Parachutes and Parachute Adams are good choices when the fish are rising. Expect the Olives between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Use nymphs if there is no surface activity such as Blue Wing Olive. Fishing has also been good with Pickpockets, BH Baetis Nymphs, BH Pheasant Tails and Hogan’s S&Ms all in sizes 18-22. Stoneflies are getting active and will continue through runoff — a size 12-14 Stimulator or Trude, with a Beadhead dropper is a good way to fish the Golden Stones. Caddis are also active so try size 16 olive Caddis patterns such as Elk Hairs, Visibles, EZ Caddis, Glo-bubbles or Z-wing.

Big Thompson - RMNP

Running at 18 cfs. The Moraine is open and offers some tough fishing. Delicate presentations and light tippets are the norm. Blue Wing Olive patterns similar to the Big T above will work well. Small Stoneflys are on the river and smaller Elk Hair Caddis, size 18 or 20, patterns work well as imitations for the naturals. Nymphs will take more fish than dries so try smaller beadheads in the 18-20 size range. Tailwater Tinys, Pickpockets, BH Pheasant Tail, BH Copper John in sizes 18-20 will work well. Also Attractors have been working and some nice Browns have been caught using size 18 Royal Wulffs or H&L Variants.

Colorado River

Fishing well with Blue Wing Olives, Little Brown Stones and Caddis. Long casts and stealthy presentations are the key.

St. Vrain Drainage

Running at 61 cfs at Lyons and 29.7 in Allenspark. Blue Wing Olives are showing up and can provide some good early season fishing. Try Thorax BWOs, Hatchmasters or Parachute BWO patterns for surface action. Nymphs are a good bet with BH Baetis, S&M Mayfly nymphs, BH Pheasant Tails and Pickpockets catching their share of fish. Midges are still your best bet and Griffith’s Gnat, Hi-Vis Midge, Stuck-in-the-Shucks, Brassies, Tailwater Tinys and Lint Bugs, all in sizes 18-22. Stonefly Patterns Like Stimulators or Trudes can do very well in sizes 12-16. Use these as a point fly on a dropper rig.

Fall River

Open but the fishing is tough. Use small Stones in sizes 20-22 and Midges in 20-22. Long leaders and light tippets are the way to go.

Glacier Creek

Opening up, but slow fishing. Midges and Little Brown Stones are prevalent. Try Small Elk Hairs in 18-20 for the Stones and any of the Midge patterns listed under the Big T. Also try some attractors like Wulffs or Trudes. Expect spooky fish in the still water with the best fishing being in the pockets with Nymphs.

Roaring River

The Roaring has opened up. Expect to use similar patterns to The Big Thompson in the Park.

High Mountain Lakes

Iced in, although Sprague Lake is open if you want to fish a lake.

For additional streamflows across Colorado visit www.dwr.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/