Fishing Reports for the waters we guide on.

Pat Dorsey’s Stream Report: Deckers – South Platte River

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Deckers is a world-renowned stretch of the South Platte River. There are miles of public water to fish in and around the hamlet of Deckers.

Current Conditions 

Clarity:  Excellent
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14 Day Forecast: Look for strong hatches of midges, Tricos, pale morning duns, and caddis.

Tips and Other Information: Cheesman Reservoir is currently 99% full. Denver Water is gonna attempt to achieve a “physical fill” in preparation of using the storage to supply the city of Denver and senior water right holders with their downstream demand for the remainder of the summer-season. The feeders creeks continue to add an additional 30 cfs of water, but they are shrinking fast due to the lack of rain. Anglers should prepare themselves for reliable hatches of midges, Tricos, pale morning duns, and caddis. The best fishing is in the morning before the water temperature gets too warm. Please keep and eye on the water temperatures and stop fishing once they hit 65 degrees.

Effective Patterns:#22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg,#20-24 Black Beauty, #20-22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #20 JujuBaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #18 Buckskin, #16 Graphic Caddis, #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis, #14-16 Puterbaugh Caddis, #20 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #20 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Comparadun, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, and #20-26 Parachute Adams.

Pat Dorsey’s Stream Report: North Fork of the South Platte River

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The North Fork of the South Platte River offers yet another opportunity to sample the South Platte River system. The vast majority of this swift, fast flowing stem of the South Platte River is within an hour’s reach of metropolitan Denver, nevertheless, this branch gets over-shadowed by the renowned South Fork. The headwaters of the North Fork, as it is referred to, commence on the eastern side of legendary Kenosha Pass. The North Fork is extremely small and expeditious for the first several miles until it joins forces with diverted water from the bottom of Dillon Reservoir via the Roberts Tunnel. Another tributary—Geneva Creek—further adds a substantial quantity of water to the North Fork near the small town of Grant. This creek is especially influential during run-off as the North Fork swells and becomes high and roily. Several other smaller side-streams also enter the river but are not the magnitude of the two previously mentioned sources of water.

The North Fork is comprised of shallow riffles, runs, and an abundance of pocket water. Deep holes are uncommon throughout this section of river. The water is gin clear, and standard sight nymphing tactics work best on a day-to-day basis. Short-line nymphing is the most effective technique with the heavy brush, small pockets, and quick seams—all of which are key holding areas for the trout. Typically if it looks “fishy”, it generally is, and of course it’s always lucrative to find fish positioned where you think they should be.

Trophy trout await you on many of our leases on the North Fork of the South Platte.  To book a day at North Fork Ranch, Shawnee Meadows, or Rawhide (upper and middle) Fly Fisher’s call the Blue Quill Angler (303-674-4700) and we’ll gladly assist you.

Current Conditions

Clarity: Relatively clear

14 Day Forecast: The Tunnel is running right now and look for flows to stay relatively high as Denver Water utilizes the North Fork to help supplement Denver’s water demands.

Tips and Other Information: Flows are currently excellent on the North Fork of the South Platte. Worms, Eggs, Leeches, Midges and Emergers have been effective in the past few days. To fish on one of our private leases, contact the Blue Quill Angler for more details (303-674-4700). We are excited about some of the new properties that we are guiding on and you should be too. This is a great opportunity to fish some new water and enjoy a true “private water experience”.

Pat Dorsey’s Fishing Report: Cheesman Canyon – South Platte

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Cheesman Canyon is one of the best tailwaters in the country. There’s a common belief among “canyon regulars” that if you can catch fish on the South Platte River, you can fool fish anywhere in the world. There’s no substitution for good technique in Cheesman Canyon.

Current Conditions 

Clarity: Excellent

14 Day Forecast: Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of midge, blue-winged olives, and caddis.

Tips and Other Information: Denver Water is gonna attempt to achieve a “physical fill” in preparation of using the storage to supply the city of Denver and senior water right holders with their downstream demand for the remainder of the summer-season. Anglers should prepare themselves for reliable hatches of midges, blue-winged olives, and caddis. San Juan Worms, Craneflies, and UV Scuds tailed by caddis larvae and mayfly emergers have been the best producers as of late. Water temperatures have not been an issue so far in Cheesman Canyon thank goodness.

Effective Patterns: #22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #24 Black Beauty, #24 Top Secret Midges, #20 JujuBaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #20 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Comparadun, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, and #20-26 Parachute Adams.

Pat Dorsey’s Stream Report: Williams Fork River

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The Williams Fork is one of the prettiest places on the planet.  This stretch is proof that trout don’t live in ugly places.

Current Conditions

Clarity: Excellent
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14 Day Forecast: Look for good hatches of Caddis, PMDs, and Golden Stones over the next few weeks.

Tips and Other Information: Flows have improved on the Williams Fork, currently flowing at 144 CFS. Anglers can expect to see hatches of Caddis, PMDs, Golden Stoneflies, Yellow Sallies, Midges and a few baetis here and there. Mosquitos have picked up quite a bit as well, so be prepared.

Effective Patterns: #22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20 Mercury Blood Midge, #20 Red Larva, #20 Pale Olive Larva, #20-22 Black Beauty, #20-22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #20 JujuBaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #20 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Comparadun, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, and #20-26 Parachute Adams.

Pat Dorsey’s Stream Report: Blue River

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The Blue River is a pocket water paradise. There are miles of public water between the town of Silverthorne and Green Mountain Reservoir for you to sample.

Current Conditions

Clarity: Excellent

14 Day Forecast:  Look for low flows and sporadic hatches of midges.

Tips and Other Information: The Blue River in the town of Silverthorne is your best bet right now.   Effective patterns include Mysis Shrimp, egg patterns, or a red larvae, trailed by an assortment of small mayfly and midge imitations.  Flows are extremely low right now as Denver Water attempt to fill the lake above. Dillon Reservoir is 99% percent full so flows should improve any day now. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocked the Blue River this spring so anglers are catching plenty of good-sized trout despite the low flows.

Effective Patterns:

#18-20 Mysis Shrimp, #20-22 Medallion Midge, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #22-22 Black Beauty, #20-22 Red Larva, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20 JujuBaetis, #18-22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20-24 Griffith Gnat, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, and 22-26 Parachute Adams.

Pat Dorsey’s Stream Report – Elevenmile Canyon – South Platte

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Elevenmile Canyon is known for its superb dry fly fishing. The Trico hatch is one of many that anglers should concentrate their efforts on.

Current Conditions

Clarity: Excellent

14 Day Forecast:  Look for lower flows and great hatches in the canyon.

Tips and Other Information: Anglers should prepare themselves for AM and PM midge hatches in conjunction with a mid-day blue-winged olive and caddis hatches. PMDs are also becoming active and anglers will begin to see good numbers of tricos and stoneflies over the next couple weeks. Eleven Mile Reservoir is at 99 percent capacity which is good news for the fishery below.

Effective Patterns:#22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 JujuBaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #18 Buckskin, #16 Graphic Caddis, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20 Parachute Adams, #20 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #20 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Comparadun, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, and #20-26 Parachute Adams.

Pat Dorsey’s Stream Report: Colorado River

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Fishing the Colorado River should be on everyone’s bucket list. Whether you’re a walk/wade fisherman or prefer float-fishing, this river has it all!

Current Conditions:

14 Day Forecast: Voluntary FISHING CLOSURE! Watch out for water temps! Afternoon fishing has been tough and anglers are asked to fish other locations until water temps improve. As they release more water out of the lower Blue, that will help temps on the Upper Colorado below Kremmling. Until then, plan on fishing super early if you make it up there and knock off midday when the temps are at their highest. Look for sporadic hatches of midges, PMDs, caddis and blue-wing olives.

Tips and Other Information: Flows are low on the Colorado River with the low snowpack and lack of rain.  Williams Fork Reservoir is at 91% capacity so look for minimal releases until the lake fills. Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of caddis, yellow sallies, and pale morning duns.  The best fishing is between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. The angling community ask for your help and quit fishing once the water temperature reaches 65 degrees. Flow should improve once Williams Fork Reservoir fills. Pray for rain and a great monsoon season!

Effective Patterns: #22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20 JujuBaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #20 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Comparadun, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, and #20-26 Parachute Adams.

Fishing Report: Clear Creek

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Coming soon