Fishing Reports for the waters we guide on.

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: Look for sporadic hatches of midges and afternoon BWO’s

Tips and Other Information: Anglers should prepare themselves for sporadic hatches of midges. Flows are low in Parshall (150 cfs) and currently (3/31/21) the river above the Williams Fork is still frozen. With the warm weather trend coming this week, the river above the Willies Fork should open up. Look for clarity changes as the low level run-off can add a decent amount of water to the system. Anglers are finding some good midge fishing in the Parshall Hole. Effective patterns include Griffith Gnats, Matt’s Midges, and small Parachute Adams. Due to the elevation, the BWO’s won’t start for another few weeks, but once they do its a game changer! Now is the time to stock up on Baetis nymphs and mayfly duns in preparation of the good fishing that lies ahead!

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 – 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 sporadic hatches of midges

Tips and Other Information: Anglers should prepare themselves for sporadic hatches of midges.  The optimum window of opportunity is between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.  Eleven Mile Canyon is known for its excellent midge hatches this time of year.  Make sure you are carrying plenty of brown and black pupae and several adults to match the hatch during the height of emergence.  Its important to target the slow, deep pools where the trout overwinter. The best fishing is up near the dam as the lower part of the canyon freezes during the winter. Make sure you dress warm…Eleven Mile Canyon is a frigid place during the winter.

Effective Patterns:#22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20 Mercury Blood Midge, #20 Red Larva, #20 Pale Olive Larva, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #22 JujuBaetis, #22-24 Medallion Midge, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #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, so fishing is technical, but anglers willing to work hard are catching some nice trout.

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: 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 sporadic hatches of midges

Tips and Other Information:Cheesman Reservoir is currently 45 percent full, so Denver Water is keeping the outflows low all winter long. Currently the lower river is frozen and slush ice is big problem on below Bridge Crossing until mid day. Above Bridge Crossing, the river is open, but the water is very cold. Morning water temps have been 34 degrees, rising up to 36 degrees mid day. Feeder streams (from low-level run-off) are adding an additional 10 cfs of water to the Deckers-area. Anglers should prepare themselves for sporadic hatches of midges. It’s hard to go wrong with an egg-midge combo right now. Top producers have been size 24 Black Beauties, Top Secret Midges, and Bling Midges. The optimum window of opportunity is between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Make sure you target the slow, deep pools where the trout’s concentration is the highest this time of year. Expect heavy crowds in and around the Deckers area.

Effective Patterns:#22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20 Mercury Blood Midge, #20 Red Larva, #20 Pale Olive Larva, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #22 JujuBaetis, #22-24 Medallion Midge, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, and #20-26 Parachute Adams.

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: Look for low flows and sporadic hatches of midges

Tips and Other Information:Cheesman Reservoir is currently 45 percent full, so Denver Water is keeping the outflows low all winter long. Anglers should prepare themselves for sporadic hatches of midges. This means breaking out the small bugs–size 22 is a starting point, but more times than not, you’ll be fishing with a size 24 or 26. The optimum window of opportunity is between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Make sure you target the slow, deep pools where the trout overwinter. The entire canyon is fishable, but conditions are quite challenging. Plan on working hard for every fish you catch right now. Dress warm, as Cheesman Canyon is a frigid place this time of year. Expect heavy crowds in Cheesman Canyon, despite the difficult conditions…

Effective Patterns: #22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20 Mercury Blood Midge, #20 Red Larva, #20 Pale Olive Larva, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #22 JujuBaetis, #22-24 Medallion Midge, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #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 sporadic hatches of midges

Tips and Other Information:Flows are perfect on the Williams Fork.   It’s hard to go wrong with an egg pattern trailed by a midge imitation this time of year. The optimum window of opportunity is between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Make sure you target the slow, deep pools where the trout overwinter. The entire stretch between the confluence of the Colorado River and the dam is fishable. Access (walking through the snow) can be difficult at times, so plan accordingly.

Effective Patterns: #22-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20 Mercury Blood Midge, #20 Red Larva, #20 Pale Olive Larva, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #22 JujuBaetis, #22-24 Medallion Midge, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #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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Current Conditions

Clarity: Fair

14 Day Forecast: Look for good flows and reliable fishing this winter.

Tips and Other Information:Flows are currently excellent on the North Fork of the South Platte. Egg-midge combos 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”.

Fishing Report: Clear Creek

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Coming soon