Fishing Reports for the waters we guide on.

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 hatches of midges and blue-winged olives.

Tips and Other Information: Flows are slightly above their normal historic average for this time of year.  Anglers can expect to see  hatches of midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives. Nymphing with tiny mayfly and midge-nymphs has been productive as of late.  With regard to matching the hatch, it’s hard to go wrong with a Size 24-26 Parachute Adams, #22-24 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, or #24 CDC Biot Trico Comparadun to match the aforementioned hatches.

Effective Patterns:  #20 Mercury Midge, #22 Black Beauty, #20 Red Larva, #20 Manhattan Midge, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #14-16 San Juan Worm, #20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-24 RS 2, #18-20 Buckskin, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, and #22-26 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:

Clarity: Excellent

14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges and blue-winged olives

Tips and Other Information: The Colorado River has shaped up nicely and is currently fishing well.  The leaves are peaking now, and the brown trout spawn is beginning. Anglers can expect to see a strong midge hatch in the morning, followed by Tricos, then a reliable “olive” hatch in the afternoon. In the slower pools and tailouts, the dry fly fishing has been very good.

Note:  Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Denver Water are conducting a stream restoration project on the Williams Fork River (below the reservoir to the confluence of the Colorado) that will begin on October 1, 2019 and last 4 to 6 weeks. Expect heavy equipment in the river, low flows, and muddy water for several weeks. I am told they will begin working at 7:00 a.m. each morning and continue working throughout the day, so plan accordingly. I would highly recommend another location, as the fishing will be poor with the muddy water.  This will also affect the clarity on the Colorado River for miles.  Your best bet is to fish Pumphouse or above the confluence of the Williams Fork in Lone Buck, Paul Gilbert, etc. 

Effective Patterns:  #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20 Mercury Midge, #22 Black Beauty, #20 Red Larva, #20 Manhattan Midge, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #14-16 San Juan Worm, #20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-24 RS 2, #18-20 Buckskin, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, and #22-26 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 hatches of blue-winged olives and blue-winged olives.

Tips and Other Information: Fishing has been good on the Williams Fork. Anglers can expect to see hatches of midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives. Nymphing has been good with an assortment of mayfly and caddis nymphs, and dry fly fishing has been good with Parachute Adams and Sparkle Duns.

Effective Patterns:  #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20 Mercury Midge, #22 Black Beauty, #20 Red Larva, #20 Manhattan Midge, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #14-16 San Juan Worm, #20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-24 RS 2, #18-20 Buckskin, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, and #22-26 Parachute Adams.

Fishing Report: Clear Creek

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Clarity: Excellent

Major Food Organisms: Blue Wing Olives and Midges

Conditions:  Look for midges and Blue Wing Olives in the areas that are not frozen

Suggested Patterns:  #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20 Mercury Midge, #22 Black Beauty, #20 Red Larva, #20 Manhattan Midge, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #14-16 San Juan Worm, #20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-24 RS 2, #18-20 Buckskin, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, and #22-26 Parachute Adams.

Fishing Report: Bear Creek

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Clarity: Excellent

Major Food Organisms: Blue Wing Olives and Midges

Conditions:  Flows are low and there may be shelf ice in places. Look for midges and Blue Wing Olives

Suggested Patterns:  #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20 Mercury Midge, #22 Black Beauty, #20 Red Larva, #20 Manhattan Midge, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #14-16 San Juan Worm, #20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-24 RS 2, #18-20 Buckskin, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, 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 hatches of blue-winged olives and midges

Tips and Other Information: Fishing at Deckers has been extremely tough as of late. Water temps have cooled down, but the trout are a bit stressed, hiding, and not willing to cooperate for the average angler. Current hatches include midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives, with a sporadic caddis or two. Dry fly enthusiast are finding plenty of small fish feeding on the surface. The majority of the fish have been small, but if you look in the right places, you’ll occasionally find some larger fish sipping surface offerings.  Small Parachute Adams, CDC Biot Trico Comparaduns, and Mathews Sparkle Duns are the ticket right now, in sizes 24-26. Current hatches include midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives (Psuedocloeons), with a sporadic caddis or two. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently stocked some catchables in the Deckers area to improve catch-rates.

Effective Patterns: #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20 Mercury Midge, #14-16 San Juan Worm, #20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-24 RS 2, #18-20 Buckskin, # Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, and #20-22 Parachute Adams.

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

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Trophy trout await you on many of our leases on the North Fork of the South Platte.  To book a day on Boxwood, Long Meadow, North Fork Ranch, or the Meadows, call the Blue Quill Angler (303-674-4700) and we’ll gladly assist you.

Current Conditions:

Clarity: Good

14 Day Forecast: Look for good fishing until Denver Water turns of the Roberts Tunnel for the winter.

Tips and Other Information: The North Fork is fishing good and should continue to fish well through October. An assortment of midge and mayfly nymphs trailed off an attractor has been producing lots of good fish as of late.

Effective Patterns:  #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #10 Pine Squirrel Leech, #20 Red Larva, #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, 18-20 Rainbow Warrior, #18-22 Flashback Black Beauty, and #20-22 Manhattan Midge.

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 hatches of midges and blue-winged olives.

Tips and Other Information: Fishing in Cheesman Canyon has been extremely tough as of late. Water temps have cooled down, but the trout are a bit stressed, hiding, and not willing to cooperate for the average angler. Current hatches include midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives, with a sporadic caddis or two. Dry fly enthusiast are finding plenty of small fish feeding on the surface, but larger fish are harder to find. Small Parachute Adams, CDC Biot Trico Comparaduns, and Mathews Sparkle Duns are the ticket right now, in sizes 20-22.

Effective Patterns: #20 Mercury Midge, #24 Mercury Baetis, #22 Black Beauty, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20-24 RS 2, #18-20 Buckskin, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, and #22-24 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:  Flows are perfect throughout the Blue River corridor. Anglers should prepare for hatches of midges and blue-winged olives.

Tips and Other Information: Flows are perfect from Silverthorn to Green Mountain Reservoir.  In town, a Mysis pattern, red larva, dropped with and assortment of  mayfly nymphs are your best bet.  The lower river looks great, but fishing is difficult at best. Plan on working hard for a few fish, but the scenery and “fishing” is not shabby.  As they say, it’s fishing not catching, so a day in Summit County is never a bad thing to beat the crowds.  Make no mistake about it though… fishing on the Blue River has been a bit of a disappointment as of late…

Effective Patterns:  ​#20-22 Juju Baetis, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #22 Stalcups Baetis, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #16 Bead Head Breadcrust, #18 Barr Emerger, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #14 San Juan Worm, #20 Sparkle Dun, and #20 Parachute Adams.