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, blue-winged olives, and sporadic caddis and yellow sallies. Flows are on the rise from spring run-off.

Tips and Other Information:

Flows are on the rise in Eleven Mile Canyon due to spring run-off. Inflows to Spinney Mountain Reservoir are currently 630 cfs and rising, so the river is gonna get big soon! Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of midges, sporadic blue-winged olives, caddis and yellow sallies. I’d break out some of the big-bites as well, including stoneflies, San Juan Worms, scuds, leeches, etc. and trail a Buckskin, Mercury Pheasant Tail, Juju Baetis, Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, red Copper John, RS 2 behind it, all in sizes 18-22.

Effective Patterns:  #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #14-16 San Juan Worm, #14-16 UV Scud, #16-18 red Copper John, #20 Juju Baetis, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #20 RS 2, #18 Buckskin, #16 Barr’s Graphic Caddis, #16 Mercer’s Swing Nymph, #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis, #16 Yellow Sally #16 Stimulator, #18-20 Sparkle Dun, #20-22 Matt’s Midge, and #20-22 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: Poor

14 Day Forecast: The Colorado is experiencing spring run-off.  Stonefly nymphs under the surface and squirmy worms as the water will be constantly stirred from the beginning of run-off

Tips and Other Information: The Colorado is experiencing spring run off and the water is off color.  Anglers can still catch fish on the lower river with large stonefly patterns. Otherwise, use your standard fare of high water flies that will get down quickly.

Effective Patterns:  #10 Pats Rubber Legs, Egg patterns, #14 San Juan Worm, Chamois Leeches, and other brightly colored patterns and flashy beachheads, MOPS and Squirmy’s fished in tandem or behind a MOP fly.

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: Good

14 Day Forecast:  Look for spring run-off to prevail

Tips and Other Information: Flows are high from spring run-off!  In town, a Mysis pattern, red larva, dropped with and assortment of  mayfly nymphs are your best bet right now.  The lower river is blown out. We’ll keep you posted as things change…

Effective Patterns:  ​#20 Juju Baetis, #20 Choc Foam Wing Emerger, #22 Stalcups Baetis, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20 Pale Olive Midge Larva, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22-24 Bling Midge, #22-24 Top Secret Midge, #22-24 Minute Midge, #22-24 Jujubee Midge, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, #20 Sparkle Dun, and #24-26 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: Stained
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14 Day Forecast: Expect flows to continue to rise from spring run-off

Tips and Other Information:  Flows are getting a bit on the high side right now.  San Juan worms, trailed by Buckskins and Mercury Pheasant Tails are  your best bet right now. Look for hatches of midges, blue winged olives, and caddis. The Colorado River is experiencing spring run-off, so you’ll need to access the river from the parking lot off County Road 3. The river is still fishable, but conditions are getting tough with the high water.

Effective Patterns:  #18 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #14 San Juan Worm, #18 Buckskin, #14-18 Bead Head Breadcrust, and #20 Sparkle Wing RS 2.

Fishing Report: Clear Creek

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Clarity: Poor

Major Food Organisms: Caddis

Conditions:  Water is beginning to rise with the onset of run-off so fishing the edges right now with dry-dropper rigs or a Euro setup will produce fish.  When the water really gets going, get out the junk flies and have a blast.  Fish are not picky right now so get out and have some fun before the run-off and rafters really get going

Suggested Patterns:  Any jigged Euro Nymph right now will work as long as it is heavy, Jigged Squirmy’s, Mop flies, Chubby Chernobyls, Amy’s Ant or any other large dry fly you can see

Fishing Report: Bear Creek

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Clarity: Stained unless we get afternoon storms then it is muddy

Major Food Organisms: Caddis

Conditions:  Fish are feeding on caddis larva under the surface right now with some surface activity in the evening.  Dry-dropper rig or single fly euro rig is your best bet under the surface.

Suggested Patterns:  Any jigged Euro Nymph right now will work as long as it is heavy.  Jigged Squirmy’s, Mop flies, Chubby Chernobyls, Amy’s Ant or any other large dry fly you can see followed by a #16 Jigged Soft Hackle Pleasant Tail, #16 Jigged Quill Nymph, #16 Devil Jig – Green, #16 Hot Spot PT Jig

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 midges, sporadic blue-winged olives and caddis.

Tips and Other Information:  Flows were bumped to 155 a few days ago, so expect the caddis hatch to slow a bit due to colder water temps.   Anglers should expect to see hatches of midges, sporadic blue-winged olives and caddis.  Flies of choice have been scuds, Baetis nymphs, and caddis pupae. Flows will remain low until Cheesman Reservoir fills. Currently the lake is about 11 feet from the top, so it shouldn’t take too long.

Effective Patterns:  20 Juju Baetis, #14-16 UV Scud, #20 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, 20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Chironoflash Midge, #18 Buckskin, #20 Pale Olive Midge Larva, #20 Sparkle Dun, #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis, #16 Barr’s Graphic Caddis, #16 Mercer’s Swing Caddis, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, 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: Poor

14 Day Forecast: Look for spring run-off to prevail

Tips and Other Information: The North Fork is extremely high and muddy. It’s still fishable, but it is tough fishing. You’ll need to fish with brightly-colored flies and target the edges.

Effective Patterns:  #16 Red and pink San Juan Worms, #8-#10 MOPS, Squirmy Worms, #10 Pat’s Rubber Legs, #12 Chamois Leeches, egg patterns, and other brightly colored patterns and flashy beadheads.

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 until Cheesman Reservoir fills. Were expecting it to fill quickly now, with all the reservoirs above full now.

Tips and Other Information: Flows will remain low until Cheesman Reservoir fills. Currently the lake is about 11 feet from the top, so it shouldn’t take too long.  Currently anglers should expect hatches of midges, sporadic blue-winged olives and sporadic caddis, but overall the hatches have been extremely light and the trout are currently feeding opportunistically. Fishing has been challenging as of late, but those anglers working hard, covering a lot of water, are reaping the benefits of some nice fish.

Note:  The Cheesman Canyon trout are spawning in many sections of the canyon and will continue through the latter part of June. Ice-cold water temps (41 degrees) delay the spawning process in this section of the South Platte. Please watch your step in the shallow riffles as there are redds everywhere. If you see fish in shallow rifles, assume the are spawning and leave them alone. Target your efforts in deeper holes and water that is 2-4 feet deep.

Effective Patterns:  #20 Juju Baetis, #14-16 UV Scud, #20 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, 20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Chironoflash Midge, #18 Buckskin, #20 Pale Olive Midge Larva, #20 Sparkle Dun, #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis, #16 Barr’s Graphic Caddis, #16 Mercer’s Swing Caddis, #22-24 Matt’s Midge, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, and #24-26 Parachute Adams.