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: Exellent

Water Temperature: Low 40’s

14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges, blue-winged olives, and Tricos. Look for low flows for the remainder of the autumn season.

Tips and Other Information:

Eleven Mile Canyon is fishing fair to good right now. Anglers can expect to see reliable hatches of midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives.  Nymphing with an assortment of midge and mayfly nymphs has been productive before the hatch.  Matt’s Midge,  CDC Biot Trico Comparduns, and Mathew’s Sparkle Duns are effective during the height of the hatch. Dry and droppers are a good option right now with the heavy aquatic vegetation that is clogging the substrate in many areas.

Effective Patterns:  #20-22 Jujubaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20 Radiation Baetis, #22 Smith’s Baetis, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #18 Buckskin, #18 Pale Olive Midge Larva, #20-22 Mercury Flashback RS 2, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun (BWO), #24 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Trico Comparadun, #22 Matt’s Midge, #22 Griffith Gnat, and #24 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: Good

Water Temperature:  High  50’s to low 60’s

14 Day Forecast: Look for  hatches of midges, blue-winged olives, Tricos, and Red Quills.

Tips and Other Information: Flows are getting low on the Colorado River, especially near Parshall (134 cfs).  If you pick and choose your spots however, anglers are still catching plenty of nice fish despite the low water.  Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of midges, blue winged olives, red quills, and Tricos. Egg midge (Baetis nymph) combos are an excellent strategy right now. If you look for them, you’ll find plenty of rising fish in the slower pools and tailouts.

Effective Patterns:  #16 San Juan Worm, #18-20 Buckskin, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20 Rainbow Warrior,  #20-22 Mercury Midge, #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20-22 Chocolate Foam  Wing Emerger,  #16-20 Parachute Adams, #24 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Trico Comparadun, #16-18 Ak’s Red Quill, #20-22 Matt’s Midge, and #20-22 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun.

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 in Silverthorne.

Water Temperature: Low 40’s

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

Tips and Other Information: Flows are once again low on the Blue River. In town, a Mysis pattern, red larva, dropped with and assortment of  mayfly nymphs are your best bet right now. On the lower river, and assortment of midge and mayfly imitations are picking up a few fish. Fishing overall on the Blue River has been a disappointment as of late, as the number of trout are way down. Your best bet is to fish in town and sight fish to individual fish to increase your odds of hooking fish. Anglers who are blind fishing are not enjoying much success…

Effective Patterns:  ​ #18-20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20 Laney’s Mysis, #20-22 Jujabaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20 Matt’s Midge, and #20 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun.

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

Water Temperature:  Mid 40’s on the upper, upper 40’s near confluence
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14 Day Forecast: Look for reliable hatches of midges, PMD’s, Blue Winged Olives, Tricos, and Red Quills

Tips and Other Information:  Flows are really low on the Willies Fork.  Currently anglers are catching a few small browns and the occasional medium-sized rainbow.  Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of midges, blue winged olives, red quills, and Tricos.  It’s hard to go wrong with a San Juan Worm, trailed by a size 18 Buckskin, Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, or Sparkle Wing RS 2 right now.

Effective Patterns:  #14-16 San Juan Worm, #18-20 Buckskin, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Jujabaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #18- 20 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Sparkle Dun, #20-22 Parachute Adams, #24 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Trico Comparadun, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, and #16 AK’s Red Quill.

Fishing Report: Clear Creek

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Clarity: Excellent

Hatches: Midges

Major Food Organisms: Midges

Conditions:  River fishing decent right now with recent increase in flows  Fish are feeding on midges and Caddis pupa under the surface.  In the late afternoon, you may find a few fish rising in the slower sections targeting Caddis dries.  Euro nymphing has been extremely productive with darker colored jig nymphs with silver and copper beads.

Suggested Patterns: #14-16 Green Copper Johns,  #14-16 Tungsten Pheasant Tail, #14-16 Flash Back Hares Ear, #14-16 Barr,s Graphic Caddis, #20-22 Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty, #20-22 Minute Midge, #20-22 Periwinkle, #20-22 Pearl Jam, #20-22 Brassie, #18-22 Buckskin, and #20-22 Chironoflash

Fishing Report: Bear Creek

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Clarity: Excellent

Hatches: Midges

Major Food Organisms: Midges

Conditions:  River fishing decent right now with recent increase in flows  Fish are feeding on midges and Caddis pupa under the surface.  In the late afternoon, you may find a few fish rising in the slower sections targeting Caddis dries.  Euro nymphing has been extremely productive with darker colored jig nymphs with silver and copper beads.

Suggested Patterns: #14-16 Green Copper Johns,  #14-16 Tungsten Pheasant Tail, #14-16 Flash Back Hares Ear, #14-16 Barr,s Graphic Caddis, #20-22 Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty, #20-22 Minute Midge, #20-22 Periwinkle, #20-22 Pearl Jam, #20-22 Brassie, #18-22 Buckskin, and #20-22 Chironoflash

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

Water Temperature: Low 40’s
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14 Day Forecast:   Look for hatches of midges, blue-winged olives, and Tricos

Tips and Other Information:  Fishing in and around the Deckers is currently fair at the moment with the recent reduction in water levels. Chessman Reservoir is extremely low (58,000 acre feet) so look for low flows for the remainder of the year. Denver Water is gonna leave the Roberts Tunnel on this winter (so that means lower flows on the South Fork), so look for flows to range between 50-100 cfs for most of the autumn and winter season.  Anglers can expect to see reliable hatches of midges, Tricos, and blue winged olives right now. Dry and dropper rigs are productive in the skinny water where the trout become suspicious of standard indicator rigs. Crowds have been heavy as of late…

Effective Patterns:  #20-22 Jujubaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20 Smith’s Baetis, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #18 Buckskin, # #20-22 Mercury Flashback RS 2, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #24 Stalcup’s CDC Biot Trico Comparadun, #22 Matt’s Midge, #20-22 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun

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

Water Temperature: Low to mid 40’s

14 Day Forecast: Look for excellent conditions for weeks to come. Denver Water plans to run the Roberts Tunnel throughout the winter.

Tips and Other Information: Fishing has been fair to good on the North Fork depending on the location.   Small midges, mayfly nymphs and a variety of bead heads have been effective as of late. The water is bit high, so you’ll need to target the soft water margins and choose the proper locations based on above average flow regimes. I expect Denver Water to begin to lower the flows are the temperatures are cooling down and the need for downstream demand is decreasing. Denver Water plans to run the Robert Tunnel between 50 and 100 cfs throughout the winter months…

Effective Patterns:  #18 Hot Tail Flash Eggs, #18-20 Rainbow Warrior, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #18-20 Red Larva, #18 Red and Pink Flossy Worms, #20-22 Mercury Black Beauty, #10 White Crystal Bugger, #10 Pine Squirrel Leech, #16-20 red Copper John, #18-20 Flashback PT, #16-18 Mercer’s Psycho Prince, and #16-18 Bead Head Breadcrust.

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

Water Temperature: Low 40’s

14 Day Forecast:  Look for hatches of midges, sporadic caddis, golden stoneflies, craneflies, PMD’s and blue-winged olives.

Tips and Other Information: Cheesman Canyon is fishing tough right now with the recent drop in flow. Cheesman Reservoir is extremely low (58,000 acre feet) so look for low flows for the remainder of the year. Denver Water is gonna leave the Roberts Tunnel on this winter (so that means lower flows on the South Fork), so look for flows to range between 50-100 cfs for most of the autumn and winter season. Anglers can expect to see a good a.m. midge bite, followed by mid day mayflay hatches. First the Tricos come off, followed by some blue winged olives. Go-to bugs have been size 20 Jujubaetis, size 22 Stalcup’s Baetis, and a size 22 Foam Wing Emerger. You’ll find plenty of rising fish if you target the right water and really look for them. Crowds have been very heavy as of late…

Effective Patterns:  #20-22 Jujubaetis, #22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20 Smith’s Baetis, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20 Mitchell’s Split Case Baetis, #20 Barr Flashback Emerger, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20-22 Mercury Flashback RS 2, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20-22 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun (BWO), #24 CDC Biot Trico Comparadun, #22 Matt’s Midge.