Clear Creek – 08/12/2026

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Time: 10:00AM – 12:00PM

Location: Clear Creek Canyon

Clear Creek 08/12/2026 Photo Album

I checked the flows on South Boulder Creek, and they remained at 69 CFS. I knew from prior experience that this level of release was very favorable for fly fishing, and I sincerely desired a day in South Boulder Creek Canyon. Unfortunately the weather report was concerning. A relatively high probability of thunderstorms were predicted from 1:00 PM until the early evening, and I did not wish to risk being caught in the canyon with a challenging uphill exit climb during heavy rain, lightning and thunder.

I shifted my attention to Clear Creek, and thunderstorms were predicted there as well, although the probability was slightly lower. More important from my perspective, the creek runs right along US 6, so a quick exit was a strong possibility. Also, the drive was shorter, and in the event that I cut my day short, I was not wasting as much time or fuel.

Caddis Adult Eater Was a Beauty

I arrived at Clear Creek at 9:30AM after waiting at a construction stop for fifteen minutes. I fit together my Orvis Access four weight, and I chose wet wading, since the air temperature was already at 83 degrees at 9:30 in the morning.

I hiked down US 6 for .2 mile, and then I negotiated a steep and rocky bank to the edge of the creek. Flows were in the 56 CFS range, and the stream was very clear. I took the water temperature at 10:30AM, and it was 62 degrees.

The Path Ahead

I began my fly fishing day with a peacock hippie stomper trailing a salvation nymph. This combination worked well on Tuesday, but it was totally ignored by the trout of Clear Creek. I observed a few flashes to the hippie stomper, but that was the extent of the action in the first thirty minutes. I paused to consider alternative approaches, and I removed the salvation nymph and replaced it with a size 16 deer hair caddis with a tan body. When I resort to a double dry, I usually attach the trailing fly on a twelve to eighteen inch dropper, but in this case I kept the 2.5 foot leader from the dry/dropper in place.

Acceptable

The shift in approach was effective, and I landed three brown trout by 11:00AM. The second fish was a very nice brown in the thirteen inch range, and it smacked the trailing caddis in a nice riffle over moderate depth. In spite of my improved results, I remained dissatisfied with the effectiveness of the flies. The leading hippie stomper was in many cases attracting the attention of the trout as evidenced by refusals or brief looks. I wanted a fly that either resulted in an eat, or one that simply served as an indicator with the caddis becoming the main attraction.

Dwelled Along the Bank

It was around this time that the wind began to gust at high velocity, and I wondered if perhaps terrestrials were a factor. I snipped off the hippie stomper and replaced it with a size 14 Jake’s gulp beetle, and I added a smaller size 16 light gray deer hair caddis as the trailer. These flies would remain on my line, until I paused at noon, and they delivered three very respectable brown trout. All three inhaled the beetle, and I also missed a couple more that escaped, before I could corral them in my net. These three fish were also fine wild fish in the twelve to thirteen inch range. It seems that I’ve been catching larger brown trout on Clear Creek during my last two visits than I caught in previous years. Hopefully this is a permanent trend.

Big Spots

I discovered that fishing a beetle requires constant focus. The beetle rides very low in the surface film, and the trout dart quickly to the surface and snatch it while making minimal disturbance. I was rather pleased with my quick hook sets on the beetle takes.

Little Foam Nook Produced

By noon some dark clouds gathered in the southwestern sky. I was developing a rhythm with the beetle and caddis, and I hoped to delay my lunch until at least 1PM, as I prospected the left bank at a rapid pace. However, the weather had other ideas. A streak of lightning and the sound of thunder added to the black sky, and I decided to exit and climb the steep, rocky bank before the storm rolled in. Perhaps it would pass during my lunch, and I could resume afterwards.

And Yet Another Clear Creek Beast

I downed my lunch in my car, and when I opened the door to inspect the sky, the dark clouds were closer and rain seemed imminent. I decided to call it a day. I removed my wet wading clothes and stowed my rod and gear, and just as I sat down in the driver’s seat, rain drops appeared on my windshield. I once again stopped for a flagman and single lane traffic due to construction, and while idling in line, the rain intensified as if to confirm my decision to quit.

Next to Rock on Left

Six fish in two hours was very respectable, and finding success with a foam beetle was very rewarding. As I mentioned, the average size of the brown trout in Clear Creek Canyon seems to have grown compared to outings in previous years. Hopefully I can return in the near future for a more extended outing.

Fish Landed: 6

 

Moose Creek – 08/11/2026

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Time: 10:45AM – 3:15PM

Location: National forest

Note: In order to protect small high country streams, I have chosen to change the name for a few. This particular creek happens to be one of them. Excessive exposure could lead to crowding and lower fish densities.

I planned to make a trip to the Roaring Fork Valley this week, and I eagerly anticipated fly fishing the Frying Pan River with its cold bottom releases during the drought and heat that affected the 2026 summer. My daughter advised checking the flows, before I advanced my plans too far, and her suggestion proved to be prescient. The water managers increased the flows to 509 CFS due to downstream water demands, and prior experience told me that anything above 400 CFS was very difficult to fish. I needed a new plan.

Glistening Brook Trout

On 08/03/2026 I experienced a magnificent day on Moose Creek, so I decided to give it another trial. The flows were strong and the water temperature registered in the fifties. By the time I drove to the parking lot and rigged my Orvis Access four weight and hiked a moderate distance, my watch displayed 10:45AM. I began my day with a peacock hippie stomper, since that was the fly that fueled my fun day on 08/03/2026.

Red Spots Amid Blue Halos

The first hippie stomper was in a mauled state with minimal tail fibers, broken foam and compressed hackles; so I swapped it for another after ten minutes of fishing. The second hippie stomper lasted until lunch, but it was also not in the best of shape. In spite of my dissatisfaction with my hippie stomper choices, I landed five brightly colored brook trout, before I broke for lunch at 11:50AM. Five fish in one hour of fly fishing was a decent morning; however, I sensed that I was passing through attractive areas that failed to yield fish.

Big Jaw

I debated whether to add a second dry fly behind the stomper or try a dry/dropper. The latter won out, and I attached a beadhead salvation nymph on a two foot dropper. It was a small stream, and I suspected that the fish were not hugging the bottom, thus, the short leader.

Tilted to View Belly

The ploy produced beautifully, and I ratcheted the fish count from five to thirty-eight, before I quit on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Initially it seemed that the salvation was the favored fly, but over the course of the afternoon, the hippie stomper rallied, and roughly 70 percent of the added trout grabbed the attractor dry fly. The salvation, however, earned its keep, and it seemed that the nymph eaters were slightly larger brook trout.

Stretched Out

Over the entire day thirty-seven of my catches were brook trout with one twelve inch brown trout joining the mix. One brook trout stretched the tape to twelve inches, but most were in the six to eleven inch range. Six brook trout measured in the upper portion of that range.

Impressive Brook Trout

I covered the creek thoroughly, however, marginal lies were not very effective. It seemed that the trout density in my chosen stretch on Tuesday was lower that that of the previous week, and consequently most of the catches emerged from deep pools and pockets. Depth along the bank or next to large exposed rocks was an obvious feature that yielded trout.

Amazing Body Color

Once again the real story on the day was the vivid colors of the brook trout. Many possessed bright orange bellies, white borders on the fins, and deep gray backs arrayed with dense spot patterns. Catching each gem was truly a thrill.

Fish Landed: 38

 

 

South Boulder Creek – 08/05/2026

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Time: 10:15AM – 2:30PM

Location: Below Gross Reservoir

South Boulder Creek 08/05/2026 Photo Album

A projected high temperature of 89 degrees in Denver had me once again seeking cold water options on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The flows on South Boulder Creek dropped from 73 CFS to 63 CFS for five days and then increased to 69 CFS. This is well within what I deem the ideal range, and the water released from the bottom of Gross Dam is very cold, so I made the small Front Range tailwater my destination.

Likely Spot

Two cars preceded me in the Kayak parking lot, and a couple more arrived, while I prepared to fish. I grabbed my Loomis two piece five weight and descended the steep trail to the creek. The stream was indeed flowing at a nice level, and it was crystal clear.

Nice One

I passed one other fisherman and continued another .2 mile beyond him, and I began my quest for trout with a tan pool toy hopper and a size 12 prince nymph. Neither fly attracted attention in the early going, so I added a salvation nymph to attain greater depth on my drifts. This paid dividends, as I recorded seven landed trout in the 1.5 hours, before I broke for lunch. Two fish nabbed the salvation and the others grabbed the prince, but I covered a considerable amount of stream real estate in order to net the seven fish. Many attractive locations failed to yield any form of attention.

Pretty Rainbow

After lunch I decided to experiment with a double dry arrangement. I placed a peacock hippie stomper in the forward position and trailed an olive-brown deer hair caddis. The caddis was on the menu for the resident trout, and I landed three to increase the fish count to ten.

Rainbow Territory

At this point I was rather pleased with my fish count, but the hippie stomper was generating a lot of refusals. Could the fish be looking for green drakes, and the hippie stomper was close enough to attract interest but not close enough to eat? I knotted a parachute green drake to my line, but it was totally ignored. Maybe the fish desired a different version of the western green drake? I replaced the parachute style with a comparadun. The creek was devoid of action.

Another Fine Rainbow

What were the fish looking for? I decided to revisit the dry/dropper, since I was approaching some faster water that contained deep runs and plunge pools. I went with the tan pool hopper, the prince nymph and the salvation once again. Almost instantly after the change, a nice rainbow trout crushed the hopper, and what a pleasant surprise that was. Shortly thereafter, a brown trout grabbed the drifting prince, and I thought I was in the money.

Wide Slick Behind Boulder

Alas, that was not the case, and I suffered through a long fish catching drought. While I was in this lull, I spotted three yellow sallies, as they hovered above the creek, so I swapped the salvation for a hares ear nymph. The move produced another brown trout, but then futility once again became my companion.

Speckles Galore

In a last ditch effort to add to the fish count, I reacted to the observed yellow sallies, and I cycled through a size 14 yellow stimulator and a small deer hair yellow sally imitation tied like a deer hair caddis. These ploys failed to arouse interest, so I hooked my fly to the rod guide at 2:30PM and hiked back to the car.

Moderate Riffles

Wednesday was a fair day on South Boulder Creek. I took the water temperature at 10:30AM, and it was 53 degrees. My hand actually got numb while holding the thermometer underwater for a minute. Before I quit at 2:30PM, I once again recorded the temperature, and it remained at a very cold 53 degrees. This was a very impressive example of holding the temperature steady. Of course the air temperature, where I was fishing, stayed in the mid-seventies, so there was less solar heating of the water column. Thirteen fish was respectable, and the largest was probably a thirteen inch rainbow. I was disappointed to once again fail to interact with green drakes. Hopefully the water managers keep the flows in the same range for awhile, and the green drakes make their annual appearance.

Fish Landed: 13

Moose Creek – 08/03/2026

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Time: 10:30AM – 2:30PM

Location: National Forest

Note: In order to protect small high country streams, I have chosen to change the name for a few. This particular creek happens to be one of them. Excessive exposure could lead to crowding and lower fish densities.

Once again temperatures were forecast to exceed 100 degrees on Monday, August 3, so the name of the game was finding a cool high country stream. I succeeded.

One of the Better Brook Trout

I arrived at my chosen destination by 9:40AM, and the air temperature was already 71 degrees. I changed into my wet wading clothes, and then I assembled my Orvis Access four weight. I was fishing another high gradient creek in tight quarters, so I favored the short and light rod. I began my hike, and after 1.1 mile I veered off the trail and cut to the creek.

Beast

To begin my day I used a clinch knot to tie a peacock body size 14 hippie stomper to my line. Other than a brief period toward the end of my time on the water, when I tested a parachute green drake, the peacock hippie stomper stayed on my line. There was no reason to switch, because the small stream residents simply craved the hippie stomper.

Best of the Day

I moved upstream for .4 miles and cast the highly visible and buoyant attractor to all likely spots, and it was rare that a fish did not engulf the fly. Between 10:30AM and 2:30PM I landed an abundant quantity of trout. All but two were brook trout, and the outliers were a twelve inch brown trout and a thirteen inch rainbow. As I expected, most of the brook trout fit within the six to ten inch range, but I was pleased to net a monster thirteen inch brookie and quite a few that stretched the tape to eleven inches. Many of these char were brightly colored with orange bellies, white edged fins and an amazing iridescent body sheen. Their natural beauty more than compensated for their lack of size in my estimation.

Cannot Get Enough of These Beauties

Shortly after I began casting, I paused to lower my stream thermometer into the creek. I held it a foot below the surface for 1.5 minutes, and it registered 54 degrees. I was pleased. My hands were actually turning numb. Just before I quit at 2:30PM I once again paused to record the temperature, and the thermometer displayed 58 degrees. This small mountain stream is holding up well during the summer of heat waves, drought and wildfires.

Outlier Brown Trout

Where were the fish? Everywhere. I probably wasted time casting to less than marginal spots, but even those yielded the occasional fish. Moderate riffles were money in the bank, but deep pockets and pools also produced.

Another Surprise. A Rainbow Trout.

What a day! Monday was my new personal best fish count. Of course most of the fish were small, but I still relish the surprise take and the deep bend in my small rod. The only fly I lost was the original hippie stomper which became so mangled, that it began to lose its attraction. The diminished state of the stomper was the reason I replaced it with a parachute green drake, and the drake accounted for one fish, before another brook trout took the leader under a rock. I slowly approached and attempted to free the line, but the fish spooked and darted way and broke off the parachute green drake in the process. Although the green drake was generating some interest, it did not live up to the hippie stomper, so I replaced it with a fresh version. Immediately brook trout began to hammer the new hippie stomper.

Fish Landed: A lot

Clear Creek – 08/02/2026

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Time: 9:00AM – 12:00PM

Location: Clear Creek Canyon

Clear Creek 08/02/2026 Photo Album

Temperatures were once again spiking in the 100’s in Denver, as I contemplated another fly fishing outing. I was somewhat burned out from playing pickleball early and in the heat on Friday and Saturday, and wet wading struck me as a refreshing option on Sunday, August 2, 2026. I decided to make a trip to nearby Clear Creek Canyon, as I did not wish to invest a lot of drive time. Clear Creek was tumbling along at 66 CFS at Lawson, and this represented decent flows for the nearby Front Range waterway. I made it my choice.

Another Fine Trout

In an effort to combat the heat I departed the house early, and this delivered me to my chosen pullout by 8:45AM. The air temperature was a mind boggling 82 degrees at 9AM, so I chose to wade wet, and I selected my small Orvis Access four weight. I was not expecting monsters from Clear Creek, and there was virtually no wind; only heat.

Moderate Riffles Produced

To begin my quest for Clear Creek trout, I tied a peacock hippie stomper to my line. I replenished my fly box with four new stompers after losing four the previous Wednesday, and the initial hippie stomper that I utilized was one of the new arrivals in my box. I prospected my way upstream through some fairly attractive pockets during the first fifteen minutes, but I never witnessed a sign of fish. I paused to reevaluate. While I considered my options, I decided to take the stream temperature. Perhaps the creek was too warm, and that explained the lack of action. I held the thermometer beneath the surface a foot or so for less than a minute, and it dropped to 62 degrees. I suspect it may have been another degree or two colder, but 62 satisfied my need to know, and I moved on.

Another Likely Trout Home

I decided to add a size 16 light olive deer hair caddis behind the hippie stomper, but this simply elevated my frustration, as the fish now refused the first fly, the hippie stomper, and ignored the caddis. My solution to this problem was to remove the stomper entirely and fish the small caddis solo. I did observe a few caddis, as they fluttered about near the streamside rocks.

Brown Emerged from Angled Current Seam

The solitary caddis performed as expected, and I landed three brown trout that materialized along the bank to grab the small sparsely tied caddis adult. I was pleased to be on the board, but catching three brown trout required quite a bit of casting and and steady progression. It seemed that I was bypassing quality fish holding locations with no interest.

Quality Clear Creek Fish

I once again adjusted my approach, and I positioned a Jake’s gulp beetle in the front position and trailed the caddis twelve inches behind. This improved my success rate, and the fish count moved from three to five. The two additional trout grabbed the beetle, but I was plagued by refusals and a couple momentary connections, when it seemed the trout were reluctant eaters.

Moderate Riffles Yielded Here

The caddis fly was irrelevant, perhaps because the fish saw the beetle first. Terrestrials seemed like a solid option during the hot summer, so I removed the caddis and added a black sunk ant on the one foot dropper. I was gambling that the fish were looking toward the surface, and the ant could drift high in the water column.

Very Fine Clear Creek Brown Trout

In a nice deep pool and run two fish refused the beetle, but then I noticed a fish moving toward my flies at the lip of the pool. I was not sure, if the fish took my low floating beetle, so I set the hook and discovered that it nabbed the nearby sunk ant! I suspected that I was on to something, but that proved to be the only ant eater.

Sunk Ant in Lip

I was stuck on six, and I began to limit my casts to three maximum for any likely fish holding lie, but I was mired in a lull. I was weary of tracking the small size 14 beetle, so I decided to return to the highly visible white wing of the hippie stomper, and I retained the sunk ant. Why did the hippie stomper suddenly become a desirable food source; whereas, it was spurned earlier in the morning? I do not have an answer, but I boosted the fish count from six to ten, before I quit a bit before noon. All four of these fish crushed the hippie stomper, and they gobbled it with confidence. Three of these brown trout were very respectable fish in the twelve to thirteen inch neighborhood, and they represented some of the largest that I ever caught in Clear Creek.

Shelf Pool

I had an afternoon appointment, and I had a few things to attend to before that, so I hooked my fly to the rod guide and carefully climbed a very steep and rocky bank back to the highway. Ten fish in three hours of fishing was very satisfying, and as I mentioned, I was surprised by the size of several of the browns. Clear Creek is notorious for having small and very picky brown trout. I am almost certain that the 100 degree day elevated the water temperature to levels unsafe for fishing during the afternoon, so my three hours of morning fishing were the ethical choice.

Fish Landed: 10

St. Vrain Creek – 07/29/2026

Time: 11:00AM – 2:30PM

Location: National forest land

St. Vrain Creek 07/29/2026 Photo Album

After a fun day on Monday on South Boulder Creek, I decided to visit another Front Range stream, St. Vrain Creek. The St. Vrain where I fished is a small high country creek, and I was fairly certain that stream temperatures would be conducive to fly fishing.

Nice Spot

Jane decided to accompany me on Wednesday, and she planned to hike and then read, while I explored the nooks and crannies of the high gradient creek. We arrived at the trailhead parking lot relatively early on Wednesday morning, and the air temperature was a comfortable 73 degrees. I decided to wet wade in the small creek to lessen the overheating resulting from the hike. As the day progressed, I was quite pleased with this decision.

Orange Hand Full

By 11:00AM I reached my chosen beginning point, and Jane and I said our goodbyes, as she continued on her way. I was using my Orvis Access four weight, and it was the perfect rod for the narrow creek with numerous overhanging branches and bushes. I began my day with a peacock hippie stomper, and in the first ten minutes I landed four brook trout. Jane paused to observe my start, and she snapped a few photos of my first landed fish.

Caught One in the Corner

For the next three hours I moved up the creek and landed a total of twenty-eight fish. Twenty-five were brook trout and three were cutthroats. I reveled in each cutthroat landed, because they are rare, in spite of being Colorado’s only native trout. The cutthroats were perfectly colored and delicate jewels, while they temporarily rested in my net.

Pink Blush

The brook trout were also colorful fish in the nine to eleven inch range. They were obviously not giants, but they put up feisty battles on my light Orvis Access, and I had a blast prospecting for them.

Orvis Access Was Perfect for Small Stream and Tight Quarters

Perfection

I stayed with the hippie stomper throughout my time on the water, and the fish seemed to savor the attractor fly. I took one of the stompers out of circulation, since it was missing a tail and a leg. Another hippie stomper broke off in the mouth of a brook trout perhaps due to a damaged knot. Two additional hippie stompers were donated to evergreen trees due to errant backcasts. Four lost flies is a small price to pay for a fun day catching mountain trout. It is, after all, the reason I tie flies during the winter months.

Solitary Fireweed

What a Spot

The flows on the creek were outstanding, and since I was wading wet, I was certain that the water temperatures were in the ideal range. Small tributaries remained flush with water, and it was obvious that rainfall refreshed the area on Tuesday. By 2:00PM the western sky darkened, and I decided to pull on my raincoat in anticipation of some rain. Rain did in fact fall, but it was very brief in duration, and I kept the raincoat on just in case, as I exited the stream and hiked back to the parking lot. Jane said that a fairly heavy dumping took place just after she returned to the car.

Best Cutthroat of the Day

Wednesday was an enjoyable day in outdoor Colorado. I shared the day with my wife, and I landed twenty-eight wild trout. Each catch was a vivid reminder of the beauty that Colorado streams have to offer. The scenery was outstanding, and somehow I avoided the steady rain that fell to the east of my position. Another day on St. Vrain Creek would be very welcome.

Fish Landed: 28

South Boulder Creek – 07/27/2026

Time: 10:30AM – 2:45PM

Location: Below Gross Reservoir

South Boulder Creek 07/27/2026 Photo Album

Monday through Wednesday of the last week of July were open for fly fishing on my calendar, so I chose to designate Monday and Wednesday, as my days to fish. The intense heat wave that covered Colorado for the entire month of July was projected to continue. The major freestone streams of Colorado were already in shutdown mode, with fishing voluntarily prohibited on the sections of the Eagle River, Yampa River, Roaring Fork River and Colorado River. My choice of destination was necessarily dictated by weather and stream flows. In normal years I focus on high country streams and tailwaters by the second week of August, but 2026 represents a dire situation, when I comes to water in the west.

Fine Specimen

A week ago I visited South Boulder Creek and experienced decent success in the tailwater section below Gross Reservoir. Flows remained in the 73 CFS range, and the weather suggested highs of 83 degrees in Eldorado Springs and 73 degrees in Pinecliffe. The location where I planned to fish was in between, so I interpolated a high of eighty degrees. Of course during my 07/21/2026 outing I encountered a moose. Would I meet him again? I also spotted six western green drakes during my time on the creek, and I was hopeful that the passing of another week allowed the stream resident trout to tune into the large western mayflies.

Lovely Pool

One truck occupied a space at the parking lot below Gross Reservoir, when I arrived, and another angler pulled in, as I prepared to fish. The temperature was 73 degrees, and I assembled my Loomis two piece five weight for my day on the creek. I hiked a decent distance from the parking lot and passed the occupants of the two vehicles in the lot in the early going. Later I encountered a group of four anglers, who were pulling on their waders, as they apparently backpacked their gear in from a different trailhead to avoid getting overheated. I probably should have done the same.

Love the Run

By 10:30 I was positioned in the stream ready to make my first cast. My underwear was drenched with perspiration, and my glasses were fogged, but the forecast of a hot day convinced me that the cooling effect of perspiration would be welcome. As it turned out, high clouds blocked the sun for much of my day, and I was actually chilled after standing in the cold creek flowing from the bottom of the large dam.

Very Nice Rainbow

Since I was hopeful that the trout were tuned into the green drake hatch by now, I tied a size 14 parachute green drake to my leader. Surely this tactic would draw the trout of South Boulder Creek to the surface. My wishful thinking did not pan out, as trout refused and nipped at the green drake imitation. I did manage to land three eager feeders, but most of the first thirty minutes yielded frustration.

Glistening Brown Trout

I debated switching to a different green drake pattern, but instead I converted to a double dry presentation. The double dry was my breadwinner on July 21, 2026, so perhaps a repeat performance was on the agenda. I opted for a peacock hippie stomper and a size 16 light gray deer hair caddis. The ploy was partially successful, as I landed two additional trout on the caddis, but refusals outnumbered takes, and I prospected some very attractive spots with no reaction. I pondered another change.

Likely Spot

By now it was lunch time, and the next upstream section featured faster water and deep pockets, seams and plunge pools. After lunch I decided to go deep with a dry/dropper, and I knotted a tan pool toy hopper to my line and then dangled a size 14 prince nymph. The prince sometimes serves as a reasonable imitation of a green drake nymph, thus my choice.

Prince Nymph Produced

The hopper/dropper combination proved to be the answer to the fly fishing riddle of the day. The first two trout after lunch smashed the pool toy hopper, but then the nymph began to work its magic. Over the remainder of the afternoon I upped the fish count from five to thirty-one! The prince nymph was clearly the star performer. At some point I added a salvation nymph and then a supernova PMD below the prince, but they were largely bystanders, as the prince did the heavy lifting. The hopper remained a viable alternative as well.

Pool Toy Hopper Floating

The breakdown of fish landed by fly goes as follows: parachute green drake – 3, deer hair caddis – 2, pool toy hopper- 8, salvation nymph – 1, supernova PMD – 1, and prince nymph – 16. Did the trout mistake the prince nymph for a green drake nymph? I am not certain, but I do know that they recognized it as a source of protein.

Seam Likely Home to a Trout

I estimate that ten of the thirty-one landed trout were rainbows with the remainder being brown trout. The rainbows were larger on average with several in the thirteen inch range. A few thirteen inch brown trout also landed in my net. All the trout were wild and much appreciated by this angler.

Another Fat Rainbow

The locations that produced on Monday were deep pockets and runs and riffles of moderate depth. Typically the hopper takes were on the first cast to a new area, while the nymph hits may have come on subsequent casts.

Fat Tail on This Brown Trout

In this year of drought and heat, I was quite pleased with my day on Monday, July 27, 2026. As usual, size was somewhat lacking, but this was offset by numbers. The action was steady throughout the day.

Lots of Options in This Section

I began my hike back to the car at 2:45PM, as the western sky blackened. Could I make it back to the car, before the storm arrived? I was half way back, when the wind picked up, and I heard the rumble of thunder in the distance. Shortly thereafter, some light rain began to fall, but I pressed on, as the cool wetness of my shirt actually felt refreshing. After a few minutes of this refreshment, however, the density of the rain increased, so I stopped beneath a large tree and removed all my gear in order to slip into my rain jacket. The pause was very timely, as the rainfall shifted from light to heavy in a matter of seconds. I waited beneath the tree for fifteen minutes, until the downpour subsided, and then I continued on my way. I was amazed at the instant discoloration of the creek from crystal clear to milky coffee after the relatively brief rainfall. South Boulder Creek remains on my favorite list, as long as flows are sustained in the current range. I looked for Mr. Moose, but apparently he was also seeking shelter from the rain.

Fish Landed: 31

South Boulder Creek – 07/21/2026

Time: 10:45AM – 3:00PM

Location: Below Gross Reservoir

South Boulder Creek 07/21/2026 Photo Album

My fly fishing adventure on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 contained some interesting developments. On Monday I experienced an average day on the South Platte River, and in spite of choosing a tailwater for my angling location, the water temperature registered 68 degrees, when I dipped my thermomenter in the river at 1:00PM. Flows of 108 CFS were not enough to buffer the bottom release water against air temperatures in the mid eighties, and it is not even August yet. What is an avid fly fisherman to do?

So Many Speckles

I regularly check the flows on South Boulder Creek, and when I reviewed the graph on Monday evening, I noted that the water was being released from the bottom of Gross Dam at 92 CFS. That was all I needed to see, as the narrow streambed and bottom releases would surely maintain temperatures conducive to coldwater fish. As I prepared to write this blog on Wednesday, I checked the DWR information again, and the flows actually dropped from 92 CFS to 77 CFS, while I was fishing in the tailwater creek.

Doing the Heavy Lifting on This Day

The temperature in the parking lot was in the upper seventies, so I was once again prepared for a hot day. On this stream my feet get numb, even when I wear my waders, so I decided to not wade wet, even though that option would have been advantageous for the inbound and outbound hikes. A little perspiration never hurt anyone. For my rod I chose my Loomis two piece five weight. I like the softer action of the Loomis for throwing dry/droppers and dry flies, and the shorter length also appeals to me among the tighter surroundings of a narrow creek.

Monster for SBC

I arrived along the stream by 10:35AM, and I was prepared to cast by 10:45AM. There were five cars in the parking lot, and as I hiked along the trail next to the creek, four or five anglers were spaced out throughout the section that I targeted. I selected that section because I was convinced that fishermen would avoid the relatively steep sided banks and opt for gentler terrain. I was wrong, so I hiked quite a bit beyond the initially chosen section.

Nice Brown Taken from Under Overhanging Branches

All aspects of fly fishing in Colorado in 2026 have been earlier than normal including stream levels, water temperatures and insect hatches. Based on this knowledge I decided to begin with a parachute western green drake. Normally green drakes hatch during the first week of August, but I was curious to see if they were present on July 21. My thought process was sound, but the green drake was totally ignored in my first fifteen minutes of fishing through some very attractive pockets and runs.

The Brown Trout Parade Continues

I decided to explore another pathway, and I substituted a size 14 yellow stimulator and size 16 light gray deer hair caddis. I prospected with this combination for an hour, before I broke for lunch at 11:45AM, and I pushed the fish count to three. One of the landed trout was a brown in the thirteen to fourteen inch range that clobbered the caddis beneath some low hanging branches. This was a highlight, as it was the longest fish of the day, and it required some pinpoint casting accuracy.

Lip of the Rock Contained a Decent Brown Trout

While eating lunch on a large boulder, I spotted two western green drakes, as they floated upward like helium balloons. Surely the trout would now tune into my green drake imitation.

Another Decent Rainbow

I removed the double dries and tied on the parachute green drake for a second trial run. Nothing developed from the move other than a couple refusals. Maybe the trout were looking for a bushy fly that better imitated a large mayfly attempting to become airborne? I swapped the parachute green drake for a user friendly green drake. Once again the trout ignored my offering.

Small Pool

As I was working upstream, another angler popped into my field of vision. He was hidden behind a small bend and some trees. I attempted to talk to me, but I was unable to hear him over the sound of the rushing water, so I waded to the right bank, and he met me half way. He left the section between me and where he first appeared untouched, and he was moving downstream fishing streamers. He also informed me that he encountered a bull moose not too distant upstream. He said it was along the right bank in the shade between the creek and the trail. I filed this away, but I expected the moose to have moved on by the time I reached the position that was described.

Chunky Rainbow

The green drake ploy was not effective, so I abandoned it, and returned to an olive body size 14 stimulator and the light gray deer hair caddis. While I moved upstream with this combination, I observed another four or five green drakes. No matter. I persisted with the stimulator and caddis and boosted the fish count from three to seventeen. A few of these trout smacked the stimulator, but the caddis was by far the main attractor. I was rather amazed at how aggressive the trout were for the small size 16 caddis, particularly in riffles over moderate depth. Another popular position for feeding trout was the cushion in front of a large rock or at the lip of a pool, where the current accelerated.

Looks So Good

By two o’clock the temperature was spiking, and the yellow stimulator began to induce refusals. I considered my options, and I guessed that perhaps a peacock body hippie stomper might be a more effective lead fly than the stimulator. I made the change, and sure enough, it worked. Of course, the move was accompanied by refusals, but the hippie stomper accounted for two nice trout, and the caddis registered another three to boost the fish count to twenty-two. I was rather satisfied with my day at this point, and I considered calling it quits. The heat was intense, and I suspected that the trout would turn off in response.

Mr. Moose

I was approaching a large bend in the creek, when suddenly the branches next to the stream parted, and a massive and very dark moose made an appearance. I froze. The moose was no more than ten yards away, and it towered above me. I always underestimate the height of a moose with its long legs and high antlers. The moose and I stared at each other for thirty seconds, and my heartrate skyrocketed. What was I to do? I was stuck in the middle of the small creek, with no easy exit path. I slowly grabbed my line and hooked the fly to the rod guide, and I turned my body to slowly wade to the opposite bank, where there was an opening in the bushes.

From Upstream. Keeping an Eye on Me.

When I reached the bank, I turned around to check on my fishing buddy, and the moose bent its long legs and collapsed in the shallow water of the creek. Apparently moose do not handle the heat any better than humans, although this male had the good sense to wade wet. I concluded that a moose wallowing in the cool creek was not about to charge me, so I removed my camera and snapped three photos and a video. My heart rate slowly crept downward, and once my photography duties were complete, I climbed a path to the top of the bank and circled around the relaxed moose. Now that it was over and my fear waned, I was euphoric with the sighting.

I stopped and fished for another ten minutes at another favorite section on my return hike, but after that I returned to the parking lot and called it a day. And what a day it was! I encountered green drakes, and although my flies did not produce, I consider it a positive sign that green drake action will elevate from here. I landed twenty-two wild trout, and this included a fourteen inch brown and a nice thirteen inch rainbow. I estimate that four of the landed fish were rainbows with the remainder browns. The deer hair caddis was a winning fly and accounted for most of my landed fish. If the water level remains in the 70 – 100 CFS range, South Boulder Creek will be a solid option, while the heat wave and drought take its toll. I’ll never forget the close encounter with a moose on the loose.

Fish Landed: 22

South Platte River – 07/20/2026

Time: 9:45AM – 1:00PM

Location: Eleven Mile Canyon

South Platte River 07/20/2026 Photo Album

Monday was an open date for fly fishing, so I took advantage of the opportunity. The high temperature in Denver was forecast to reach 102 degrees, so my choice of destination was crucial. I had an outstanding day on the South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon on 07/07/2026, so that became my choice. The flows were steady at 108 CFS, but the high temperature was projected to reach the eighties. I decided to start early, and in all likelihood end my day early.

My early start enabled me to arrive at my chosen destination by 9:15AM, and after I geared up with my Sage R8 four weight, I was positioned next to the stream ready to cast by 9:45AM. The air temperature at the car was 71 degrees, so I knew it was going to be a hot day.

Inviting a Cast

I began my day with a yellow Letort hopper size 10 and trailed a size 16 olive-brown deer hair caddis. The hopper initiated some refusals, but the caddis yielded a decent twelve inch brown trout that smacked the dry fly, as I began to lift it to cast in the upstream cushion in front on an exposed rock.

Ooh. Looks Good.

I was not impressed with the fish attracting capability of my dual dry fly combination, so I modified my offering. I removed the Letort hopper and replaced it with a size 14 yellow stimulator. For the trailing second fly I added a size 16 light gray comparadun. I was imitating yellow sallies and pale morning duns. I noticed a few yellow sallies fluttering up from the river as well as a couple pale morning duns.

Dry Fly Eater

The changeover provided some success, as I landed a nice brown trout and rainbow trout. The brown trout rose to the stimulator and the rainbow sipped the comparadun. The fish count was at three, as I broke for lunch at 11:45AM. The pace of action lagged significantly compared to my visit on 07/07/2026. The trout were being very picky, and I was perplexed by that development.

I Love These Sluicing Runs on the South Platte

After lunch I approached a narrow section of the canyon that exhibited faster water and deep plunge pools. I decided to give a dry/dropper a test. I removed the double dry flies and replaced them with a tan mini chubby, a size 16 PMD supernova, and a sunken trico. Although I covered quite a few attractive spots with no results, I did land three nice trout on the subsurface offerings. Two trout snatched the sunken trico and one nabbed the supernova. I was very pleased to note that my sunken trico ploy yielded positive results. One of the brown trout was a fourteen inch beauty and my best of the day, and a thirteen inch rainbow grabbed the sunken trico. I actually saw the fish move to the fly and set the hook before the mini chubby showed any movement from the take.

Tucked in the Net

After the flurry of action on the subsurface flies, the river went dead. The sighting of yellow sallies prompted me to substitute a beadhead hares ear for the sunken trico, and this move paid dividends, when I landed a small brown trout to bring the fish count to seven.

Trough

By now the time was approaching 1:00PM, and the action stalled, so I decided to convert back to dry flies. At one spot along the bank I noticed at least five blue body damsel flies flitting about. I tied some adult damsels in blue three or four years ago after encountering a dense damsel infestation on a lake, but I never had an occasion to use them. I decided to try a few casts. I flicked the damsel to some nice current seams with no results, but then I turned my attention to a nice deep run along the far bank that ended in a small eddy in front of a large exposed boulder. On the fourth drift a mouth appeared, and the damsel disappeared! I executed a swift hook set and saw the side of a nice brown trout, but within three seconds the brown twitched its mouth, and the damsel fly released. In spite of losing the fish, this was my favorite moment of the day. It was an excellent example of observing what was happening on the river and then reacting to it.

Deep Pocket Surrounded by Structure

At one o’clock after another futile fifteen minutes I decided to take the water temperature. I dug out my stream thermometer, and the air temperature read 82 degrees, before I submerged it. I held the thermometer against the streambed in two feet of water for more than a minute. When I extracted it, I checked the scale and it read 68 degrees. I instantly halted my angling efforts and returned to the car.

A Rainbow Joins the Count

Monday was an average day, as I landed seven fish in three hours. A fourteen inch brown and thirteen inch rainbow visited my net, and I was thankful for the good fortune that they embodied. Catching two trout on sunken tricos, and connecting briefly with a trout while using my blue damsel adult were superb highlights in my book. I am considering taking a break from fishing during the heat wave, although I have one more option to test. Stay tuned.

Fish Landed: 7

Colorado River – 07/15/2026

Time: 7:30AM – 2:00PM

Location: Middle section

Colorado River 07/15/2026 Photo Album

Wednesday, July 15, 2006 was the scheduled date for the second guided float trip with my friend, Dave G., and Cutthroat Anglers. Once again we were in the expert hands of Reed Ryan, our favorite guide.

I spent the night at the home of Beth and Dave G., and this proved to be a fortuitous stay, as Reed requested that we meet him at a central parking lot by 6:15AM. I set my alarm for 5:00AM, and after an excellent Asian breakfast prepared by Dave G., we were off and met Reed at the designated location.

Nocturnal Stonefly Imitation

The 6:15AM departure enabled us to arrive at the chosen launch point by 7:00AM, and we were on the water fishing by 7:30. I packed my Sage One five weight and my Scott six weight, and Reed rigged the six weight with a dry/dropper combination, and he configured the five weight with double dries that included two large yellow body flies that represented the nocturnal stonefly.

Side Channel Invites Exploration

The river was in excellent shape with flows of 1200 CFS and mostly clear with a slight tinge of color. The 7:30AM start acknowledged the brutal hot temperatures of July, and we planned to be off the water by 1:30, the hottest part of the day. The air temperature, as we began our float, was 62 degrees, and I slipped on my raincoat to combat the slight chill.

An Early Brown

We floated for ten miles, and we alternated between our dry/dropper and double dry rods. The dry flies rotated among the nocturnal stonefly, grasshopper, a bionic ant, and a red quill imitation. A chubby Chernobyl with a rust body was the mainstay as the top fly on the dry/dropper, and it trailed a black Pat’s rubber legs and several pheasant tail nymph imitations. Most of the flies had their moments, but the most effective were the size 16 pheasant tail, black rubber legs, bionic ant and chubby Chernobyl. The nature of the section of river fished dictated the choice between the six weight and the five weight. Slower moving stretches next to tall grasses suggested double dry, and faster water with seams and depth screamed dry/dropper.

Big Fish, Big Net

Reed maneuvered the drift boat from side to side, and instructed us to cast either left or right. The key was casting ahead or at a forty-five degree angle away from the boat. The dry flies were most effective, when we plopped them very close to the bank; whereas, the dry/dropper targeted deep slots, troughs, seams, pockets and riffles of moderate depth. In other words, we covered the entire river with the dry/dropper approach. Reed, as usual, was very adept at maneuvering the boat for optimal casting positions for the two anglers. Dave G. remained in the bow for the entire trip, and I manned the rear, as that is my preferred spot.

Foam and Riffles

How did we do? I landed fourteen trout on the day. Four were rainbows and the remaining ten were brown trout. Two of the fourteen were sub twelve inch fish, but at least four stretched the tape to the fifteen to twenty inch range skewed toward the upper limit. The remainder were fine hard fighting trout in the thirteen to fourteen inch length.

Edna, the Guide Dog

The early start paid dividends, as the temperature spiked in the eighties by the time we quit, and the water temperature forced our exit. We had the entire section of river to ourselves, and we spotted a golden eagle, a great blue heron, a cluster of merganser ducks and quite a few geese. The highlight, however, was a river otter family. Presumably the mother otter caught a large fish, and the baby otters gathered around her and shared in the feast. Reed cautiously approached the cluster of otters, until we were no more than twenty yards away. Click on the photo album link above to view several otter videos.

Smooth Section

Wednesday was a very successful day on the Colorado River. I was very impressed with the size of the trout. Float fishing is the best method for fishing a large river such as the Colorado, as one can cover a lot of water very efficiently. Fourteen fish was quite respectable, but the size of the fish is what made the day special.

Fish Landed: 14