Clear Creek – 09/01/2026

Leave a reply

Time: 10:45AM – 1:15PM

Location: Clear Creek Canyon

Clear Creek 09/01/2026 Photo Album

September got off to a rough start. Tuesday on Clear Creek was just plain weird.

After a decent day on Monday, I was averse to making another long drive. Originally I was planning to make another trip to South Boulder Creek, but the water managers reduced the flows to 10.6 CFS. I fished that level in the past with moderate success, but the timing was later in the season, when night time temperatures cooled the creek considerably. I was skeptical about attempting to fish 10 CFS during the 2026 summer heat wave.

I used the CPW web site to ask whether Denver Water was aware of the risk to the South Boulder Creek fish population, and within a day I received a nice reply from Ben at CPW. Ben was unable to touch base with Denver Water, but he informed me that the stream temperature below the dam was 58 degrees. Based on this information, I planned to make the drive and hike, but when I checked again on Monday evening, I noted that the stream level dropped again to 6.74 CFS, and I deemed this too low.

I made a pivot to Clear Creek. My last two visits, although short, produced decent results, and I was surprised with the size of several of the brown trout. Could I replicate these results? Google Maps informed me that the drive was 53 minutes, and this included a stoppage for construction of the Peak to Plains Trail. After a brief wait for single lane traffic, I parked in a wide pullout high above the creek. The air temperature was 72 degrees and Clear Creek was tumbling along at 48 CFS, and it lived up to its name, as it was very clear.

Trout Materialized Here

I stayed in the car and completed my preliminary routine of applying sunscreen and lip balm and gathering the gear that I need for a day of fishing. When I exited the car to move to the hatch, I noticed another angler had pulled in behind me. With miles of available stream in Clear Creek Canyon, why did this individual choose to invade my space? In fairness, I was in the car doing my thing, so he had no idea I was another fisherman. Nevertheless, I was annoyed.

Before putting on my waders, I jumped back in the car and drove another .2 mile west. After I assembled my Orvis Access four weight and slid into my packs, I crossed the highway and carefully maneuvered down a very steep bank with plenty of loose gravel. It was very dicey, but I pulled it off.

Upon reaching the bank of the creek, I found myself next to a long section of wide shallow riffles, so I simply waded upstream, until I encountered water more appropriate for searching out trout. During my last visit I experienced quite a bit of success with a Jake’s gulp beetle, so I went to the foam beetle initially.

Another Chunky Brown

Was I surprised with the results? I was beyond surprised. In the first thirty minutes I landed three very nice brown trout by Clear Creek standards, and one probably measured in the fourteen inch range. All the trout sipped the beetle, and I also connected briefly with two additional fish. I was rather excited to anticipate how the day would develop.

A Good Look

Well, it never developed. I fished upstream from 11:15AM, until I quit at 1:15PM, and I managed to land only one additional small brown on a parachute hopper. For some reason the foam beetle failed to excite the trout, and I cycled through a myriad of replacements. For dries I experimented with the parachute hopper and deer hair caddis. I also tried a dry dropper with a tan pool toy hopper trailing a beadhead hares ear and olive perdigon. The tungsten weighted perdigon was hanging up frequently, so I replaced it with a salvation nymph. The nymphs were worthless except for one momentary connection. The pool toy prompted a couple refusals.

From 12:30PM until 1:15PM I covered some very attractive deep runs, seams and pockets, where the creek narrowed. I was sure that the fish count would come alive, but my expectations were misplaced. I focused my efforts on the most attractive spots for the sake of efficiency, but there was no sign of fish. The sun was high in the mostly cloudless sky, and this probably explained the lack of action.

Deep Run Produced

By 1:15PM my confidence was shot, so I decided to climb the very steep bank back to the highway. I used a narrow gully where rain had washed out the gravel leaving protruding rocks that could be used to brace my steps on the ascent.

I took the stream temperature at noon, after I ate my lunch, and it was 55 degrees. Miraculously, when I took it again, before I climbed the bank, it continued to register 55. Warm creek temperatures did not explain the absence of hungry trout on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

Fish Landed: 4

South Platte River – 08/31/2026

Leave a reply

Time: 11:00AM – 3:15PM

Location: Eleven Mile Canyon

South Platte River 08/31/2026 Photo Album

My last fly fishing outing was last Tuesday, so I was itching to visit a Colorado stream again during the week that began with August 31, 2026. The weather forecast played a role in my choice of destination, as the probability of afternoon storms was in the 50% range in most locales. I decided to make the drive to the South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon, because the road runs along the river, and I would not be far from shelter should a storm roll in.

Breaking in the New Net

I arrived at my chosen pullout by 10:30AM. I was surprised by the number of cars in pullouts along the road, as I drove toward the dam, but I found a favorite section unoccupied. The temperature on the dashboard was 58 degrees, as I prepared to fish, so I slid into my raincoat for additional warmth. I suspected that I would remove it during my stay on the river, but it never came off, as heavy clouds blocked the sun for most of the day. There was a sunny stretch, when I felt excessively warm, but I waited it out, and more clouds blocked the sun’s rays for the remainder of the afternoon.

Nice Pool

The flows were 66 CFS, and the river was very clear. I chose my Sage R8 four weight, since wind was not a factor, and I did not expect to tangle with many trout in the fifteen to twenty inch range.

A Trout Came from the Side Pool

During the morning I opted for a light dry/dropper configuration. I began with a peacock hippie stomper trailing a sunken trico. The South Platte in Eleven Mile is known for its summer trico hatch, and I thought perhaps I could cash in on some straggling sunken spinners, but the strategy failed. Between eleven AM and 11: 50AM I managed to land four small trout. Two gobbled the hippie stomper, and one snatched the salvation nymph, after I replaced the sunken trico, The fourth landed trout nabbed a gray size 16 comparadun, after I replaced the sunken trico and nymphs. Three were small rainbow trout and the other was a sub twelve inch brown trout.

Beast Brown Trout

Brown Grabbed Hopper in the Froth

After lunch, since the hippie stomper was attracting refusals, I swapped it for a large deer hair caddis, and I retained the gray comparadun on a long leader behind the caddis. These flies were relatively easy to track, and as I mentioned previously, a small rainbow grabbed the comparadun. I did have a few refusals to the caddis and a couple very momentary connections. It seemed the fish were interested, but something made them very tentative.

Orange Border on the Tail

Run Next to Boulders Delivered

I grew weary of tracking the flies in the glare for minimal return, so I shifted my strategy once again. I went big with a tan pool toy hopper and trailed an olive perdigon for weight and followed that with a salvation nymph. The move paid huge dividends, when a sixteen inch brown trout smashed the hopper in the froth of a deep but short pocket in the middle of some fast water.

Another Brute

Hopper Eat Below the Round Left Side Boulder

For the remainder of the afternoon I worked my way up the river at a steady pace, and I boosted the fish count from five to ten. The second five to visit my net were quality trout with a couple thirteen inch rainbows, two thirteen inch brown trout, and another hopper crusher in the form of a fourteen inch brown. Catching these fish required an abundant number of casts and a lot of wading, but I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. The action was frequent enough to hold my interest, until I called it quits at 3:15PM.

Pool Toy Hopper

Before I returned to the car, I pulled out my new stream thermometer (my old one went through the wash, and the mercury sank, so that the scale was off by 30 degrees). I glanced at the scale before submerging, and the air temperature was a cool 66 degrees. After one minute in the river, I extracted the cylinder, and the new reading was 57 degrees. I thought the water felt warm, but that was in comparison to the relatively cool air.

Monday was a fun day on the South Platte River. Dry fly action has slowed compared to earlier visits in July, but I discovered that persistence with a hopper/dropper and nymphs could be rewarding. Perhaps I can return in September for some blue wing olive activity.

Fish Landed: 10

Curtain Ponds – 08/25/2026

Time: 1:30PM – 3:30PM

Location: Near Copper Mountain

Curtain Ponds 08/25/2026 Photo Album

I departed Clinton Gulch, and the Curtain Ponds were along the way, and I could not resist the need to stop and try my luck. I parked in the lot provided and hiked along the bike path to one of the ponds along Interstate 70.

Mirror Smooth

I ended my time at Clinton Gulch with a size 14 olive-brown deer hair caddis, so I kept that dry fly on my line, and I began to fan casts toward a shallow cove. I was pleased, when a brightly colored brook trout slammed the caddis, and I was on the board at the Curtain Ponds.

Glamour

For the next two hours I moved along the shoreline and sprayed casts toward the middle of the pond, and I managed to land five brook trout in total. Near the start I noticed a decent brown trout, as it spooked from the shallows to deeper water, but I was unable to connect with any browns during my two hours.

Respectable

I began with the caddis, and then, after I observed two very dainty insects skittering across the surface followed by a few random rises, I found a tiny tuft of a fly with an olive body and a CDC wing. This fly generated one small brook trout that reacted to a strip.

Chowed on the Hippie Stomper

After this success, however, the tiny fly failed to produce, so I decided to go big. A peacock hippie stomper was a star performer on other Curtain Ponds, so why not try it here? I did, and it brought three more brook trout to my net. One was actually quite decent and probably measured eleven inches. I cast the stomper within a yard of the bank, and the brook trout crushed it.

Home of Nice Brook Trout Next to the Bank

Five trout from the Curtain Ponds salvaged my day to some degree. By 3:30 I was in the midst of an extended lull, so I decided to begin my return drive. Lake fly fishing continues to be a bit of a mystery with this fly angler.

Fish Landed: 5

Clinton Gulch Reservoir – 08/25/2026

Time: 10:45AM – 12:30PM

Location: South shore

Clinton Gulch Reservoir 08/25/2026 Photo Album

I visited Clinton Gulch on 06/16/2026, and I was disappointed. An abundant quantity of cutthroat trout were stacked at the inlet, but fishing in the inlet was prohibited, as it should be, and I was unable to tempt any fish elsewhere in the lake. I vowed to return after the cutthroat spawn was complete.

Tuesday, August 25 was the day, when I fulfilled my vow and returned to Clinton Gulch. I arrived at the south parking lot by 10:00AM and quickly geared up including fitting out my Sage R8 four weight. The air temperature was 61 degrees with a stiff breeze, but I decided to roll up my raincoat in order to stuff it in my backpack. Throughout my time on the lake, thick clouds rolled across the sky, and I donned my raincoat several times for added warmth.

I chatted with another occupant in the parking lot who was embarking on a hike with his wife, and he told me that he had fished the lake previously. I asked for a suggested starting point, and he mentioned a spot along the south shore halfway between the dam and the inlet, where there was shelf and drop off.

Lots of Chop

I hiked for .3 mile and then dropped down a very rocky bank to the edge of the lake. The lake at this point was very deep up to the edge of the steep bank, so I suspected it was not the recommended shelf area. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a shot. I began with a peacock hippie stomper, but the fish were not interested. Some dark clouds moved in and the wind picked up and created small waves on the surface. After fanning casts around the area, I decided to move east a bit, but I placed all my weight on a large round rock. I assumed that its size made it stable, but I was wrong, and the boulder rolled like a bowling ball. My 75 year old body crashed to the rocks, and I dropped my favorite fly rod to avoid breakage. The rod was saved, but I landed on my hip, elbow and finger on my right side, and the pain was rather intense. I flexed my finger, and it bent in the right places. My hip felt fine and my elbow struck the rocks, where I wear my elbow brace. What a break! I sat on a rock and waited things out, until I felt up to more fly fishing.

My Only Fish

I deemed my first stop cursed, so I hiked above the high water mark and boulders for a bit, until I reached a small cove. I could see a light colored shelf or bar forty yards out from the shoreline, so I assumed I found the spot that the parking lot gentleman referred to. The wind was still whipping, but I fired some casts with the hippie stomper, until boredom caused me to reconsider. I decided to try a pair of streamers, although I felt it was a long shot. I knotted a beadhead black woolly bugger to my line in the first position and then added a black mini leech. Guess what? On the fifth strip I felt a grab and strip set and felt myself attached to a feisty trout. I never got a good look, but in the brief tussle, it put up a decent fight. Unfortunately, my line went limp, and it was minus two streamers. Apparently I tied a bad knot to the woolly bugger. As you can imagine, I was deeply disappointed.

A Stunning 14″ Cutthroat on a Beetle

On the plus side, I actually located a fish. The wind abated somewhat, so I decided to try a terrestrial combination. I opted for a size 14 Jake’s gulp beetle in the front position trailing a size 18 black parachute ant. I fired three casts, and the flies floated unmolested, but on the fourth cast, an aggressive smash signaled me to set the hook. This fish was very rambunctious, as it fought me back and forth a few times while thrashing about. Eventually I slid my net beneath a gorgeous cutthroat trout that extended to around fourteen inches. What a prize! I was hoping for cutthroats, and now I held one.

Unfortunately that was the end of the action. I continued stepping down the shoreline and casting, and I eventually decided to go big with a pool toy hopper combined with the beetle. My guess was that the large hopper was more visible in the chop created by the wind. At 12:30 I was executing a long cast toward the deeper area between the shore and the shelf, and I snapped off the two flies on the backcast. I wandered to the area behind me thinking I could spot the large pool toy with a pink wing indicator, but all I managed to find was a chubby Chernobyl with a purple body. A one for two trade was better than none.

Dark puffy clouds rolled in from the west, so I knew that wind and cool temperatures were going to exist for a while, so I hiked back to the car and moved to another lake destination.

I landed my best cutthroat of the year, and it was a very pretty fish, so that made my day, although it barely compensated for my dangerous fall. Will I return again to Clinton Gulch? I am not sure.

Fish Landed: 1

 

Moose Creek – 08/24/2026

Time: 11:00AM – 3:30PM

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.

My last fly fishing effort was last Tuesday, August 18, 2026 on the Taylor River, and now that Jane and I were back in Denver, I was anxious for another day of fishing. The high temperature in Denver was once again projected to exceed 90 degrees, so I needed either a cold tailwater or cold high country creek. My initial impulse was to spend a day in South Boulder Creek, but when I checked the flows, I learned that Denver Water dropped the releases from 69 CFS to 10.6 CFS. The 10.6 level was in place for four days. I have fished at 10.6 successfully, but those experiences were in September, when the air temperature, especially the nighttime lows, were more favorable to fishing at low flows. I decided to consider alternatives.

My last two visits to Moose Creek were very enjoyable, and the flows in that stream seemed to be holding at decent levels compared to other drainages around Colorado. Moose Creek became my choice.

Brilliant

When I parked near the trailhead, I quickly assembled my Orvis Access four weight. The high temperature in the area was forecast to reach the low seventies, so I opted to wear my waders instead of wet wading. The possibility of showers also existed, so I expected cloud cover to keep things cool.

Prime

I found myself poised along the creek by 11:00AM, and I began my search for trout with a classic Chernobyl ant. Why? The Chernobyl requires no floatant or false casting. If the fish were duped by the Chernobyl ant, I was in for a low maintenance day. Well, the fish rejected my large foam attractor, so I switched to a size 14 Jake’s gulp beetle. The beetle attracted attention in the form of refusals, but it never produced a fish. Next I tried a double dry with a light olive body size 14 stimulator in front and trailing a light gray size 16 deer hair caddis. Finally a trout grabbed the caddis, and I was on the board, but then the two fly combination failed to deliver.

Workhorse Fly

Would a dry/dropper do the trick? I moved to a peacock hippie stomper trailing an ultra zug bug, and the zug bug delivered a nice brook trout. Unfortunately the stomper started generating refusals and distracted the trout from the nymph. I switched the ultra zug bug for a supernova PMD nymph, and the nymph produced, but once again the hippie stomper was a distraction.

Glistening

By 11:50, when I broke for lunch, my fish count was stalled at four, and I was puzzled by the slow action in a creek, where I previously experienced fantastic action. I ate my lunch on the south bank of the creek, and when I looked around I noticed many disbursed camping sites and well worn paths along the creek. I concluded that I was in an area favored by campers and fishermen.

So Colorful

I persisted after lunch with the hope that I would move at a faster pace and advance beyond the suspiciously pressured section of the stream, but the results remained disappointing. I did manage a few long distance releases, but prime spots that yielded multiple fish on my last visit, were seemingly devoid of fish.

First Cutthroat

By 1:30 I had enough, and I decided to move. I found the trail and moved westward by .5 mile and cut to the creek. The change of scenery was my salvation, and I moved the fish count from four to twenty-four, before I called it a day at 3:30PM. I abandoned the dry/dropper and settled on a light olive body stimulator trailing a size 16 tan body deer hair caddis. The caddis really started to produce, but about halfway through my afternoon period after changing locations, I set the hook on nothing and flicked the flies high above into a hemlock bow. There was no hope of rescue, so I broke them both off.

In the Net

I replaced the duo with a size 14 lime green trude and a size 16 olive-brown deer hair caddis. These flies continued to fool mainly brook trout, and I moved upstream at a steady pace. The lime green trude’s white calftail wing was easy to track as an indicator; although it also fooled a few fish. The caddis did the heavy lifting, and likely spots finally began to deliver.

Another Cutthroat

On the day I landed twenty-four wild trout. Twenty-one were brook trout, and three were cutthroat trout. Needless to say, I was quite pleased to net a few cutties. Even more rewarding was scooping a fourteen inch cutthroat into my net, after it smacked the caddis. I also hooked a pair of cutthroats that escaped before I could net them. The cutthroats came from deep, slow-moving areas next to large boulders. In two cases I was able to hide above the tail of the pool, and I sent downstream drifts to the deep areas, where the cutthroats confidently sipped the caddis. The cutthroat eats were the highlights of my day.

I definitely feel that I spent 2.5 hours in a more heavily pressured section of the creek. I need to trust my instincts, when I see evidence of heavy human usage. If I visit Moose Creek again, I will definitely be very selective about where I fish.

Fish Landed: 24

 

Taylor River – 08/18/2026

Time: 11:00AM – 3:15PM

Location: Below Taylor Reservoir

Taylor River 08/18/2026 Photo Album

Jane, Amy Jo, and I made a trip to Crested Butte. Amy Jo had never been there, so we volunteered to show her the sights. Tuesday was my fly fishing day, so I was given access to the Telluride for the day. I dropped Amy Jo and Jane off at the Lower Lower Loop Trailhead and left them dependent on the Crested Butte transportation system and their feet.

Nice Section

I arrived at my chosen pullout along the Taylor River by 10:30AM, and I immediately geared up and assembled my Sage R8 four weight. Have I mentioned that I love this rod? The Taylor was running very low with flows out of the dam at 115 CFS. From the road the river looked very challenging; however, once I arrived next to my chosen section, I realized that the river was very fishable. Of course, I chose a stretch with high gradient and a narrow riverbed, and these features created lots of deep runs and pockets. The tailwater effect was also beneficial, and although I never took the temperature, it felt quite cold. The air temperature was in the sixties, and the dashboard displayed 72 degrees, as I commenced my return drive. Several periods of overcast and near showers had me debating whether to slip on my raincoat.

More Size Here

I spent most of the day tossing a dry/dropper configuration, as the fast and deep water suggested deep nymphing. During the morning and early afternoon I drifted a tan pool toy hopper, a 20 incher, and a salvation nymph. I built the fish count to six, but the action was slow and steady.

Rock Garden

During the afternoon the hopper began to generate refusals, so I made a major change and switched to a double dry featuring a peacock hippie stomper and size 14 olive-brown deer hair caddis. The hippie stomper was largely ignored, so I replaced it with a size 14 Jake’s gulp beetle. Throughout this double dry time I managed to land three trout on the caddis, but it was very slow going.

Far Bank Slick Produced

For the last 1.5 hour I returned to the dry/dropper approach, and the three fly lineup included another tan pool toy hopper, a brown perdigon, and a supernova PMD. I landed two additional trout in my last 1.5 hour, and they grabbed the supernova. The dry/dropper was clearly the preferred fishing technique, and during my second session I experienced quite a few temporary connections.

A Rainbow Visits My Net

I was satisfied with my eleven fish day that included four trout in the thirteen to fifteen inch range, but my results could have been even more impressive. During the morning a large brown grabbed the salvation, as the nymphs began to swing in front of a large exposed rock at the tail of a pool. I fought it for five seconds, at which point my line no longer had any weight on it. The bruiser broke off all three flies at an old surgeon’s knot above the pool toy. I caught a nice view of the brown that broke off, and I estimate that it approached the magical twenty inch threshold.

Rainbow Pocket

During the early afternoon a very fine rainbow smashed the pool toy, and it likewise performed an evasive maneuver to free itself. I suspect the rainbow was in the fifteen inch range.

Release

During the later afternoon two brown trout topped the rainbow in the race for most annoying fish. Both grabbed one of the nymphs in nice riffles over moderate depth, and both turned their head and allowed the hook to spring free. In both cases the pent up energy in my rod released and catapulted the flies high above me in overhanging branches. Other than some foul language directed at the smart ass fish, all was well, as I was able to bend down the branches and unravel my line and flies.

Fish Landed: 11

 

Clear Creek – 08/12/2026

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

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

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

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