Estes Park, Colorado Fly Fishing Report
Our Estes Park, Colorado fly fishing report gives you the most up-to-date fishing information on the local area. Check in here before going to fly fish Estes Park so that you know where to go, what to use, and how to make the most of your time on the water.
Big Thompson Below the Dam:
The Big Thompson is still fishing well. The winter is here. The current flow below the dam is 26 cfs. Fishing has been steady in the upper canyon. BWO and midge hatches are becoming more common again.
Hot Flies: For dry flies - Mole Flys and BWO patterns. Nymph setups include Soft Hackle Sow Bugs, Juju Baetis, Radiation Baetis, Blue Poison Tungs, Foam Wing Rs2s and Zebra Midge have all been productive.
Check Flow
Private Water Waterdale Ranch:
Flows are very low now down there. The fish are in the waterfall and in some of the deeper runs now that the flows have been dropped.
Hot Flies: Foam Wing Rs2s, CDC Pheasant Tails, Sow Bugs, Mole Flies, Taboo Caddis, Blue Poison Tungs and Baetis have all been effective.
Colorado River:
The Colorado River is fishing well still. The fish are active through the midday time period. The colder weather has the flows dropping even further. Shelf ice is starting to form on certain sections.
Hot Flies: Pats Rubber legs, Perdigons, Blow Torch, Blue Poison Tungs, Copper Ribbed Rs2 and Juju Baetis are all good options as well as streamer patterns.
Big Thompson below Drake:
Below Drake has some ice forming in the shady sections. The water is clear and low. Use stealth and long leaders down lower in the canyon.
Hot Flies: Perdigons, Small Parachute Adams, BWO, Pats Rubber Legs, CDC Pheasant Tails, Copper Ribbed Rs2 and Hares Ears all being good choices.
Check Flow
Mary’s Lake and Lake Estes:
Mary's Lake water has been dropped to extremely low levels. A lot of fish up in the inlet of Lake Estes. The flow coming into Lake Estes is 15 cfs. There is a lot of top water action on the lake in the evening. Egg patterns, Thin Mints, Stuck in Shuck Midges, sow bugs, pink worm patterns, and Rs2s will work well.
Rocky Mountain National Park:
The flows in Rocky Mountain National Park are down to a trickle in Moraine and Horseshoe Park. The high mountain lakes are iced up now. Moraine Park, Fall River, N St Vrain and Glacier Creek are all starting to ice up as well. Very little water is fishable at this point.
Hot Flies: Small Parachute Adams, Rs2 patterns and Mole flies are options but so are San Juan Worms and Egg patterns.
Fly of the Week: #20 Brown Mole Fly
