Big Thompson River
Recent Guide Reports
Forecast
Trending Flies in Recent Reports
- Poison Tung
- Parachute BWO
- BWO
- Parachute Adams
- San Juan Worm
- Pheasant Tail
- Zebra Midge
- Leech
- Woolly Bugger
- Squirmy Wormy
Current Conditions
Gauge Flow
High Water Warning
Gauge Height
Water Temperature
Water Temperature Over 68°F
Condition Graphs
Fly Shop Directory
Recent Guide Reports
Jun 04
Estes Angler
Big Thompson - RMNP
Updated
Updated 6/5/23. The flows of the Big Thompson Currently running through Moraine Park are at 365 cfs. Flows of The Big Thompson into lake Estes are currently running at 831 cfs. Flows will be increasing throughout the park from recent rains and as temps start to increase. Concentrate on banks and slower moving water. Try squirmy worms in hot pink size 16, chenille and San Juan worms in pink can work as well. Zebra, poison tung, juju midge, pheasant tail patterns are working as well. Chubby Chernobyl with a midge dropper beneath has worked well in the slower water along the banks. Dries try Parachute Adams, ext. body BWOs Griffiths Gnat, mole flies. Wooly Buggers and leach pattern try Olive, Black and Thin Mints.
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Updated
Updated 6/5/23. The flows of the Big Thompson Currently running through Moraine Park are at 365 cfs. Flows of The Big Thompson into lake Estes are currently running at 831 cfs. Flows will be increasing throughout the park from recent rains and as temps start to increase. Concentrate on banks and slower moving water. Try squirmy worms in hot pink size 16, chenille and San Juan worms in pink can work as well. Zebra, poison tung, juju midge, pheasant tail patterns are working as well. Chubby Chernobyl with a midge dropper beneath has worked well in the slower water along the banks. Dries try Parachute Adams, ext. body BWOs Griffiths Gnat, mole flies. Wooly Buggers and leach pattern try Olive, Black and Thin Mints.
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Jun 04
Estes Angler
Big Thompson - Canyon
Updated
Updated 6/5/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 831 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 264 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 48 degrees. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the current rains up in the park the lower flows out of Olympus dam may not last for to long. Patts Rubber leg, squirmy worms in pink and purple size 16, stone flies, egg patterns, Mighty mite baetis, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk, grey and brown have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Hot head sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well along the banks in the tail water deeper pools.
Updated 6/5/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 831 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 264 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 48 degrees. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the current rains up in the park the lower flows out of Olympus dam may not last for too long. Patts Rubber leg, squirmy worms in pink and purple size 16, stone flies, egg patterns, Mighty mite baetis, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk, grey and brown have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Hot head sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well along the banks in the tail water deeper pools.
Updated
Updated 6/5/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 831 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 264 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 48 degrees. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the current rains up in the park the lower flows out of Olympus dam may not last for to long. Patts Rubber leg, squirmy worms in pink and purple size 16, stone flies, egg patterns, Mighty mite baetis, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk, grey and brown have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Hot head sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well along the banks in the tail water deeper pools.
Updated 6/5/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 831 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 264 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 48 degrees. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the current rains up in the park the lower flows out of Olympus dam may not last for too long. Patts Rubber leg, squirmy worms in pink and purple size 16, stone flies, egg patterns, Mighty mite baetis, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk, grey and brown have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Hot head sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well along the banks in the tail water deeper pools.
May 29
Estes Angler
Big Thompson - RMNP
Updated
Updated 5/29/23. The flows of the Big Thompson Currently running through Moraine Park are at 277 cfs. Flows of The Big Thompson into lake Estes are currently running at 640 cfs. Flows will be increasing throughout the park from recent rains and as temps start to increase. Concentrate on banks and slower moving water.Try squirmy worms in hot pink size 16, chenille and San Juan worms in pink can work as well. Zebra, poison tung, juju midge, pheasant tail patterns are working as well. Chubby Chernobyl with a midge dropper beneath has worked well in the slower water along the banks. Dries try Parachute Adams, ext. body BWOs Griffiths Gnat, mole flies.
Updated
Updated 5/29/23. The flows of the Big Thompson Currently running through Moraine Park are at 277 cfs. Flows of The Big Thompson into lake Estes are currently running at 640 cfs. Flows will be increasing throughout the park from recent rains and as temps start to increase. Concentrate on banks and slower moving water.Try squirmy worms in hot pink size 16, chenille and San Juan worms in pink can work as well. Zebra, poison tung, juju midge, pheasant tail patterns are working as well. Chubby Chernobyl with a midge dropper beneath has worked well in the slower water along the banks. Dries try Parachute Adams, ext. body BWOs Griffiths Gnat, mole flies.
May 29
Estes Angler
Big Thompson - Canyon
Updated
Updated 5/29/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 622 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 681 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 49. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the higher flows concentrate on the banks and the slower flows on the river. Patts Rubber leg, squirmy worms in pink and purple size 16, stone flies, egg patterns, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk, grey and brown have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Soft hackle sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well in the tail water deep pools.
Updated
Updated 5/29/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 622 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 681 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 49. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the higher flows concentrate on the banks and the slower flows on the river. Patts Rubber leg, squirmy worms in pink and purple size 16, stone flies, egg patterns, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk, grey and brown have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Soft hackle sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well in the tail water deep pools.
May 27
St. Peter's Fly Shop
Spring is here on the Big Thompson and with it came our annual run off. The larger bugs in our boxes have started to produce such as stoneflies, worms, scuds, and sowbugs. We are also starting to see some terrestrials, so now is a good time to start fishing bigger chubby chernobyls. The flows are pretty high now, but when they come back down smaller bug patterns such a #18-20 Micro Mayfly, or a #18-20 Poison Tung will be effective. Fishing a #20 UV Emerger, an #18-20 Sparkle Wing Rs2 or #18-22 Copper Rib Rs2 are great flies to fish the middle of the water column or behind an adult dry fly to target fish looking for emerging insects. We really like Sprout Midges #18-24, and The Eric's Hi-Vis Midge #20-24 for the fish eating midge adults and cripples. For fishing to rising fish we like to use the Extended body Bwo #18-22 and the CDC Baetis dun #18-22. Dry fly eats can be delicate, and often times are hard to detect with such a small fly. Having tools such as BioStrike or running a double dry fly rig can help you keep track of your dry flies on the surface so you don't miss a hook-set. Let us know if you have any questions or looking for more info!
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl #8-10, Adams#16-24, Para Winger BWO #18-20, Rocky Mountain Mint #16-18, Tailing Midge #20, Griffith's Gnat #18-22, CDC Baetis Dun #20-22, Mole Fly Olive #20-22, Ext. Body Blue Winged Olive #18-22
Nymphs:: Prince Nymph #10-16, Copper John #18-22, Flashback Scud Olv. #14-16, Sparkle Wing Rs2 #18-22, Jig Baetis #18-20, Splitback Shady BWO#16-18, Two Bit Hooker #16-#18, Copper Rib RS2 #18-22, Flossy Worm #14-18, Theos Spark-a-lid #12-16, Pheasant Tail #18-22, Sparkle Worm pink or purple #8
Streamers:: Thin Mint #8-12, Beldar Bugger #8, Sparkle Minnow #8, Hot Head Leech #10, Black Wooly Bugger #10, Mini Peanut Envy, Cousin It Sculpin, Baby Swim Coach, Mini Peanut Envy #6.
The 2022 season on the Big Thompson was an absolute blast! Give us a call at (970) 498-8968 to book your guided trip.
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl #8-10, Adams#16-24, Para Winger BWO #18-20, Rocky Mountain Mint #16-18, Tailing Midge #20, Griffith's Gnat #18-22, CDC Baetis Dun #20-22, Mole Fly Olive #20-22, Ext. Body Blue Winged Olive #18-22
Nymphs:: Prince Nymph #10-16, Copper John #18-22, Flashback Scud Olv. #14-16, Sparkle Wing Rs2 #18-22, Jig Baetis #18-20, Splitback Shady BWO#16-18, Two Bit Hooker #16-#18, Copper Rib RS2 #18-22, Flossy Worm #14-18, Theos Spark-a-lid #12-16, Pheasant Tail #18-22, Sparkle Worm pink or purple #8
Streamers:: Thin Mint #8-12, Beldar Bugger #8, Sparkle Minnow #8, Hot Head Leech #10, Black Wooly Bugger #10, Mini Peanut Envy, Cousin It Sculpin, Baby Swim Coach, Mini Peanut Envy #6.
The 2022 season on the Big Thompson was an absolute blast! Give us a call at (970) 498-8968 to book your guided trip.
May 23
St. Peter's Fly Shop
Spring is here on the Big Thompson and with it came our annual run off. The larger bugs in our boxes have started to produce such as stoneflies, worms, scuds, and sowbugs. Make sure you still have smaller bug patterns such a #18-20 Micro Mayfly, or a #18-20 Poison Tung, as these are great patterns that will continuously produce on the Thompson. Fishing a #20 UV Emerger, an #18-20 Sparkle Wing Rs2 or #18-22 Copper Rib Rs2 are great flies to fish the middle of the water column or behind an adult dry fly to target fish looking for emerging insects. We really like Sprout Midges #18-24, and The Eric's Hi-Vis Midge #20-24 for the fish eating midge adults and cripples. For fishing to rising fish we like to use the Extended body Bwo #18-22 and the CDC Baetis dun #18-22. Dry fly eats can be delicate, and often times are hard to detect with such a small fly. Having tools such as BioStrike or running a double dry fly rig can help you keep track of your dry flies on the surface so you don't miss a hook-set. Let us know if you have any questions or looking for more info!
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl #12-16, Adams#16-24, Para Winger BWO #18-20, Rocky Mountain Mint #16-18, Tailing Midge #20, Griffith's Gnat #18-22, CDC Baetis Dun #20-22, Mole Fly Olive #20-22, Ext. Body Blue Winged Olive #18-22
Nymphs:: Prince Nymph #10-16, Copper John #18-22, Flashback Scud Olv. #14-16, Sparkle Wing Rs2 #18-22, Jig Baetis #18-20, Splitback Shady BWO#16-18, Two Bit Hooker #16-#18, Copper Rib RS2 #18-22, Flossy Worm #14-18, Theos Spark-a-lid #12-16, Pheasant Tail #18-22, Sparkle Worm pink or purple #8
Streamers:: Thin Mint #8-12, Beldar Bugger #8, Sparkle Minnow #8, Hot Head Leech #10, Black Wooly Bugger #10, Mini Peanut Envy, Cousin It Sculpin, Baby Swim Coach, Mini Peanut Envy #6.
The 2022 season on the Big Thompson was an absolute blast! Give us a call at (970) 498-8968 to book your guided trip.
Dries: Chubby Chernobyl #12-16, Adams#16-24, Para Winger BWO #18-20, Rocky Mountain Mint #16-18, Tailing Midge #20, Griffith's Gnat #18-22, CDC Baetis Dun #20-22, Mole Fly Olive #20-22, Ext. Body Blue Winged Olive #18-22
Nymphs:: Prince Nymph #10-16, Copper John #18-22, Flashback Scud Olv. #14-16, Sparkle Wing Rs2 #18-22, Jig Baetis #18-20, Splitback Shady BWO#16-18, Two Bit Hooker #16-#18, Copper Rib RS2 #18-22, Flossy Worm #14-18, Theos Spark-a-lid #12-16, Pheasant Tail #18-22, Sparkle Worm pink or purple #8
Streamers:: Thin Mint #8-12, Beldar Bugger #8, Sparkle Minnow #8, Hot Head Leech #10, Black Wooly Bugger #10, Mini Peanut Envy, Cousin It Sculpin, Baby Swim Coach, Mini Peanut Envy #6.
The 2022 season on the Big Thompson was an absolute blast! Give us a call at (970) 498-8968 to book your guided trip.
May 21
Estes Angler
Big Thompson - RMNP
Updated
Updated 5/22/23. The flows of the Big Thompson Currently running through Moraine Park are at 193 cfs. Flows of The Big Thompson into lake Estes are currently running at 469 cfs. Flows will be increasing throughout the park from recent rains and as temps start to increase. Concentrate on banks and slower moving water.Try squirmy worms in hot pink size 16, chenille and San Juan worms in pink can work as well. Zebra, poison tung, juju midge, pheasant tail patterns are working as well. Parachute Adams, ext. body BWOs Griffiths Gnat.
Updated
Updated 5/22/23. The flows of the Big Thompson Currently running through Moraine Park are at 193 cfs. Flows of The Big Thompson into lake Estes are currently running at 469 cfs. Flows will be increasing throughout the park from recent rains and as temps start to increase. Concentrate on banks and slower moving water.Try squirmy worms in hot pink size 16, chenille and San Juan worms in pink can work as well. Zebra, poison tung, juju midge, pheasant tail patterns are working as well. Parachute Adams, ext. body BWOs Griffiths Gnat.
May 21
Estes Angler
Big Thompson - Canyon
Updated
Updated 5/22/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 469 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 487 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 46. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the higher flows concentrate on the banks and the slower flows on the river. Patts Rubber leg, stone flies, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk or gray have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Soft hackle sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well in the tail water deep pools.
Updated
Updated 5/22/23 The flows into Lake Estes are currently 469 cfs. As of this post current flows out of Lake Estes are now running at 487 cfs. Water temp below the dam was 46. Fishing continues to be very good from the spillway on down into the canyon. With the higher flows concentrate on the banks and the slower flows on the river. Patts Rubber leg, stone flies, Sparkle wing RS2 in Black and Gray in sizes 18/20 work well and Copper ribbed and Foam Head emergers size 18,20,22 in blk or gray have been working well. Pheasant tails Blue poison tung and zebra midges size16,18,20 work well. Soft hackle sow bugs have been working well. Dry flies to use during a hatch would be small extended body BWOs parachute Adams, purple haze parachute flies in sizes 14 all the way down to size 26 have been productive. Griffiths gnat trailed behind the parachutes have worked well when the trout are rising to the surface. Wooly Buggers try Thin Mints, olive and black and black leech patterns are still working well in the tail water deep pools.