Big Thompson River
Recent Guide Reports
Forecast
Trending Flies in Recent Reports
- Hopper
- Leech
- PMD
- Chubby Chernoble
- Copper John
- Rainbow Warrior
- San Juan Worm
- Black Beauty
- Mercury Midge
- Elk Hair Caddis
Current Conditions
Gauge Flow
High Water Warning
Gauge Height
Water Temperature
Water Temperature Over 68°F
Condition Graphs
Fly Shop Directory
Recent Guide Reports
Aug 09
FlyCast River Forecast
Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
Big Thompson flows below Lake Estes rose last week to 270 cfs. Flows stabilized, which improved clarity and productivity. With healthy flows and abundant bug activity, hopper droppers and dry droppers fished along the banks and outer seams is a great way to go. Chubby Chernobyls, Amys Ants, Hippy Stompers and Elk Hair Caddis are all buoyant dry flies that will hold 1-2 nymphs but also attract surface eats. Trail a Pats Rubber Legs, Iron Sally, red Copper John, Guides Choice Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail or Rainbow Warrior, 12 24 behind your dry. If youre not seeing any action, you can either trail a second nymph or add a little weight. If you fish the faster and deeper water, a double nymph rig will do the trick. Baetis emergers and caddis pupa have been great trailer patterns lately, so make sure to have some Sparkle Pupas, Sparkle Wing RS2s, Darth Baetis and Barrs Emergers on hand.
Ideal Days to Fish: Monday, Saturday & Sunday
Suggested Flies:
Sub-surface: RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), JuJu PMD (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Thunder (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-26), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#18-20), pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm.
Surface: Parachute Adams (#22-24), Parachute PMD (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Little Black Caddis (#16-18), Chubby Chernobyl (#12-14)
Big Thompson flows below Lake Estes rose last week to 270 cfs. Flows stabilized, which improved clarity and productivity. With healthy flows and abundant bug activity, hopper droppers and dry droppers fished along the banks and outer seams is a great way to go. Chubby Chernobyls, Amys Ants, Hippy Stompers and Elk Hair Caddis are all buoyant dry flies that will hold 1-2 nymphs but also attract surface eats. Trail a Pats Rubber Legs, Iron Sally, red Copper John, Guides Choice Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail or Rainbow Warrior, 12 24 behind your dry. If youre not seeing any action, you can either trail a second nymph or add a little weight. If you fish the faster and deeper water, a double nymph rig will do the trick. Baetis emergers and caddis pupa have been great trailer patterns lately, so make sure to have some Sparkle Pupas, Sparkle Wing RS2s, Darth Baetis and Barrs Emergers on hand.
Ideal Days to Fish: Monday, Saturday & Sunday
Suggested Flies:
Sub-surface: RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), JuJu PMD (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Thunder (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-26), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#18-20), pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm.
Surface: Parachute Adams (#22-24), Parachute PMD (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Little Black Caddis (#16-18), Chubby Chernobyl (#12-14)
Aug 01
FlyCast River Forecast
Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
The Big Thompson below Lake Estes is about as good as it gets right now. Due to ideal flows and consistent hatch activity, trout are active and hungry. Dry fly action has been best during the morning and evening, so if youre looking for some surface action, hit the 9 am 1 pm or 5 pm 8 pm window. Trout looking up can be fooled on Chubby Chernobyls, Elk Hair Caddis, All Season Caddis, Red Quills and Parachute Adams. If you want to drop a nymph off the back, you cant go wrong with a Pats Rubber Legs, Iron Sally, Copper John, Mercury Pheasant Tail or Sparkle Pupa. During the middle of the day, either stick with a hopper dropper setup and pound the banks or fish the faster water with a nymph rig. Stoneflies and caddis are great lead patterns when trailed by baetis emergers, caddis pupa or attractors.
Ideal Days to Fish: Monday, Saturday & Sunday
Suggested Flies:
Sub-surface: RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), JuJu PMD (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Thunder (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-26), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#18-20), pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm.
Surface: Parachute Adams (#22-24), Parachute PMD (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Little Black Caddis (#16-18), Chubby Chernobyl (#12-14)
The Big Thompson below Lake Estes is about as good as it gets right now. Due to ideal flows and consistent hatch activity, trout are active and hungry. Dry fly action has been best during the morning and evening, so if youre looking for some surface action, hit the 9 am 1 pm or 5 pm 8 pm window. Trout looking up can be fooled on Chubby Chernobyls, Elk Hair Caddis, All Season Caddis, Red Quills and Parachute Adams. If you want to drop a nymph off the back, you cant go wrong with a Pats Rubber Legs, Iron Sally, Copper John, Mercury Pheasant Tail or Sparkle Pupa. During the middle of the day, either stick with a hopper dropper setup and pound the banks or fish the faster water with a nymph rig. Stoneflies and caddis are great lead patterns when trailed by baetis emergers, caddis pupa or attractors.
Ideal Days to Fish: Monday, Saturday & Sunday
Suggested Flies:
Sub-surface: RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), JuJu PMD (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Thunder (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-26), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#18-20), pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm.
Surface: Parachute Adams (#22-24), Parachute PMD (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Little Black Caddis (#16-18), Chubby Chernobyl (#12-14)
Aug 01
St. Peter's Fly Shop
With summer in full swing and fish chomping at surface offerings, now is the time to throw double dries in the early mornings and evenings. With all the hoppers, cicadas, ants and more being readily available for fish to eat with the lower clear flows, they will take full advantage. Small PMX's and Chubbys on top trailed with a smaller stonefly, caddis or PMD nymph are the hopper dropper rig of choice for this time. Don't be afraid to throw larger stream bank or Morrish hoppers, these large morsels will often bring out some larger fish. Be sure to fish all the slack water you can find behind rocks, along edges, submerged boulders, you name it. Don't be afraid to hit the main bubble lines mid river as well, with warmer water a good number of fish will tend to hold in deeper current. For the slow, deep water try to fish a streamer or two nymphs on a slow dead drift. Those fish will be holding close to bottom where the water is slowest. Dry dropper rigs or smaller nymph rigs have seen success lately and a few fish are still hunting down streamers. Rocky Mountain National Park is now in a phased re-opening which will allow for access to the upper Big T by Moraine Park. We are seeing caddis along with some PMD's as the mornings wear on before the heat of the day kicks in and have seen some very early morning BWO action. If fish aren't taking bugs off of the surface stick to a nymph rig or a dry/dropper rig fished right along the bank. Leaders in the 7.5-9 foot range and 4x-5x tippet will be the ticket.
Give the shop a ring if you have any questions!
Recommended Flies
Dries :: Yellow and Orange Stimulator #12-16, Tan or Gold Chubby Chernobyl #14-16, PMX #14-16, Film Critic BWO #18, Elk Caddis #14-18, Headlight Caddis #14-16
Nymphs:: Blue Poison Tung #18, Rainbow Warrior #18-20, Red, Chartreuse, Copper Copper John #14-18, San Juan Worm #10-14, The Ticket #14-16
Streamers:: Thin Mint #8-12, North Platte Spiders, Mini Dungeons, Sparkle Minnow #8, Hot Head Leech #10, Black Wooly Bugger #10
To Book your Guided Trip please contact the shop at (970)498-8968. Come Fly Fish Rocky Mountain National Park!
Give the shop a ring if you have any questions!
Recommended Flies
Dries :: Yellow and Orange Stimulator #12-16, Tan or Gold Chubby Chernobyl #14-16, PMX #14-16, Film Critic BWO #18, Elk Caddis #14-18, Headlight Caddis #14-16
Nymphs:: Blue Poison Tung #18, Rainbow Warrior #18-20, Red, Chartreuse, Copper Copper John #14-18, San Juan Worm #10-14, The Ticket #14-16
Streamers:: Thin Mint #8-12, North Platte Spiders, Mini Dungeons, Sparkle Minnow #8, Hot Head Leech #10, Black Wooly Bugger #10
To Book your Guided Trip please contact the shop at (970)498-8968. Come Fly Fish Rocky Mountain National Park!
Jul 26
FlyCast River Forecast
Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
Big Thompson flows below Lake Estes have been volatile the past couple of weeks but for the most part, they have held within the 200 cfs range. There are a number of hatches going on and trout are looking up. During the morning, keep it simple with a Parachute Adams for the midge hatch. In the late morning and afternoon, PMDs, black caddis and golden stones will make an appearance. Either fish a hopper dropper with a Chubby Chernobyl followed by an attractor nymph or fish a single black caddis or Parachute PMD. Most of the surface action will either be along banks or in slow runs/pools, so target those sections if youre looking to fish dries. Other than that, nymph setups will be productive in the deeper and faster water. Stonefly, caddis, searcher and sow bug patterns are great lead flies. As far as trailer patterns go, you cant go wrong with a Blue Poison Tung, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Mercury Midge or Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger.
Ideal Days to Fish: Monday, Thursday & Friday
Suggested Flies:
Sub-surface: RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), JuJu PMD (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Thunder (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-26), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#18-20), pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm.
Surface: Parachute Adams (#22-24), Parachute PMD (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Little Black Caddis (#16-18), Chubby Chernobyl (#12-14)
Big Thompson flows below Lake Estes have been volatile the past couple of weeks but for the most part, they have held within the 200 cfs range. There are a number of hatches going on and trout are looking up. During the morning, keep it simple with a Parachute Adams for the midge hatch. In the late morning and afternoon, PMDs, black caddis and golden stones will make an appearance. Either fish a hopper dropper with a Chubby Chernobyl followed by an attractor nymph or fish a single black caddis or Parachute PMD. Most of the surface action will either be along banks or in slow runs/pools, so target those sections if youre looking to fish dries. Other than that, nymph setups will be productive in the deeper and faster water. Stonefly, caddis, searcher and sow bug patterns are great lead flies. As far as trailer patterns go, you cant go wrong with a Blue Poison Tung, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Mercury Midge or Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger.
Ideal Days to Fish: Monday, Thursday & Friday
Suggested Flies:
Sub-surface: RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), JuJu PMD (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Thunder (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-26), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#18-20), pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm.
Surface: Parachute Adams (#22-24), Parachute PMD (#22-24), Griffiths Gnat (#22-24), Little Black Caddis (#16-18), Chubby Chernobyl (#12-14)