Blue River Report

Blue River Report

09-22-2023

The flows on the Blue continue to hold steady at 105, water temps are stable at the upper 30's-lower 40's and as a result the fish are still in their usual predictable areas. Fishing is still rated as excellent, but make sure you have a good drift or the fish will reject your offering. Smaller sizes have still been the way to go, and the smaller the better.

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For dries, use a Mole Midge, Tail Water Midge, AR’s BWO, BWO Emerger, High Vis Midge, Griffith’s Gnat, Sprout Midge Purple Haze, and Parachute Adams.

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For subsurface, use a Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, RS-2, BTS Mysis, Frenchie, Jig Jr Mint, Bling Midge, Cheeseman Emerger and Tailwater Tiny.

Guide Rating

5/5

Weather Experienced

- Temperature: Upper 50's

- Wind Conditions: Gusty

- Precipitation: None

Water Observations

- Water Temperature: 40 degrees

- Flow Level: 105 CFS

- Water Clarity: Crystal Clear

About Blue River Fly Fishing

For Denver area flyfishers, the Blue River, which rests just an hour-and-a-half west of the city off I-70, is an excellent after-work and short weekend option. However, due to its location, it can suffer from crowding.

Despite its location and a good population of trout, not many people consider the Blue their favorite river. However, for those who know the Blue, “Big trout,” “Broken tippet” and “the one that came off,” are all phrases that are commonly heard as those anglers head home from the river.

It hasn’t always been that way; improvements on the Blue over the last four or five years have benefited the fishery. New catch-and-release regulations to strengthen the population of larger fish and the fact that the rainbows, browns, and brookies in this river have bellied up to a diet of seafood – a white shrimp called Mysis – have played a big part in these improvements.

The Blue below Dillon Reservoir is not a typical Colorado tailwater. In fact, fishing the Blue below Dillon is a somewhat urban experience – it flows through Silverthorne, and those fast food joints, gas stations, and factory outlet stores make a strange setting for a gold medal trout stream.