Boulder Creek River Report

Boulder Creek River Report

4-26-2024

Flows are good, and didn't go to high with the recent rain. This weekend is looking great, so you can cross basically anything from Elephant Buttress down to town off your list due to swimmers, unless you plan a very early start. Fish are starting to spread out a bit more, so throw a couple casts in all the fishy looking areas. Primary hatches have been midges, BWO's, and Caddis.

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For dries, use a Micro Chubby Chernobyl, Superman Caddis, Hanging Midge, Hippy Stomper, AR's BWO, Elk Hair Caddis, Hi Viz Quill Midge, and Ms. Tickle Criple in BWO.

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For nymphs, use a Rock Grinder, Juju Baetis, Jigged Quill Body in BWO, Spanish Perdigon, Zebra Midge, Prairie Doggin' Caddis Foam Wing Emerger, Aero Baetis, Lil Bit, Sweet Meat Caddis, and Rainbow Warrior.

Guide Rating

4/5

Weather Experienced

- Temperature: Lower 70's (lower canyon)

- Wind Conditions: Light breeze

- Precipitation: 30% chance of PM showers

Water Observations

- Water Temperature: Low 40's

- Flow Level: 26.50 - Near Orodell

- Water Clarity: Near crystal clear 

About Boulder Creek Fly Fishing

Our Boulder Creek fishing report will give you an idea of what flies to use and general conditions you can expect. Boulder Creek is one of Boulder’s most prized possessions, running from Barker Reservoir through town past the campus of CU and out into the flats of Colorado. From start to finish this is a fine trout fishery full of wild browns, rainbows, and even some colorful brookies up towards the town of Nederland. If you can really devote some time to fishing the creek there are even a few cutthroats to be found. Go for the Boulder Creek grand slam!

The creek is full of opportunistic fish that are eager to take a dry fly, so take advantage of the great caddis, blue wing olive and terrestrial fishing. The midges that call Boulder Creek home are active all year and are always a safe bet come the colder months of the year. This is a great chance to get out and test some of those midge patterns that you have been drooling over all winter. The caddis hatches on the creek makes for some of the best evening fishing Boulder has to offer. A simple dry fly with a dropper hanging off the back will light up fish all day long and into the night.

The creek fishes well from start to finish, hitting bigger browns outside of town, or even in town, more rainbows than you can stick in one day up in the canyon and brookies that will keep you grinning until dark near the upper stretches of the creek. The fish size averages around 8in, but there are plenty of larger fish to be had in the creek up to 18″+.