Boulder Creek River Report

Boulder Creek River Report

3-10-2024

 The town stretch to Elephant Buttress is completely ice free. Above, there is more ice, but some open areas to the tunnel. Above the tunnel, you'll find areas frozen over in the shady areas, to ice shelves in the sunnier areas, but these are unstable and can lead to a twisted ankle. Expect plenty of company on the creek from anglers and swimmers with the nice week ahead. Continue to fish the deepest holes and pools you can find. Primary hatches have been midges, though for nymphs, such as cased caddis, and BWO's are starting to become much more active with the warmer weather and water, and are not a bad addition to a nymph angler's box.

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For dries, use a Micro Chubby Chernobyl, Palm's Emerger, Hanging Midge, Hippy Stomper, CDC Spent Midge, Slick Midge, Quill Midge, and Griffith's Gnat.

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For nymphs, use a Boroff's Homie, Poison Tung, BTS Mayfly in BWO, Spanish Perdigon, Zebra Midge, Flashtail Egg, Foam Wing Emerger, Aero Baetis, Barr's Emerger, Frenchie, and Rainbow Warrior.

Guide Rating

3/5

Weather Experienced

- Temperature: Upper 60's (lower canyon)

- Wind Conditions: Breezy

- Precipitation: None

Water Observations

- Water Temperature: Mid 30's

- Flow Level: 5.76 - at 75th street

- 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″+.