Boulder Creek River Report

Boulder Creek River Report

12-20-2024

Flows are great for this time of year, esecially with so much of the canyon being iced over. From Elephant Buttress up to Nederland is capped, but below Elephant Buttress is open. The best reports have been coming from the town stretch, which will have a degree or two warmer water than the lower canyon. Fish will be primarily in wintering holes, or at least in close proximity to them. Primary hatches have been midges.

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For dries, use a Micro Chubby Chernobyl, Para Ant, Hanging Midge, Hippy Stomper, No See Um Midge, Boroff's Midge, Quill Midge, and Griffith's Gnat.

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For nymphs, use a Pure Midge, Disco Midge, SOS Nymph, Spanish Perdigon, Zebra Midge, Glo Bug, Walt's Worm, Roza's Mouse Jig, Gooey Midge Pupa, TH Hotspot Nymph, and Rainbow Warrior.

Guide Rating

3/5

Weather Experienced

- Temperature: Near 60 (lower canyon)

- Wind Conditions: Light breeze

- Precipitation: None

Water Observations

- Water Temperature: Lower 30's

- Flow Level: 16.6 - 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″+.