Colorado ·
Blue River Fly Fishing Report - August 16, 2026
BLUE RIVER
ReportAUG 16 — 23, 2026
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Flow
290CFS
BLUE RIVER BELOW GREEN MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR, CO
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-08-16
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Weather
43–77°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 290 CFS below Green Mountain Reservoir with a gauge height of 3.94 ft — higher than low-water conditions upstream near Silverthorne, so expect fishable but deliberate currents with excellent clarity. Today's high of 75°F and mostly sunny skies will warm the water through midday, making early-morning and evening windows your best bets.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
22-24
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
16
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
20
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20
Top Secret Baetis #16
16
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
20
Egan's CDC Rainbow Warrior #22
22
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
18
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge | 20-24 | Heavy | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 1 PM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Light | 5 PM - 7 PM |
| Terrestrial (Ant) | 16 | Moderate | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| PMD | 18-20 | Light | 12 PM - 2 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Prime midge and early BWO window before the sun hits the water; nymph the deeper seams below the dam with small tungsten patterns.
- 10 AM - 1 PM: BWO hatch peaks in overcast pockets; switch to emergers and dry flies in slower, flat water for the best surface action.
- 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Evening terrestrial and caddis activity along grassy banks; work ant and caddis patterns tight to the edges as light fades.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith 290 CFS and gin-clear water, fish are spooky — stay low, move slow, and keep your shadow off the water. Sight-fish to individual trout by positioning yourself downstream and casting upstream into feeding lanes; use 6X or 7X fluorocarbon tippet and a 12-foot leader to keep your fly line well away from the fish. During the midday sun, shift your focus to deeper, shaded runs where trout stack up to escape the brightness, and slow your drift down — these fish will inspect a fly hard before committing. In the evening, move to the riffled tailouts and watch for subtle surface sips as caddis and midges come off together.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Mountain Whitefish
