Colorado ·
Eagle River Fly Fishing Report - September 6, 2026
EAGLE RIVER
ReportSEP 6 — 13, 2026
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Flow
696CFS
COLORADO RIVER NEAR DOTSERO, CO
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Water Temp
68°F
Updated 2026-09-06
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Weather
52–87°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Water temperature is sitting at 68°F — right at the thermal stress threshold — so the productive window is narrow and front-loaded before midday heat sets in. Flow is 696 CFS at the Dotsero gauge, running clear and on a slow downward trend consistent with late-summer low water.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
22-24
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20-22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
Top Secret Baetis #16
16
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
18
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
16
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge | 20-24 | Heavy | 7 AM - 11 AM |
| Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) | 20-22 | Moderate | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Light | 6 PM - 8 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 16 | Light | 10 AM - 1 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Prime nymphing window in riffles and run heads before water temps climb — midge and baetis patterns at depth.
- 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Watch for baetis emergers and opportunistic risers in the slower flats; switch to a dry if you see consistent surface activity.
- 7:00 PM - Dusk: Evening caddis activity in the riffles offers a brief dry-fly opportunity as temps drop — fish the last light carefully.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith water temps hitting 68°F by midday, your best fishing is strictly before 11 AM — get on the water at first light and target the well-oxygenated riffles and the heads of pools where fish are most active. Use 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet; the water is gin-clear at these flows and fish will refuse anything that looks off. Keep your fights short and land fish quickly, then hold them in the current facing upstream until they kick away strong — thermal stress is real today. If you're still on the water by noon, move to shaded canyon sections where temps stay a degree or two cooler.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Mountain Whitefish
