Bear Creek Fishing Report 2025| Current Conditions - Access - Flies

Updated: 11/19/2025

Bear Creek is doing that late fall thing where the water is low, the trout are spooky, and every productive drift feels like solving a riddle from a trout with trust issues. The mornings are slow, the afternoons warm just enough to kick up midges, and the bite is extremely clean if you stay out of the water, fish tiny bugs, and don’t rush your drifts.

Pressure is light, clarity is high, and it’s a great week to sneak in quick sessions close to Denver without feeling like you’re fighting the whole city for casting room.

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Conditions Summary

Flow Rate
Low November levels typical for Bear Creek. Consistent and stable.

Water Temp
Low 40s in the morning, mid 40s by afternoon.

Air Temp
Mid 40s to mid 50s depending on the day.

Clarity
Clear. Long sight lines, spooky fish.

Crowds
Moderate. Afternoon dog walkers outnumber anglers.

Best Times
12 PM to 3 PM when the creek gets its brief warmup.

Fishing Type Scores
Dry Fly: ⭐️
Nymphing: ⭐️⭐️
Streamer: ⭐️

Five Day Weather

Sunday 45 to 52, sunny
Monday 38 to 54, clouds
Tuesday 41 to 56, clouds
Wednesday 42 to 51, clouds
Thursday 38 to 49, scattered rain

Hatch Chart for November

Primary Hatch
Midges
Colors: black, grey
Sizes: 20 to 26

Secondary Hatch
Tiny BWOs
Sizes: 20 to 22

Tertiary
Sowbugs
Sizes: 16 to 18

Top 10 Flies for Bear Creek

1. Black Beauty 22
2. Mercury Midge 20
3. Zebra Midge 20
4. RS2 Gray 20
5. WD40 Chocolate 20
6. Olive Micro Leech 14
7. Rainbow Warrior 18
8. Flashback PT 18
9. Sprout Baetis 20
10. Soft Hackle PT 16

Pro Rig of the Week

Bear Creek Fall Sight Rig

• Lead Fly: Mercury Midge 20
• Dropper: RS2 Gray 20
• Tippet: 6X fluoro
• Weight: Micro split, only if absolutely needed
• Indicator: Yarn or a trimmed 1/2 inch Airlock
  Guide Tip: Stay off the water entirely. Cast from the bank, crouched, and use long reach mends. Trout spook faster in Bear Creek than almost anywhere in the Front Range.

Technique Tips

Seasonal Tip
Treat the creek like a spring creek: long drifts, tiny bugs, minimal movement.

Dry Fly
Single midges on slow edges when the sun is warming the surface.

Nymphing
Run long, drag-free drifts in walking-speed water. Avoid fast riffles.

Streamer
Keep them small and slow. This creek won’t reward big patterns right now.

Access Points

Accurate, real-world, public sections only. No invented names.

1. Bear Creek Lake Park Inlet
Gentle water, great clarity, lots of small fish willing to eat midges.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2. Morrison Bridge Pull-Off
Popular but productive. Deep pockets fish well on warm afternoons.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. Lair o’ the Bear Upstream Runs
Long glides and technical water. Best for experienced anglers.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4. Below the Picnic Area Bends
Soft seams and undercut banks where fish hold tight mid-day.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Local Regulations and Notes

• Watch for closures or alerts from Jefferson County.
• Heavy pedestrian traffic on warm days.
• Respect private property boundaries along the creek.

FAQ

Q: Is Bear Creek worth fishing in November
A: Yes. Low pressure, clear water, and technical but consistent.

Q: Do dries work now
A: Rarely, and only mid-afternoon.

Q: Best tippet
A: 6X. Fish are spooky.

Q: Is the water too low
A: No, but stealth matters more than normal.

Q: Are streamers good
A: Only small leeches or soft hackles.

Q: Do I need to hike far
A: No. Good water exists in every public section.

Stop Here After the River

After fishing, roll into Morrison Inn for a cold beer and some seriously underrated green chile. Sit on the patio if the sun’s out and watch traffic crawl by while you thaw out. The Rocky Mountain Margarita and street tacos are the go-to after a Bear Creek day.
https://www.morrisoninn.com

Fish Boulder Creek Like a Local- Book Canyon Fly Shop

The guides at Canyon Fly Shop know every pocket, seam, and hatch. Book your trip through GuideBank and fish with the folks who actually live it.

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