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Best Colorado Fly Fishing Today: Updated River Reports, Flies, and Tips
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The best Colorado fly fishing today is happening right now—and knowing where, when, and how to fish makes all the difference. This real-time guide uses live data from the River Whisper app to give anglers actionable information: river flows, water temps, hatches, best flies, and peak fishing times.
Whether you're chasing rising trout on dries or working deep nymph rigs, here’s where you’ll find the best fly fishing in Colorado today.
South Platte River – Deckers Section
Flow: 170 CFS
Water Temp: Low 40s °F
Clarity: Clear
Best Time to Fish: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Hatches: Midges, Blue Winged Olives (BWOs)
Best Flies Today:
- Parachute Adams (#20–22)
- RS2 (#20–22)
- Zebra Midge (#22–24)
- Top Secret Midge (#22–24)
Tips for Fishing Deckers Today:
Focus on mid-morning to early afternoon when BWOs are hatching. Fish small dries over risers or drift midges deep with 6X fluorocarbon. Use long leaders for pressured trout in clear water.
Arkansas River – Near Salida
Flow: 480 CFS
Water Temp: Mid-40s °F
Clarity: Improving after runoff pulses
Best Time to Fish: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hatches: Early Caddis, BWOs
Best Flies Today:
- Elk Hair Caddis (#16)
- Pheasant Tail (#16–18)
- RS2 (#20)
- Thin Mint Streamer (#8)
Tips for Fishing Arkansas Today:
Start with nymphs in the morning; switch to soft hackles or dry-dropper rigs as caddis activity increases midday. Fish edges and inside seams as fish move up into shallow riffles.
Blue River – Below Dillon Reservoir
Flow: 110 CFS
Water Temp: Low 40s °F
Clarity: Gin-clear
Best Time to Fish: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hatches: Midges, Mysis Shrimp
Best Flies Today:
- Mysis Shrimp (#18)
- Black Beauty (#22)
- Top Secret Midge (#24)
Tips for Fishing Blue River Today:
Use 6X fluorocarbon and perfect drifts in tailouts and slow seams. Watch for subtle sips during midday midge clusters. Sight-fish to picky trout feeding just below the surface.
Colorado River – Glenwood Springs Area
Flow: 1,870 CFS
Water Temp: Mid-40s °F
Clarity: Clear to slightly stained
Best Time to Fish: 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hatches: BWOs, Early Caddis
Best Flies Today:
- BWO Sparkle Dun (#18–20)
- Pheasant Tail (#16–18)
- Thin Mint Streamer (#8)
- Black Woolly Bugger (#8)
Tips for Fishing Colorado River Today:
Focus on soft seams and slow water along banks. Drift nymph rigs early; switch to a BWO dry as risers appear. If water colors up, fish streamers tight to cover.
North Fork South Platte River
Flow: Controlled; varies by section
Water Temp: Low 40s °F
Clarity: Clear
Best Time to Fish: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hatches: Midges, Early BWOs
Best Flies Today:
- Griffith’s Gnat (#20–22)
- Black Beauty (#22–24)
- Olive Slumpbuster (#8)
Tips for Fishing North Fork Today:
Start small with midges and dries in the morning; switch to streamers later if water warms. Consider booking private access sections for less pressure and bigger fish.
Hatches Happening Across Colorado Today
| River | Hatches |
|---|---|
| South Platte | Midges, BWOs |
| Arkansas River | Early Caddis, BWOs |
| Blue River | Midges, Mysis Shrimp |
| Colorado River | BWOs, Early Caddis |
| North Fork South Platte | Midges, BWOs |
Best Flies for Colorado Fly Fishing Today
Don’t fish Colorado today without these patterns:
- Parachute Adams (#20–22)
- RS2 (#20–22)
- Zebra Midge (#22–24)
- Top Secret Midge (#22–24)
- Elk Hair Caddis (#16)
- Pheasant Tail (#16–18)
- Thin Mint Streamer (#8)
- Black Woolly Bugger (#8)
- Mysis Shrimp (#18)
- Black Beauty (#22)
- Griffith’s Gnat (#20–22)
- Olive Slumpbuster (#8)
Pro Tips for Best Colorado Fly Fishing Today
- Get on the water by 9:00 a.m. to beat wind and crowds.
- Target soft seams and shallow riffles in the morning; deeper pools midday.
- Adjust nymph depth frequently as flows fluctuate.
- Use dry-dropper rigs during hatch windows.
- Bring long leaders (10–12 feet) for pressured tailwaters.
FAQs: Best Colorado Fly Fishing Today
Where is the best Colorado fly fishing today?
The best Colorado fly fishing today is on the South Platte River at Deckers, the Arkansas River near Salida, and the Blue River below Dillon Reservoir, based on current flows, clarity, and hatches.
What flies are working best for Colorado fly fishing today?
The best flies for Colorado fly fishing today are Parachute Adams (#20–22), RS2 (#20–22), Zebra Midge (#22–24), Elk Hair Caddis (#16), and Thin Mint Streamer (#8).
What’s the best time to fly fish in Colorado today?
The best time to fly fish in Colorado today is 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., when insect activity peaks and trout are most active.
Is runoff affecting Colorado fly fishing today?
Runoff is starting at lower elevations, but tailwaters like the South Platte, Blue River, and Fryingpan River remain clear and fishable today.
Where can I fly fish near Denver today?
The best fly fishing near Denver today is at Clear Creek in Golden, Bear Creek near Morrison, and Waterton Canyon on the South Platte River.
How do I find the best Colorado fly fishing spots today?
Check live data using tools like the River Whisper app to monitor flows, hatches, and clarity to pinpoint the best Colorado fly fishing today.
What rod setup is best for Colorado fly fishing today?
A 9-foot 5-weight fly rod with weight-forward floating line is the best all-around setup for Colorado fly fishing today.
Final Recommendation: Best Colorado Fly Fishing Today
If you're targeting rising fish, head to the Arkansas River near Salida for active caddis and BWO hatches. For technical tailwater trout, fish the South Platte at Deckers or the Blue River below Dillon with small midges and long leaders.
Wherever you go, stay mobile, match the hatch, and use real-time reports from the River Whisper app to stay ahead of changing conditions.
Tight lines. Catch something big today.
What You Don't Know That You Should
Introducing River Whisper 7: A Preview of Real-Time Fly Fishing Reports for Colorado
We’re building something game-changing for Colorado anglers: River Whisper 7, the newest version of our real-time fishing report app.
Today’s article is powered by early access to River Whisper 7’s live data—bringing you up-to-the-minute river flows, hatches, clarity, and fly recommendations pulled straight from the water, not recycled from last week’s reports.
This is a preview. The app is coming soon. And it’s built for anglers like you who want real answers, not old info.
Why wait for updates when you could get:
- Live streamflow and clarity data across Colorado’s rivers
- Automated hatch predictions, updated daily
- Real-time fly recommendations matched to conditions
- Custom alerts for your favorite rivers when conditions turn on
If you’ve ever shown up at the river only to find it blown out or fished yesterday’s flies, River Whisper 7 is built to change that.
This report is just a glimpse of what’s coming. Stay tuned—and get ready to fish smarter, faster, and more confidently every day.
River Whisper 7. Built for anglers who don’t fish last week’s news. Coming soon.
