Best Fly Fishing Near Denver Today: Week of July 7, 2025

The fireworks may be over, but the real sparks are flying on the Front Range right now—trout are rising, rivers are dropping into shape, and the next five days offer up a rare combo of fishable flows, active hatches, and manageable crowds (if you play your cards right).

This week, the best fly fishing near Denver comes down to two things: early starts and smart targets. Midday heat is pushing water temps toward stress levels, but if you're out by dawn, you’ve got a solid four-hour window to fool picky browns, hungry rainbows, and even a few cutthroat if you're lucky.

We’ve narrowed it down to the top five spots within 90 minutes of downtown, based on current flows, hatches, pressure, and access. No fluff. No filler. Just rivers worth your time this week.

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TLDR: This Week’s Power Rankings

1. Clear Creek (Upper Canyon near Tunnel 1)

Flow: ~420 CFS
Why It’s Hot: The canyon is dropping into prime shape for dry-dropper rigs. Water is clear, bugs are active, and pocket water is loaded with hungry fish if you sneak in early. Fish the seams behind big rocks and you’ll find takers on both top and dropper.

Best Rig: Chubby Chernobyl #14 to a Barr’s PMD Emerger #18 on 5x
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Timing Tip: Fish it from 6:30 to 10:30 AM. By noon, you’re just tanning.

2. South Platte at Deckers

Flow: ~290 CFS
Why It’s Hot: Flows are stable, fish are feeding on PMDs and tricos, and water clarity is solid. The usual pressure applies, but weekday mornings still offer windows of solitude. Focus on inside bends and soft tailouts with nymph rigs.

Best Rig: JuJu PMD #20 below a tungsten Frenchie #16
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Timing Tip: Be rigged and walking by 6:00 AM. When the sun hits the canyon, things get technical fast.

3. Bear Creek (Lair O’ the Bear to Morrison)

Flow: ~28 CFS
Why It’s Hot: This little creek is classic summer dry-fly water right now. Hoppers, ants, and yellow sallies are all in play. Fish are spooky but active in the morning. It’s a dry-fly clinic for the disciplined angler.

Best Rig: Hippy Stomper #14 solo, or with a Black Ant dropper #18
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Timing Tip: Off the water by 11:00 AM or the only thing rising will be your frustration.

4. Boulder Creek (Upstream of town)

Flow: ~90 CFS
Why It’s Hot: Cool nights have kept water temps in the fish-friendly zone. The canyon stretch is pocket-water heaven and fishing well with dry-droppers and small caddis dries. It’s tight, fast, and fun.

Best Rig: Elk Hair Caddis #16 with a beadhead RS2 #20 dropper
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Timing Tip: Fish above the tunnel entrance and you'll have it mostly to yourself—especially on weekday mornings.

5. South Boulder Creek (Below Gross Reservoir)

Flow: ~110 CFS
Why It’s Hot: Cold tailwater, clear flows, and PMDs coming off in decent numbers. This is one of the few places you can nymph all day if you're willing to hike. Dry-dropper action is heating up around midday.

Best Rig: Chubby #16 with a PMD emerger #18 or Sparkle Pupa #20
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Timing Tip: Take the trail early and beat the foot traffic. Water stays cold, but fish get educated by 10 AM.

Final Word

Skip lunch. Fish early. Bring 6x and a sense of humor.

The Front Range isn’t easy right now, but it’s fishable and fun if you time it right. Watch the temps, fish the mornings, and stay mobile. If you’re not getting takes, change depth, not flies. And when the sun’s high? Grab a cold drink and plan your next dawn patrol.

Want real-time reports for every one of these spots? Hit the blog, follow the river reports, and tune in to this week’s podcast breakdown.