Clear Creek Fly Fishing Report –Small Creek, Big Energy This Fall

Welcome to Clear Creek, Colorado, where the trout are wily and the water is swift! This picturesque creek runs parallel to I-70 from Georgetown to Golden, offering easy access to some fantastic fly fishing spots. 

Clear Creek doesn’t care about your fancy gear or your “tailwater tactics.”
This scrappy little stretch off I-70 has fish with more attitude than size — and they’re feeding like it’s their last week before winter.
You’ll hear more traffic than talking water, but every riffle hides a trout with something to prove.

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Conditions Summary

Flows are steady near 30 CFS with crystal-clear visibility and chilly water. The fall bite is consistent mid-day with BWOs, midges, and small attractor nymphs leading the charge. The browns are post-spawn and hungry again, and the rainbows are making the most of the clean, cold runs. Expect thin water and spooky fish — stealth is everything.

• Flow: ~30 CFS (steady)
• Water Temp: 44–48 °F
• Air Temp: 35–65 °F
• Clarity: Ultra clear
• Pressure: Light mid-week, moderate weekends
• Best Times: 10 AM – 3 PM
• Dry Fly Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Nymph Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Streamer Score: ⭐⭐

Conditions Note:
Low, clear water demands precision. Use longer leaders, fine tippet, and keep your drifts short and clean. Fish are holding deep in small pools and feeding confidently mid-day once the canyon warms.

October Hatch Chart

• Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) #20–22, 10 AM–2 PM, fish emergers in shaded seams
• Midges #22–26, all day, double-midge rigs or small droppers under dry
• Egg Drift, all day, pair with RS2 or Zebra Midge for post-spawn feeders

Top 3 Dry Flies for October

• Parachute BWO #20 – Great mid-day hatch fly
• Parachute Adams #18 – Reliable all-around pattern
• Griffith’s Gnat #22 – Perfect for calm eddies and midge clusters

Top 3 Nymphs for October

• RS2 (Gray #20–22) – Key BWO emerger imitation
• Zebra Midge (Black #22–24) – Deep pools and slower seams
• Beadhead Pheasant Tail #18 – Solid attractor for shallow riffles

Streamer of the Month

Mini Leech #12 (Black or Rust) – Fish tight to rocks in deeper pockets late afternoon.

Tips for Fishing Clear Creek

• Fish mid-day when the canyon warms up.
• Stay stealthy; fish are in skinny, clear water.
• Use 10-12 foot leaders with 6X tippet.
• Focus on soft seams, pocket water, and tailouts.
• Cloudy days bring better surface action on BWOs.
• Work upstream slowly — the fish are close, not deep.

Access Points

• Golden City Stretch: easy access, clear runs, light hatch mid-day
• Tunnel 1–3 Area: classic canyon pocket water, good nymph drift zone
• Lawson: cooler mornings but active fish by noon
• Georgetown to Silver Plume: colder water, technical drifts, low pressure

Local Regulations & Notes

• Artificial flies and lures only
• Catch-and-release recommended
• Stay off redds and shallow gravel during brown trout recovery period
• Flows are stable but check CPW updates for cold snaps or ice buildup late month

FAQ on Clear Creek

Q: Is Clear Creek worth fishing this late in the season?
A: Absolutely — low pressure, aggressive fish, and great visibility.

Q: What’s the best time of day?
A: 10 AM–3 PM when light hits the canyon and temps rise.

Q: Are there still hatches?
A: Yes, light BWOs and steady midges.

Q: Can I use streamers?
A: Yes, but keep them small and subtle.

Q: Best tippet size?
A: 6X for dries, 5X for nymphs.

Q: Any closures?
A: None currently; check CPW if snow hits.

Q: Is it worth fishing below Golden?
A: Yes, especially mid-day when flows stabilize.

Q: What’s the average trout size?
A: 8–12 inches, but plenty of fight for their weight.

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