Yampa River (Steamboat) — October Groove: 176 CFS, Clear, and Caddis at Dusk

The Yampa River is a tailwater gem, especially in sections near Stagecoach Reservoir and Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area, is fishing exceptionally well. Midges and Blue-Winged Olives are hatching steadily, giving you plenty of opportunities for surface action. Whether you're nymphing or stripping streamers for aggressive browns, this river is primed for a productive day on the water, with autumn colors only adding to the experience.

The Yampa is wearing its fall colors and fishing like it—176 CFS, clear, and caddis-forward with BWO cameos on the cloudier spells. Pocket-water eats are quick, bankside drifts are money, and dusk turns into an October Caddis skate party. Bring a dry-dropper, a small PT, and something fuzzy to swing when shadows stretch.

Conditions Summary 

• Flow Rate: ~176 CFS — perfect pocket-water tempo
• Water Temp (air proxy): Cool mornings, mild afternoons
• Clarity: Clear — stealth + long leaders pay
• Best Times: Late morning through dusk; caddis spike at last light
• Primary Hatch: October Caddis; BWOs in cloud cover
• Crowds: Medium near town; lighter upstream pullouts
• Wind: Light (~3–5 mph), canyon gusts possible
• Confidence: 75% — stable pattern, watch the weather pulses

Listen to the Podcast!

Hatch Chart – October at Yampa (vertical)

Midges — ⭐⭐⭐
Blue Winged Olives — ⭐⭐⭐
October Caddis — ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Caddis (tan #16–18) — ⭐⭐⭐

Note: Expect BWO trickles 11am–3pm on overcast; October Caddis adults flutter and skate near banks at dusk.

Flies to Tie On for the Yampa

Dries / Skaters

• October Caddis Adult (#12–14) — twitch & skate at last light
• BWO Parachute / CDC Thorax (#18–20)
• Elk Hair Caddis (tan, #16–18)

Nymphs / Emergers

• Flashback Pheasant Tail (#16–18)
• Two-Bit Hooker (brown/olive, #16) — Pro pick
• RS2 (gray/olive, #20–22) if BWOs ramp

Streamers

• Brown Woolly Bugger (#10)
• Mini Bugger (#10–12) for skinny slots

Tactical Playbook

• All-day dry-dropper: #14 caddis or small hopper with PT or RS2 18–24 in below on 5X; micro-split if needed.
• Cloudy BWO window: single BWO dry on 6X, downstream reach; fish slicks and tailouts.
• Dusk skate: short leader 4X–5X, skate/twitch October Caddis tight to banks and foam lines.
• After-hours swing: quartering downstream mini bugger on 4X through knee-deep tailouts.

Access & Flow Zones

• Chuck Lewis SWA (downstream of town): broad riffles → BWO dry games.
• Botanic Park/Town stretch: easy access; stealth crucial in clear water.
• Below Fifth Street Bridge: pocket-water clinic; dry-dropper close-quarters.
• Upstream pullouts (toward Stagecoach outflow): cooler temps, fewer boots.

FAQs – Yampa River Fly Fishing

1. Is 176 CFS wadeable? Yes—excellent; mind faster tongues along boulders.
2. Best daily window? Late morning to dusk; caddis spike right before dark.
3. Leader/tippet? 9–12 ft leaders; 5X to nymphs, 6X to small BWOs, 4–5X for caddis skaters.
4. Indicators or euro? Both. Euro excels in broken pocket water; tiny yarn/air-lock for soft glides.
5. Streamers worth it? Yes—small buggers in tailouts and shadow lines.
6. Where to avoid crowds? Walk upstream/downstream of town lots 10–15 minutes.
7. When do BWOs pop? Cloud cover, typically late morning–mid-afternoon.
8. Skate or dead-drift caddis? Start with a skate/twitch at dusk; dead-drift earlier.
9. 

RIVER WHISPER | SPOT FINDER | NEW!

Where to fish today! Tired of fly shops feeding you outdated, half-baked reports just to push gear? Us too. That’s why River Whisper exists—to cut through the noise and give you real, up-to-date, no-BS fly fishing reports for Colorado.