Crack the Code on the Clear Creek Hatch

Clear Creek
Hatch Chart 2026

Clear Creek is a high-pressure Front Range stream where success depends on timing, precision, and realistic expectations. Hatches here are subtle rather than explosive, but anglers who understand seasonal patterns and fish clean drifts can find consistent action throughout the year. Midges form the backbone of Clear Creek’s hatch cycle, with brief but important BWO windows during stable flows.

This hatch chart breaks down the most reliable insects by month, along with practical fly choices that actually work on Clear Creek.

Clear Creek is a year-round favorite in the Denver metro area—stretching from Evergreen through Idaho Springs. Our 2026 hatch chart helps you match both the bugs and the conditions, so you can fish smarter from early spring midges to summer caddis and golden stones.

Hatch Charts
2026 Clear Creek Hatch Chart: Monthly Fly Hatch Guide

Clear Creek is the working-class hero of Colorado fly fishing. It doesn’t ask for much—just a good drift, a decent bug, and a little patience. From high-alpine headwaters near Loveland Pass to the canyon stretches west of Golden, Clear Creek is tight, fast, cold, and surprisingly productive.

While the fish aren’t picky by Cheesman standards, they still care about what’s hatching. Especially in the shoulder seasons when flows are low and food is scarce. That’s where this hatch chart comes in.

Whether you're tightlining stoneflies in June or drifting midges under the I-70 bridge in January, matching the hatch makes the difference between a “quick walk with your rod” and a net full of wild browns.

Clear Creek Hatch Chart By Month
Clear Creek Angler’s Hatch and Rigging Chart

 

The Ark’s Bugs Change Fast—Stay Sharp

This river's a study in contrasts. At 10,000 feet, midges rule. In Bighorn Sheep Canyon, it’s hoppers and stoneflies. Always check flows, match size first, and fish the water in front of you—not the hatch chart in your pocket. Then go back and match both.

Clear Creek rewards anglers who fish small, simple patterns with precision. A two-fly nymph rig with 6x tippet, light split shot, and a subtle indicator will outperform larger or flashier setups. Focus on short drifts in softer water and time your outings around stable flows rather than chasing peak runoff windows.