The Area Reports

 

Word From The North

 

St. Peter’s Fly Shop, Ft. Collins - (970) 498-8968 (Dave Cook, Andy Griguhn, Brady Hanson, Jin Choy, Grant Houx). www.stpetes.com

    Currently (pun intended), the Poudre is flowing at 156 cfs in the canyon mouth, 33 cfs in Fort Collins, and the river has been fishing well. Stick to the lower half of the canyon; the water temps are a bit warmer and producing better hatches. The river is reading in the high 30's at the mouth of the canyon but there is actually more water than that because they are pulling water at the ditch at the canyon mouth.

     The primary hatches include midges, BWO's, small black stoneflies, and caddis. Recommended dry fly patterns include Biot Midges #20-24; High-Vis Midge #20-24; Sprout midges and similar as well as extended body BWO's #18-22; and Parachute Adams #20-26. For nymphs, try  Poison Tungs #18-22; Black Beauties #20-22, Disco Midges #20-24, Desert Storms,  RS2s; Juju Baetis, Sow Bugs, San Juan Worms; Poxy back Stones #12-16, 20-inchers #14-and soft hackles in orange, red, and pheasant tail.

 

Angler’s Roost, Ft. Collins (970) 377-3785 (Gordon Waldmier, Rick Takahashi, Mark Brumbraugh, and Jason Haddix) www.anglers-roost.com

    The Delaney’s were hot right after ice out, but they seem to have been hit or miss lately. Most fish are being taken on chironomids: bow-tie buzzers, ice cream cones in red and motor oil, bugger patterns and scuds. The occasional hog will fall to a crawdad pattern fished early or late in the day.

 

Estes Angler - (970) 586-2110 (Grant Rollo, Devan Ence) http://estesangler.com

     Flows have climbed sharply coming out of the Park over the past few days, with the Big T peaking at over 90 cfs recently. These are still very fishable flows, though, and the water has been slightly stained but not cloudy. Emergences of midges and early brown stoneflies have been prolific on warm afternoons, and if you find rising fish the same midge patterns working in the canyon will work in the Park. In the absence of rising fish, a dry-dropper combo is the way to go on the Big T and in the Park for the time being. Royal and Lime Trudes have been catching fish, along with Royal Wulffs. Stick to size 16 or smaller hooks. Pheasant Tails, black Copper Johns and San Juan Worms are also generating hookups.

Return to Trout Tales main page