This week, we leave the mall rats behind and head downstream—to the remote, rugged waters of the Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir.

This isn’t Silverthorne. This is freestone-style tailwater with long hikes, tricky access, and trout that eat like they’ve never seen a human. If you're looking for elbow room, PMD hatches, and a chance at truly wild fish, this is the stretch that delivers.

In this episode, we break down:

• Flow updates and water clarity for July

• How to fish the PMD hatch (and why you’re probably missing the window)

• Our go-to flies for this stretch: nymphs, dries, and streamers

• Access points worth the sweat equity

• Whether to bring a dry-dropper, a euro rig, or your 6-weight and streamers

We also talk about why this is one of the most underappreciated sections in Colorado—and why that might be a good thing. It’s not easy water, but it’s rewarding.

Want the flies we mention? We tie them in small batches and ship fast. Find them on Amazon or direct at RiseBeyondFlyFishing.com.

Subscribe to the River Whisper Report for weekly stream updates, hatch charts, and fly picks for Colorado’s best water. Real reports from anglers who actually fish.

Fish better. Fish smarter. Rise Beyond.

This week on Rise Beyond River Reports, we head back to one of Colorado’s most talked-about—and most technical—tailwaters: Deckers. With flows hovering around 135 CFS and crystal-clear conditions, the trout are skittish, selective, and downright suspicious. But they’re still feeding, if you know how to approach them.

This episode is your mid-July Deckers survival guide. Whether you're gunning for dry fly eats in the morning trico slicks or trying to fool mid-column cruisers with tiny nymphs, we’ve got you covered.

We break down:

• Why 6:30–9:00 AM is primetime for trico spinners and where to find the best risers

• Midday tricks for high sun and heavy pressure: lighter tippet, longer leaders, and quiet feet

• The evening bite window—is it real or a rumor? (Hint: yes, but only with the right approach)

• Top 3 flies this week, including size, presentation tips, and when to rotate out

• How to handle weekend crowds and still find fishable water (without a brawl)

Plus: hot spot intel for Trumbull, the bends above Deckers Corner, and the underrated runs near the Cheesman trailhead.

Whether you're a Deckers regular or planning your first mission, this episode gives you the tactical edge. Less guesswork, more tight lines.

Pair this episode with the updated blog report at RiseBeyondFlyFishing.com and get a full game plan before you even lace your boots.

Fish early. Fish smart. Fish like you’ve been here before.

Looking to catch Colorado’s rarest native trout? In this episode of the Rise Beyond Fly Fishing Podcast, we’re talking about everything you need to know to find and fool Greenback Cutthroat Trout — from the alpine creeks of Rocky Mountain National Park to secret high lakes near the Continental Divide.

The Greenback Cutthroat Trout isn’t just a gorgeous fish — it’s a symbol of Colorado’s native heritage and a bucket-list catch for fly anglers. But they don’t live in your average tailwater. These trout thrive in remote high-altitude waters, and catching one takes more than just tying on a pretty fly.

1. Where to Find Greenback Cutthroat Trout in Colorado:

• Top streams and lakes near RMNP, Guanella Pass, Herman Gulch, and Roaring Fork tributaries

• How to navigate the access points, trailheads, and wilderness rules

• The best time of year to target greenbacks in lakes vs creeks

2. The Gear You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Best rod weights for backpacking and alpine streams

• Ideal leader and tippet setup for spooky water

• Why a lightweight pack and hiking boots matter more than a thousand-dollar reel

3. What Flies Work (and When):

• Dry Flies: Parachute Adams (#16–18), Elk Hair Caddis (#14–16), Black Ants

• Nymphs: Pheasant Tails, Frenchies, and Beadhead Midges (#18–20)

• Bonus: Small streamers in deep pools during fall feeding binges

4. Catch and Release Ethics and Regulations:

• Why barbless hooks and wet hands matter

• How to identify pure-strain greenbacks

• What waters are part of Colorado’s recovery efforts (and how to fish them responsibly)

5. Why This Species Matters:

• Brief history of the Greenback Cutthroat’s near-extinction

• How conservation efforts brought them back from the brink

• What anglers can do to help ensure their future

This is one of the most complete guides to catching Greenback Cutthroat Trout in Colorado — and it’s designed for modern anglers who want more than just a stocker pond experience. Whether you’re a backcountry veteran or new to hiking with a rod, this episode gives you the insight to turn a bucket-list dream into a fly fishing reality.

Subscribe to the podcast and join us each week as we break down rivers, lakes, tactics, and conservation news across Colorado’s wild trout country.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

This week on the Rise Beyond Fly Fishing Podcast, we’re breaking down the best fly fishing near Denver for the week of July 14 — just in time for peak hopper-dropper season.

If you’ve got a rod, a few mornings free, and a craving for pocket water and rising trout, you’re in the right place.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Which rivers are hot and which are too warm to fish

• How to fish Deckers, Cheesman Canyon, Clear Creek, Bear Creek, and the Poudre

• Our top 3 flies for the week — and how to fish them right

• The one hatch you don’t want to miss

• What to avoid after 11:00 AM (hint: water temps and crowds)

We’ll also cover tactics for:

• Dry-dropper rigs in canyon freestones

• Nymphing slow seams in tailwaters

• When and how to skate a caddis on tight front range creeks

• Using 5x or 6x tippet depending on where you’re fishing

Whether you’re a Denver local sneaking out before work or a visitor looking for a quick mountain fix, this episode is your weekly cheat code for fly fishing success.

Subscribe now and listen every Monday for new reports, smarter tactics, and fresh river intel from across Colorad

This week on Rise Beyond River Reports, we head back to the Dream Stream—Colorado’s most iconic tailwater—for a July mid-summer breakdown that separates fantasy from fishable.

Flows are steady, water is ultra-clear, and the trout are as spooky as ever. But don’t sweat it. In this episode, we talk morning hatches, hopper windows, and how to adjust your approach as the wind kicks up or the sun climbs. From 7–11 AM, tricos dominate. From 4–7 PM, it’s hopper season. In between? You’d better know your nymph game.

We cover:

• Where to find pods of rising fish before the crowds show up

• How to switch your fly plan by the hour—morning nymphs, mid-day streamers, evening dries

• What pressure zones you can actually escape (hint: be mobile)

• How wind impacts surface eats and where to fish when it cranks

• The top 3 flies this week, including size, technique, and timing

If you’ve been struggling with the Dream Stream’s summer pressure—or just want to avoid casting into someone’s backing—this episode is your playbook for success.

Pair this episode with the written report at RiseBeyondFlyFishing.com and you’ll have a complete on-river strategy for getting it done in the heart of July.

Tune in. Rig up. Fish smart.

Colorado’s fly fishing season isn’t just spring through fall—it’s a year-round pursuit if you know where (and when) to go. In this episode, we break down the fly fishing calendar month by month, sharing insights on river conditions, hatches, gear tips, and seasonal strategies that’ll help you fish smarter, not harder. Whether you're planning your first spring trip or a winter nymphing mission, we’ve got the details you need to time it right and land more trout.

Headed for the high country? Before you hike into a crystal-clear lake above treeline, make sure your fly box is locked and loaded with the alpine essentials. In this episode, we break down the Top 5 Fly Patterns every angler should carry when targeting cutthroat, brookies, and rainbows in Colorado’s high alpine lakes. These aren’t just guesses—they’re the flies we actually fish at 10,000+ feet, based on years of trial, error, and unforgettable takes.

We’ll cover:

• The must-have dry fly that consistently pulls fish to the surface, even when it seems dead calm.

• The nymph that mimics high country food sources better than anything else—and how to fish it slow and deep.

• The streamer that gets big, angry cutthroat moving, plus how to strip it when water clarity is tight.

• A wild card pattern that surprises even seasoned backcountry anglers.

• And a tiny but deadly midge you’ll overlook until it saves your day.

This isn’t just a top 5 list—it’s a blueprint for alpine success. We’ll also share insights on rigging, retrieve style, water types to target, and how elevation affects trout feeding behavior.

Whether you’re planning your first overnight trek into the Flat Tops or looking to up your game on familiar alpine haunts like Lost Lake or Upper Mohawk, this episode will help you pack smarter, fish better, and land more trout where the air is thin and the takes are explosive.

Brought to you by Rise Beyond Fly Fishing, where modern anglers find honest, field-tested fly fishing reports, tips, and stories for Colorado’s most iconic waters.

Tight lines and high climbs.

This week on the Rise Beyond Fly Fishing Podcast, we head up to Buena Vista and break down the Arkansas River as it slides into prime summer shape. With flows settling around 1,150 to 1,250 CFS and water temps climbing into the mid-50s by mid-morning, the Ark is offering up classic Colorado pocket water—fast seams, long glides, and trout that reward anglers who think three steps ahead.

In this episode, we’re focusing on where the river stands today, what’s working right now, and how to beat the summer heat and weekend traffic to stay tight to fish. Whether you're running solo from the bank or rowing a drift boat down from the ramps, the tactics have changed from runoff conditions to late-season strategy.

Here’s what you’ll get:

Segment 1: River Conditions

• Flow rate trends and what 1,200 CFS really means in this stretch

• How water clarity affects your fly choice and tippet diameter

• When to be on the water (and when to leave it alone)

Segment 2: Hatch Breakdown

• PMDs are peaking in the mid-morning window

• Caddis are flashing midday, especially in the slower eddies

• Hoppers are entering the scene—Chubby Chernobyls are getting attention

Segment 3: Top Flies This Week

• Dry: Chubby Golden (#14)

• Nymph: PMD Emerger (#16–18) trailed behind a Pat’s Rubber Legs

• Streamer: Mini-Sculpin and olive buggers, retrieved slow through tailouts

Segment 4: Access Intel

• Why the G Ramp to M Curve section is the best spot for a drift or post-drift walk-and-wade

• Where to park, how far to hike, and what time of day gets you the most water to yourself

• Which hot spots to target with what rig—tailouts, seams, drop-offs

Segment 5: Pro Tips

• How to rig your dry-dropper for deep mid-channel seams

• Why late-day streamer strikes are coming back into play

• What to expect from other anglers (yes, it’s getting busy)

The Arkansas near Buena Vista is one of Colorado’s most versatile fisheries—and right now, it’s entering a short but fantastic mid-summer window. If you can beat the heat and time your outing, you’ll have fish stacked in oxygen-rich holding water and eating confidently.

No guesswork. No filler. Just the river, the flies, and the game plan.

This is your weekly fix for smart, current, and tactical fly fishing content near Buena Vista. Subscribe and stay dialed.