Flowing through Colorado’s stunning Front Range, the Cache la Poudre River is a rugged, scenic waterway known as Colorado’s only Wild and Scenic River.

The Poudre in October feels like Colorado’s polite reminder that not all good things require a 4-hour drive. The air smells like pine and frost, the leaves crunch underfoot, and wild trout wait just upstream — suspicious, but still willing to listen if you say the right thing with your tippet.

• Flow: 70–90 CFS ⬇ (low and stable)
• Water Temp: 46–50°F ⬇
• Air Temp: 30–65°F
• Clarity: Clear to slightly tannic in shaded canyons
• Pressure: Light (locals only midweek)
• Best Times: 10 AM – 3 PM
• Dry Fly Score: ⭐⭐⭐
• Nymph Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Streamer Score: ⭐⭐

With flows dropping and water crystal clear, the Poudre is in its quiet, technical phase. Trout are tucking into seams and deeper slots, feeding predictably on mid-day BWOs and midges. Expect slow mornings, a strong 11–2 window, and spooky fish that demand perfect drifts.

• Blue-Winged Olives (BWO): #20–22; strong 11 AM–2 PM window; fish emergers or soft hackles.
• Midges: #22–26; all day; olive and black are most consistent.
• Caddis: #18; fading but possible on warm afternoons in lower canyon.
• Tricos: #22–24; rare, but still appear early on calm, sunny days.

1. Hi-Vis BWO Parachute (#20–22):
   Rig: Single dry or dry-dropper with RS2 dropper on 6X tippet.
   How to Fish: Dead drift mid-day during hatch; use short, precise casts to avoid lining fish.
2. Griffith’s Gnat (#22–24):
   Rig: Single fly with light leader.
   How to Fish: Target slower slicks when midges are popping; watch for subtle sips.
3. Parachute Adams (#20):
   Rig: Indicator dry with small RS2 or Zebra Midge dropper.
   How to Fish: Great in transition water when fish feed mid-column.

1. RS2 (Gray or Olive #22):
   Rig: Dropper fly under a small BWO dry or light indicator; 12–18” between flies.
   How to Fish: Mid-column in riffles and tailouts; let it swing naturally at the end of the drift.
2. Zebra Midge (Black/Silver #22–24):
   Rig: Trail behind RS2 or WD-40.
   How to Fish: Focus on seams and slower pools during mid-day lull.
3. Pheasant Tail (#18–20):
   Rig: Anchor fly in a two-fly nymph rig.
   How to Fish: Tick bottom occasionally, especially in faster canyon water.

Mini Leech (Olive or Black #12–14):
Rig: 4X tippet, no indicator.
How to Fish: Short strips and slow swings in shaded edges; effective after light rain or overcast.

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 whispering now - low water, golden banks, and trout that feel every shadow. This is the time for finesse, patience, and small flies that don’t insult their intelligence.

• Flow: Falling / low (tailwater stretch showing decreasing discharge)
• Water Temp: Cooling toward mid-40s / low 50s°F
• Air Temp: 32–64°F (wide swings)
• Clarity: Clear (high visibility demands stealth)
• Pressure: Moderate in town, lighter upstream
• Best Times: Late morning through dusk, dusk especially strong
• Dry Fly Score: ⭐⭐☆
• Nymph Score: ⭐⭐⭐
• Streamer Score: ⭐⭐

With flows dropping, the Yampa is pushing trout into tighter lies. Clear conditions make the fish wary - but the mid-day hatch windows and dusk skates are still giving chances.

• October Caddis (~#12–14): prime dusk skate + bank feeders
• BWOs (~#20–22): afternoon, especially under overcast skies
• Midges (~#22–26): always on - dependable when dries fade
• Tricos (~#22–24): possible early if mornings stay warm
• Scuds / small crustaceans: in deeper tailwater or near structure

• October Caddis Adult #12–14 - skated across the surface at last light
• BWO Parachute / CDC Thorax #20–22 - for afternoon emerging trout
• Elk Hair Caddis (tan) #16–18 - backup in riffles when fish look up

• Flashback Pheasant Tail #16–18 - solid all-purpose dropper
• Two-Bit Hooker (brown/olive) #16 - local favorite for depth and profile
• RS2 (gray/olive) #20–22 - especially when BWO is active above

Mini Dungeon / Bunny Leech #10–12 - use 4X–5X, swing through seams or slack edges

• Late day skate: use October Caddis or BWO skater flies tight to banks just before dusk.
• Mid-day subsurface: run dry-dropper or nymph rigs under indicator through runs hotspots.
• Streamer work: toss mini dungeons into slower pockets or deeper cuts, especially under overcast skies.

• Chuck Lewis SWA: best tailwater water, structurally rich, prime for all tactics
• Sarvis Creek area: upstream, lower pressure, good mid-day nymph water
• Town / Botanic Park stretch: easy access, good for short if time is tight
• Below Stagecoach Dam: tailwater control, steady depths & good for streamer play

• Artificial flies and lures only in many stretches.
• Watch for closures, especially near the tailwater below Stagecoach.
• Respect private access; know where public rights exist.

1. Is the Yampa still wadeable with low flows?
   Yes - but avoid crossing fast tongues or shallow run bottlenecks.
2. What’s the go-to rig right now?
   Dry-dropper with October Caddis or BWO dry plus a small nymph dropper.
3. Do streamers pull fish in this stretch?
   Yes - especially mini dungeons in deeper slack or murky edges.
4. Does crowding kill the bite?
   In town stretches, yes. Walk upstream or hit tailwater areas for calmer water.
5. What tippet sizes should I carry?
   5X–6X for dries/nymphs, 4X–5X for streamer work.
6. When is the best light window?
   Late afternoon to dusk - Caddis skate and low-light BWO chances live there.
7. How deep should my nymphs run?
   mid-column to near bottom in deeper runs (6–18" above bottom depending on depth).
8. Any closures to be aware of?
   Yes - specific stretches (e.g. tailwater segment) may be closed due to low flows or thermal stress.

Bear Creek, located near Morrison, Colorado, is a small but productive stream that offers a quick fishing escape for Front Range anglers. Known for its swift pocket water, deep pools, and healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout, Bear Creek provides a range of fishing opportunities.

October on Bear Creek feels like the front range’s best-kept open secret - just not this week. The crowds are gone (flows are still tiny), the air smells like leaves and cold coffee, and the trout are flashing in the seam. It’s small-fly season - and patience pays bigger than a streamer ever could here.

• Flow: ~18–22 CFS (⬇ below average)
• Water Temp: 46–50°F ⬇
• Air Temp: 34–68°F
• Clarity: Very clear
• Pressure: Light to moderate near Morrison
• Best Times: 10 AM – 3 PM
• Dry Fly Score: ⭐⭐
• Nymph Score: ⭐⭐⭐
• Streamer Score: ⭐

Flows are skinny and the water’s glass-clear - perfect for technical fishing and sight casting. BWOs are steady on cloudy days, midges are producing in slow runs, and fish are stacked tight in deeper pools near structure. Small rigs and stealth are key to success right now.

• Blue-Winged Olives (BWO): #20–22; strong from late morning through early afternoon.
• Midges: #22–26; active all day; black and olive variations are best.
• Caddis: #18; rare but possible mid-day near riffles.
• Terrestrials: #16–18; fading fast; only worth a shot on sunny banks mid-day.

• Hi-Vis BWO Parachute (#20–22):
  Rig: Single dry or dry-dropper with RS2 dropper on 6X tippet.
  How to Fish: Drift naturally in soft seams mid-day; avoid drag with short casts.
• Griffith’s Gnat (#22–24):
  Rig: Single dry fly for slow slicks.
  How to Fish: Ideal during subtle midge rises; fish upstream and let it dead drift.
• Parachute Adams (#20):
  Rig: Indicator-style dry with small nymph dropper.
  How to Fish: Best in transitional riffles where BWOs and midges mix.

• RS2 (Gray/Olive #22):
  Rig: Two-fly setup under small yarn indicator; 5–6X leader.
  How to Fish: Drift mid-column through slower tailouts.
• Zebra Midge (Black/Silver #22–24):
  Rig: Dropper fly below RS2 or small split shot.
  How to Fish: Focus on deeper pools and shady seams.
• Pheasant Tail (#18–20):
  Rig: Anchor fly in shallow runs.
  How to Fish: Short, high-stick drifts through riffles during mid-day warmth.

• Mini Leech (Olive #12–14):
  Rig: 4X–5X tippet, no indicator.
  How to Fish: Cast upstream along banks, short strips through pocket water. Great option on cloudy afternoons.