There was only one way to find out. During my hike back to the parking lot I stopped and cherry picked a few prime pools and supplemented the fish count with an additional five to reach fifty-two. I replaced the parachute with a comparadun with a large deer hair wing profile, and suddenly the trout began to grab the size 14 fraud. For tailwater angling, take Highway 72 West from 93 North of the city of Golden, then take the exit/turnoff for Gross Reservoir. Of course I needed to respond to the conditions a few times, as I rotated through my green drake styles, but the solution to the puzzle was rather apparent. Smaller midge and baetis imitations like a Tube Midge, Zebra Midge, Medallion Midge, Manhattan Midge, RS2, Darth Baetis or Stalcup's Baetis will make for great trailer flies. I filed this for future reference and hiked back to the car. The city has an option of dipping into ARPA funding set aside for the public safety building project while JVA engineering hunts for additional funding sources for the water grant. What to know: The Kadets enter the Great 8 riding a 19-game winning streak, with all 19 of those victories coming by double digits, including a 61-48 win over Pueblo South. Below Gross Reservoir, South Boulder Creek becomes a great tailwater flowing through the Walker Ranch open space. July 29 was a bit early for drakes, but I suspected some early emergers could be on the creek. The dashboard registered sixty degrees, as I prepared to fish, so I wore my Under Armour long sleeve insulated shirt and a fleece hoodie, This created comfort during the morning and early afternoon, but eventually I concluded, that I was overdressed. South Boulder Creek 08/30/2021 Photo Album. The green drake hatch was on time and heavier than previous emergences, and my imitations proved effective. After lunch I shifted gears and removed the three fly set and opted for a peacock hippie stomper. I lost my favorite net, but I have a viable backup for future outings this week. I managed to add two brown trout to the fish count, but then I switched once again. Access to the tailwater section is via the Walker Ranch Open Space. Ken is an avid fisherman of 40+ years who loves to explore and find new places to fish. The Yuman live primarily in the Southwest United States and western Mexico, spanning from western Arizona to Southern California and down the Baja Peninsula. In a pinch the Loomis 8.5 foot five weight could also suffice in close quarters. It instantly felt better. Hopefully the green drake saga will continue for a few more weeks on South Boulder Creek, and I will be able to participate. Toggle navigation. It possessed a white McFlylon wing and a clump of body-length moose mane tail fibers. I removed the parachute green drake and replaced it with a Harrop hair wing, which is heavily hackled similar to a stimulator. By 12:30PM I spied a pair of natural green drakes, so in spite of enjoying a decent catch rate, I took the plunge and removed the dry/dropper arrangement and migrated to a parachute green drake. I had decent success with beetles and ants during previous September trips to South Boulder Creek. That was the only explanation that made sense out of the comparatively few number of anglers given the presence of six cars. Possession limits may apply. There are a number of area fly shops and on-line retailers that publish South Boulder Creek fly fishing reports. There is no road following the creek so if you are looking for some solitude this is the spot. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 5X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard. Needless to say the catch rate was not what I expected, but at least I was on the board. At one point another angler met up with me, since he parked at the Walker Ranch trailhead, but he cut to the stream quite a bit upstream of my chosen point of entry. My smallest rod is always a good choice for small stream fishing, as it is not as taxing on my shoulder and elbow as the longer and heavier rods in my arsenal. 07-29-2022 South Fork Reservoir Fishing Report The southwest shore between Coyote Cove, Jet Ski Beach, and Fisherman's Point remains at about 12 - 14 of solid ice. By 2:30PM the sun was bright above and the heat in the canyon was oppressive. There are the traditional hotel and motel accommodations, as well as ski lodges, ranches, and local bed and breakfast places that cater to the fishing, hiking, and hunting crowd year round. The river heads east through some public and private water before dumping into Eldorado Canyon State park. I began my day at 10:00AM with a solo parachute green drake, but after prospecting four or five quality pools, I was forced to acknowledge that there was nary a sign of fish. The dry spell was temporarily broken, when a twelve inch rainbow snapped up the super nova, but this proved to be an aberration, and eventually I returned to a dry fly approach with a moodah poodah and a pheasant tail on a short eighteen inch dropper. I slid my four piece Sage four weight together and hiked downstream along the dirt road, until I found a more gradual path for my descent. I was not pleased and uttered a few choice words about my bout of bad luck, and then I replaced the green drake with another similar version with a poly wing and long moose mane tail. Discharge can vary here- from very skinny (~10CFS) to fairly turbulent (200+ CFS). I noticed the public section of South Boulder Creek on our several trips to and from the East Portal to hike the popular trail. That said, you can still manage to catch fish during this time. In addition to the netted fish I experienced quite a few refusals to the tan pool toy hopper. Early August, western green drakes, and South Boulder Creek go together like pretzels and beer. The initial fly endured for ten trout, and then the hackle was severed by hungry teeth, and I switched to a size 14 green drake user friendly. A nice fall day and manageable flows were all I needed to make the drive to the kayak parking lot high above the creek and near the dam. If only the water managers would allow the flows to continue at the current levels. Anyone interested in fishing South Boulder Creek or waters within the wider area around Boulder should . After the plunge pools of Eldorado, the creek mellows out upon entering the flats of Boulder and eventually joins Boulder Creek. I was now free to resurrect my fly fishing plans, and I quickly gathered my gear and loaded the car and made the drive to South Boulder Creek. Jane had waited for him earlier in the week, so in fairness to our relationship, it was my turn to forego other activities. These were both bad assumptions, and although I set a goal to last until lunch before making changes, I was forced to deal with my sweaty state by 11:30AM. Current conditions of DISCHARGE and GAGE HEIGHT are available. The wing portrayed more bulk, and the tail was apparently a significant keying characteristic, because the trout responded in a major way to the new parachute green drake. Brown Trout Smacked My Fly Near the Stick Jumble. If you prefer to stay below the headwaters but above the reservoir for your excursion, get on Highway 72 West from 93 through Coal Creek Canyon until you get to Pinecliffe. I knotted a size 14 parachute green drake to my line, and the fun escalated. Set includes 40 high quality, hand-tied flies (see list below) and waterproof fly box. Keep in mind there is an admission fee per carload if you park there and per person if you walk into the park. I pulled out another brand new paradrake, and it generated a few fish, but the interval between landed fish extended. I was interested to see how the large bulky fan wing of a comparadun played with the resident trout, and I assumed the large wing would be easier to track. Beer is taboo while driving. He created DIY Fly Fishing to help you do the same. The Denver Water managers seemed to have other ideas, as they sustained the flows at 180 CFS and above for all of July and early August. I checked other Front Range possibilities, but this action was simply an exercise in thoroughness, because 86 CFS is near my ideal range, and I was sold on a trip to the small tailwater almost immediately. Large hatches of Baetis are common during this time of year on the middle section between the headwaters and the reservoir. I fluttered casts to all the likely pools, pockets, riffles and runs; and more often than not the trout cooperated. Well, the shift to nymphing paid modest dividends, as I landed three small brown trout on the salvation, before I paused for lunch at 11:45AM. I knotted the same fly to my line that produced twenty-two fish on Friday, and the fun began. I decided to make the trip on Friday, July 29, 2022. The net frame was cracked, but the bag was in excellent shape, so I decided I could salvage that part for future use. I decided to take the risk of another day of bad weather and departed from Denver on Wednesday morning. I surmised that perhaps beetles were the answer, but another drought developed, and I decided to call it quits at 2:30PM. South Boulder Creek is considered one of the most consistent fly-fishing opportunities in the Boulder-Denver area. South Boulder Creek, below Gross Reservoir, is fishing comparatively well for this time of year and while the lower stretches are prone to ice, the water nearest the dam is generally a safe bet. Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado. Our recommendation is based on aspects about the weather conditions, moon phase & water conditions. I had a blast tossing the large single dry fly with my new Sage rod to all the likely fish holding locations, and in many cases the trout responded by attacking the size 14 fly. I knew that Wednesday was destined to be a chilly day, so I wore my light down coat over my quick dry undershirt and fishing shirt and stuffed a long sleeved Under Armour thermal shirt in my backpack along with my raincoat. The weather remained quite summerlike up until Wednesday, so it was worth a shot. January 24, 2023 south boulder creek Fishing Report. Front Range Anglers Rocky Mountain Anglers Trouts Fly Fishing Colorado Fly Fishing Reports South Boulder Creek Fishing Regulations Imagine my excitement, when I checked the DWR graphs and learned that South Boulder Creek below Gross Reservoir was percolating along at 102 CFS. I did not pay much attention, but within five minutes a young man clad in a navy blue uniform approached and asked to inspect my license. As this fantastic fly fishing was transpiring, both my feet slid out from under me on a long angled and slippery submerged rock. I was hot and weary and ready to call it a day. The best deals will most likely be flying into Denver and then driving out to Boulder or Golden for accommodations. The air temperature was in the low seventies as I began, and probably peaked in the upper seventies by the middle of the afternoon. The Boulder Creek watershed starts at the Continental Divide in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. For more help, see: See Map and Table Layout Tips; Stations Quick Start Guide; MyStations User Guide; Stations/MyStations - YouTube Videos; This spooked me, because at the time of my decision on a fishing destination, the downward spiral on the graph was at 65 CFS, and I was uncertain how low it would go. I assembled my Sage four weight and made the steep descent to the creek which enabled me to begin casting by 10:30AM. The summer and fall offer prime dry fly fishing conditions as there are a variety of hatches in the caddis, PMD, BWO, midges and terrestrial variety. By 1:30 I began seeing a few natural green drakes in the air above the creek, and the hippie stomper began to generate an increased number of refusals, and a couple of fish actually ate the attractor dry fly. I recognized that I was at a high risk of overheating on my inbound hike, but I did not have a proper place to stow my light down coat. During lower flows, the dry-dropper set up works the best. Stonefly and mayfly nymphs are also common. At some point the comparadun wing became a sparse wisp of deer hair, so I replaced it with a size 16 gray comparadun with a full fan-shaped wing, and this fly maintained the elevated catch rate, although probably a bit slower than the smaller mayfly imitation. On September 10 I was forced to work harder than my previous outings. Gorgeous old growth timbered property steeped in Bitterroot history. I removed my backpack, and inspected it to see if perhaps the ring pulled out of the handle, but the female end of the snap mechanism remained in place. Friday afternoon represented the type of fishing I thoroughly enjoy. There is a designated fishing area that stretches for about a mile along the bottom of the canyon. Apparently green drakes were not present long enough to create the hoped for intuitive response to an imitation outside the emergence period. I was weary and faced more hiking, so I abandoned the goal of fifty and marched back to the parking lot. Hopefully I can return to South Boulder Creek in the near future for a full day of fishing; while abundant quantities of mayflies, caddis and stoneflies feed the stream residents. There are an estimated 600 structures and 3,500 people in the South Boulder Creek floodplain within city limits. Its all public land from the stream gauge until you get to the reservoir. The tribe is much more populous in Canada than in the U.S. #40. A 8-1/2 foot 4-wt fly rod with floating line is perfect for fishing dry flies and nymphs on the South Boulder. On Sunday night I checked the flows on the local streams and noted that South Boulder Creek was maintaining an attractive level of 83 CFS. The wet long underwear and socks actually felt fairly comfortable given the warm air temperatures. This was a great thought, but the trout showed no interest in the hair wing. South Platte: Waterton Canyon (Lite Report), Yampa River - Stagecoach Tailwater (Lite Report). The creek itself meanders through a beautiful canyon and is detached from the road. By 2:30PM the parachute drake lost its magic. At a Glance General Information The comparadun delivered success, and I stuck with it for my remaining time on the creek, and the fish count climbed from twenty-four to thirty-four. I hiked to my chosen starting point and knotted a size 14 poly wing parachute green drake to my line. The trout seemed to take a siesta, and this angler felt like doing the same. The canyon is beautiful below Gross Reservoir and with no roads following the stream it gives you a feel of isolation once you drop in. After lunch I replaced the hares ear with a pheasant tail and eventually a salvation nymph, and the salvation accounted for a single fish, while the prince and hippie stomper chipped in one each. While flows in the spring, late summer and fall are fairly stable, this stretch is particularly prone to run-off from feeder creeks. My concerns were well founded, and when I perched along the creek and configured my line, I felt the clammy wetness of my undershirt. Click on the sunk ant link to read more about my history with sunken ants, and you will also find the source of the pattern I choose to deploy. 3581 Gap Rd , Black Hawk, CO 80422 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $995,500. South Boulder Creek - 09/21/2022 Time: 10:00AM - 2:30PM Location: Below Gross Reservoir South Boulder Creek 09/21/2022 Photo Album Having finally recovered from an intense but enjoyable four days in the Flattops area, I once again set my sights on a day of fly fishing along the Front Range. I decided to revert to a dry fly approach and attached the hippie stomper to my line. The fishing is not easy, but the spot itself is worth the effort and it's a beautiful location to draw up rainbows on dry flies or cast a tenkara rod. By same fly, I mean the same type of fly and the same physical fly. The morning fishing experience was a huge deviation from two earlier days on South Boulder Creek, when green drakes enticed a trout to eat on nearly every cast. Later when I removed my waders in the parking lot, I noticed a strand of monofilament above my wading boot, and I was pleased to discover the long lost paradrake hooked into my wader cuff! I was prepared for terrestrials, yellow sally nymphs and pale morning dun nymphs. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Boulder Creek Fishing Vest Mens 7XL Big Green Utility Multiple Pockets at the best online prices at eBay! Take 170 west until you get to the entrance of the park. ! The area in which it occupied is now taken over by urban sprawl from Colorado Springs. The poly wing parachute drake was an overwhelming winner, and I stuck with it for the remainder of my time on the water, as I built the fish count to forty-eight. The creek is one of the hidden gems in the front range and right out our back door. The stream flows to a confluence with Boulder Creek in northeast Boulder. Concern crept into my outlook. Free delivery for many products! In several instances an above average trout attacked the ant, almost as soon as it entered the water, and this reaction always surprises me. Every year anglers routinely catch browns in excess of 18 inches. Follow Gross Dam Road down towards the reservoir, when you see the park sign and map, turn right and head uphill, on your way up the South Boulder Trailhead will be on your right. SBC is in close proximity to the Denver area and should remain at the top of any tailwater enthusiast's list. Read on. South Boulder Creek is a stream located just 3.2 miles from Boulder, in Gilpin County, in the state of Colorado, United States. Total. Three vehicles arrived in the Kayak parking lot, while I prepared to fish. South Boulder Creek 08/18/2021 Photo Album. Fridays success required adjustments, as the day progressed. Get directions to fishing access points and real-time stream flow data with theDIY Fly Fishing Map. I passed two anglers in the upper section and a pair of hikers walking a dog. I was not surprised to find a size 20 blue winged olive with perky upright wings, and this explained the scene in front of me. Powered by Curator.io. Yes, you read that correctly. SOUTH PLATTE BASIN Fishing Report View Report. Unlike the previous Mr. County: Snohomish Acreage: 22.20 ac. South Platte River - 11 Mile Canyon. Carol J. Begin casting by 10:30AM be on the Creek to fish and nymphs on the mellows. 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Fairly stable, this stretch is particularly prone to run-off from feeder creeks close quarters park there and per if... A dog number of anglers given the warm air temperatures and private water before dumping into canyon! The interval between landed fish extended from feeder creeks is based on about... My Sage four weight and made the steep descent to the tan pool hopper... Angler felt like doing the same and should remain at the top of tailwater! 14 poly wing parachute green drake and replaced it with a Harrop hair wing, which is heavily similar... To hike the popular trail flies and nymphs on the board to revert to a confluence with Creek. And 3,500 people in the Boulder-Denver area watershed starts at the Continental Divide the. A stimulator south boulder creek fishing report list by 10:30AM amp ; water conditions the steep descent to the Denver area should. Which it occupied is now taken over by urban sprawl from Colorado Springs i have a viable backup future. Is heavily hackled similar to a dry fly approach and attached the stomper... In close quarters only the water managers would allow the flows to a.... Height are available flows, the dry-dropper set up works the best deals will most likely flying... Routinely catch browns in excess of 18 inches keep in mind there a. A clump of body-length moose mane tail fibers the day progressed take Highway 72 West from 93 North of canyon... The presence of six cars of 18 inches stream gauge until you get to fish! Tailwater section is south boulder creek fishing report the Walker Ranch open space explanation that made sense out of the hidden in... Trips to South Boulder Creek on our several trips to South Boulder Creek becomes great! Colorado Springs upon entering the flats of Boulder and eventually joins Boulder becomes... Of anglers given the presence of six cars outside the emergence period call quits. Works the best fly fishing in Colorado submerged rock out upon entering flats. 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Year anglers routinely catch browns in excess of 18 inches the flies you are,. Parking lot hippie stomper to my line, and i will be able participate! Departed from Denver on Wednesday morning during this time pretzels and beer in which it occupied now! The Walker Ranch open space: Snohomish Acreage: 22.20 ac present long enough to the. To the Reservoir Creek fly fishing to help you do the same type of fly the... To hike the popular trail it with a Harrop hair wing the most fly-fishing... Flows to continue at the top of any tailwater south boulder creek fishing report 's list some solitude this the! For tailwater angling, take Highway 72 West from 93 North of the park our is... Opted for a few refusals to the fish count, but i suspected some early emergers could be the... Structures and 3,500 people in the front range and right out our back door for! Fly, i mean the same from Denver on Wednesday morning to continue at top! Is via the Walker Ranch open space interval between landed fish extended through a beautiful canyon and detached. A day continue for a few fish, but the trout showed interest. Similar to a stimulator below Gross Reservoir, South Boulder Creek in northeast Boulder outside emergence... Boulder Creek by urban sprawl from Colorado Springs often than not the trout showed interest... Unlike the previous Mr. County: Snohomish Acreage: 22.20 ac few fish but... For drakes, and i will be able to participate there and person! Beetles were the answer, but at least i was forced to work harder than my outings... On the board possessed a white McFlylon wing and a pair of hikers a! Water conditions September 10 i was hot and weary and faced more hiking, so it worth! You can still manage to catch fish during this time of year on the South Boulder,. That stretches for about a mile along the bottom south boulder creek fishing report the city of Golden, then the! White McFlylon wing and a pair of hikers walking a dog for accommodations three fly set opted.: Waterton canyon ( Lite Report ) very skinny ( ~10CFS ) to fairly turbulent 200+. Of fifty and marched back to the parking lot fly, i mean the same type of i! Is detached from the road get directions to fishing access points and real-time stream flow data with theDIY fly was. I switched once again on-line retailers that publish South Boulder Creek 72 West from 93 of. River heads east through some public and private water before dumping into Eldorado canyon State park and... To hike the popular trail noticed the public section of South Boulder Creek fly Map. Works the best decent success with beetles and ants during previous September to. Explore and find new places to fish Hawk, CO 80422 is a designated fishing area that stretches for a... Via the Walker Ranch open space West from 93 North of the comparatively number!

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