Blue River Below Green Mountain

UPDATED: 09/11/26

Flow: 237 CFS River Graph

Guide Tip of the Week:

Flows on the lower have been relatively stable the last few weeks, but the water has been warm and off color due to Green Mountain Reservoir being at 15% capacity. Make sure to check flows before heading down there. The canyon fishing should be improving as the weather cools down. For now, think sneaky nymph rigs conditions of stones, baetis and midge. Try darker or black nymphs to help with contrast in dirty water. Dry fly fishing has been hit or miss as the water has warmed up and gone a bit off color due to the reservoir flipping.  Hoppers or caddis are the main ticket right now if you wish to try throwing dries. 

Current Conditions:

RIVER FLOW (Cubic Feet Per Second): 

237 cfs

WATER TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F): 

60s

WATER CLARITY:

1 Feet of Clarity

CURRENT FOOD SOURCES:

Midges | BWOs | Stoneflies I Caddis

Flies to Try

NYMPHS:

  TDJ Golden Stone  size 14 -18 | Pat’s Rubber Legs Olive and Brown size 10-12 | K’s Latex Caddis size 16-18 | Darth Baetis grey size 18-22 | Split Case BWO 16-18 | Tungsten Juju Baetis size 18-22 | Grey Dun RS2 size 18-22 | UV Midge black size 18-22 | Pegged Eggs

DRIES:

   | Parachute Adams size 12-22 |   Peacock Caddis 18 | Parachute Extended Body BWO size 18-22 | Matthew's Sparkle Dun BWO  size 16-22 | I-Wan-E Dun BWO size 18-20 | CDC Morgan's Midge 18-22 | Umpqua Adult Midge Dark size 18-24 | Solitude midge Olive size 20-22 |

STREAMERS:

Baby Gonga tan, rainbow, and black | Big Gulp Sculpin black size 4 | Mini Loop Sculpin natural | Slump Buster black or natural size 4-6 | Pop's Bugger pearl/grizzly size 8 | Ishiwata's Articulated Snitch olive size 6 | Crystal Bugger white size 12 | Leeches in wine or black

 The Lower Blue below Green Mountain Reservoir is a great stretch of public water. It is technically a "tailwater" flowing out of GMR, but it fishes more like a freestone river on some days. There is healthy and diverse population of aquatic bug life, this keeps the Gold Medal trout population well fed. The Lower Blue is fishable both by foot and river craft at certain river flows. We recommend 500 or more cfs to float the ranch section. Skilled oarsman navigate the canyon section as low as 300 cfs. 
*The Lower Blue is not legally permitted for any type of commercial guiding, and no shuttle services are offered for this piece of water.*

RIVER ACCESS

Also check out the Town of Silverthorne's Blue River Fishing Access Map

OTHER LOCATIONS

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