Blue River North of Town

Fishing Report

UPDATED: 1/30/2023

Flow: Around 100 cfsRiver Graph

The Blue River North of Silverthorne town limits contains some beautiful public water and breathtaking views. Unfortunately, it does not boast the highest trout population in some of its public sections. This does not mean there are no fish to be caught, but you may have to be patient and work a little harder to hook up. However, you do always have the shot at hooking the fish of a lifetime, a large trout that usually reside in private sections of the Blue sometimes venture into public waters. Happy hunting.


Current Conditions:

RIVER FLOW(Cubic Feet Per Second

Around 100 cfs

WATER TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)

30's - 40's 

WATER CLARITY:

Clear but expect slush/ice build up north of town especially on cold mornings.

CURRENT FOOD SOURCES:

| Golden stoneflies | Midges | Baetis | Eggs | smaller fish, leeches, etc. | 



Flies to Try

Guides Choice Dozen $24.99

Nymphs:

  TDJ Golden Stone size 12-16 | Tungsten Flashback CDC Hare's Ear size 14-18 | Tungsten CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail size 14-20 | Barr's Graphic Caddis tan size 18 | UV Midge black or brown size 18-24 | olive or grey Sparkle Wing RS2 in size 18-22  |  Disco Midge pearl or red size 18-22 | Zebra Midge black or olive 18-22 | Thin Mint 6-8 |

Dries:

Elk Hair Caddis olive size 12-16 | Peacock caddis size 18 | Parachute Adams size 12-24 | parachute extended body BWO size 18-22 | Solitude Midge black size 20-24 | Brook Sprouts Midge size 18-24 grey, cream, and black

Streamers:

 Sculpzilla in black, olive, or natural size 4-8 | Near Nuff Sculpin olive and tan size 4-6  | Slump Busters  black or white | Pop’s Bugger pearl/grizzly, or black/olive size 8 | Bead Head Mini Leech olive/black size 08 | Crystal Bugger white size 12 |


Guide Tip of the Week:

We are seeing lots of ice on the blue north of town. As usual, we get a good handful of miles from the dam before ice become an issue. Most of the river, from Green Mountain Reservoir to outside of silverthorne is frozen. Fishable water may be found here and there but it will be a challenge. Unfortunately, the slow deep runs the fish are most likely in are also going to be the first to freeze. 

RECENT HISTORY:

We love seeing and hearing about your outings as well. Send any fishing photos or stories you want to share over to jacob@fishcolorado.com and we'll throw 'em up in the reports.

11/3/20: Kory using his eyes and polarized glasses to sight fish in the Middle Blue

  

With low flows sight fishing is the best way to target trout on the Blue River 

This trout ate a #22 RS2 on the swing

This trout ate a #22 RS2 on the swing 

Local angler Beau Baynum has been exploring the Middle Blue on his days off, and it looks like he has been finding some nicely colored brown trout in the process.  Small Baetis nymphs like the Tugnten Pyscho May BWO size 18-20, and Jimi Omori's Ninja have been go to patterns on this stretch of river.

Local angler Beau Baynum has been exploring the Middle Blue on his days off, and it looks like he has been finding some nicely colored brown trout in the process.  Small Baetis nymphs like the Tugnten Pyscho May BWO size 18-20, and Jimi Omori's Ninja have been go to patterns on this stretch of river. 

Kris Tikkanen used to stop in the shop and ask us for advice on what flies to use in the Blue River.  Fast forward a year or two, and now he tells us what is working..... Kris picked up some nice fish in the Middle Blue Recently using the following nymph rig:  A 3/4" white indicator, with a .3 gram split shot, a size 18-20 tungsten bead Hare's Ear, and size 18-22 Baetis imitaions.

Kris Tikkanen used to stop in the shop and ask us for advice on what flies to use in the Blue River.  Fast forward a year or two, and now he tells us what is working.....

Kris picked up some nice fish in the Middle Blue Recently using the following nymph rig:  A 3/4" white indicator, with a .3 gram split shot, a size 18-20 tungsten bead Hare's Ear, and size 18-22 Baetis imitaions.

LATE AUG/EARLY SEPT

Local angler Kris Tikkanen is up to his old tricks, this time he is fooling a few nice looking rainbow trout on the Middle Blue.  Kris was finding a lot of midge larva when examining river rocks, and his flies of the day were the blue Poison Tung size 20, black JuJu Bee Midge size 24, and a size 22 Black Beauty.

RIVER ACCESS

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


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