UPDATED: 8/26/25

Exploring Summit County's small creeks is a great option for an angler that wants to get off the beaten path. During the spring, summer, and fall months, trout are constantly looking for an easy meal in these less pressured creeks. You may or may not find the trophy trout to tell your friends about, but we can guarantee the picturesque views and beauty of the fish that reside there will make it even more memorable than you think. Most of our local creeks hold a nice population of brookies, browns, rainbows, and cutthroat trout. Small to medium dry flies are by far the most exciting way to target these fish, but nymphs and streamer can work well too. 

Current Small Creek Conditions:

RIVER FLOW(Cubic Feet Per Second): 

Lower flows but fishing great in deeper pools and rock gardens. 

WATER TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F): 

50s

WATER CLARITY:

clear

CURRENT FOOD SOURCES:

| Stoneflies | Baetis | midge larva/pupa/adults | worms, small fish, leeches etc. | Terrestrials and hoppers |

Flies to Try

NYMPHS: 

 Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph size 14-20 | TDJ Golden Stone 16-20 | Bead Head Hare's Ear Nymph size 14-20 | San Jaun Flash Worm Red | JuJu Sally size 16-20 | UV midge chocolate size 18-22 | Sparkle Wing RS2 size 18-22 

DRIES:

Micro-Chubbies 12-16 | Hippy Stomper Yellow or Brown size 10-14 | Parachute Adams size 14-22 | Royal or Yellow Humpy 14-16 |  Elk Hair Caddis yellow size 14-18 | Pearl and Elk Caddis size 14-16 | Solitude Midge black size 18-22 |

STREAMERS: 

| Slump Busters | Sculpzillas | Hot Head Squirrel Leeches |

Guide Tip of the Week:

Creeks have been very productive and fishing is starting to pick up. Look to fish hopper droppers or double/single dry fly rigs. Fishing general attractor nymphs tend to be productive in small water and fishing heavier tungsten flies as droppers can  be important to get down to the fish in deeper pockets. Dry fly fishing is the way to go on most small creeks.