Vail and Beaver Creek river conditions Vail Valley's clear waterways, born of snow, offer gold-medal angling year-round. Here is the latest advice to locate the best stretches of river, along with the hottest flies.
Fishing in the Vail Valley is wonderful with Gore Creek running through the town into the Eagle River which empties into the Colorado River farther down valley. Fly fishing and spin fishing is great nearly all year around. Before you go fishing, bookmark this page and check here first to check current river flows and conditions for fishing in the Vail Valley.
The Gore is way down from last week and is running gin clear. I would still recommend concentrating the majority of your presentations along the banks, looking for any soft water behind rock outcroppings or points. Because water levels are lower, water temperatures should begin to climb into the mid 50's, which in turn will cause the caddis larva that reside in the Gore to begin their annual pilgrimage to the surface. When this does, pray you are on the water. Every fish in the creek comes out of hiding to gorge themselves on these small moth-like insects. Your best bet at finding this hatch is to pay close attention to hatch on the Eagle. As the hatch moves up the Eagle to the confluence with the Gore, it will "bang a hard left" and continue its way up the west end of the Gore and ending in East Vail. Your best bet at prime fishing is to be just ahead of the hatch, so that your fly/imitation is not "lost" in the millions of naturals floating on the river's surface. Considered a Gold Medal trout fishery by Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Gore is home to numerous rainbows, brookies, browns, cutthroats and cuttbows that average between 13 to 15 inches with some in the 20 inch range.
Hot Flies:
Now that water clarity is no longer an issue, standard tailwater type fly patterns will be productive. Try midges, blue winged olives, worms, eggs and streamer patterns. Most of the fish being caught are on subsurface patterns. Midges: Roy Palm's Special Emerger, WD40's, WD50' and Black Beauties to name a few. #18 to #22. Blue Winged Olives: Pheasant Tails, Barr's Flashback BWO Emerger, RS2's, Glass Bead Micro Mayfly and Loop Wing Emergers. #18 to #22. San Juan worms in wine, pink, orange and champagne. #14 to #20 Good streamer patterns are near nuff sculpin in olive, krystal buggers (olive,black, brown, motoroil), leeches in black, sculpzilla (olive or black). Sizes should range from #4 to #12. 3x or 4x nylon tippets will suffice. Caddis patterns dry: Elk Hair Caddis tan, black, olive sizes 12 to 18, Henrysville Specials size 14 to 16, Royal Stimulators size 14 to 18. Caddis wet: Lafontaine's Sparkle Pupa tan size 16, Lawson's Caddis Emerger olive or tan size 16, Furminsky's Diving Caddis black or olive size 16, Netbuilding Caddis green size 16.
Tips:
Still exercise extreme caution when wading. We recommend wading with a buddy and not going beyond the depth of your calf. Fish are along the banks in all soft pockets and on the inside riffles of oxbow bends in the river.
Eagle River
Water Flows:
1,380 c.f.s.
Water Temperature:
50's° F
Fishing Quality:
excellent
Water Clarity:
Well I think it's finally done. Runoff has likely topped out for the last time this spring/summer. With these lower water levels comes improved fishing conditions. With water temperatures in the 50's and clarity no longer an issue, every fish in the river is looking up for the millions of caddis that are lazily floating by. Now is the time to get on the water, be it wading or floating, because caddis flies by the millions are working their way upstream to lay eggs and ensure that this biblical hatch occurs for years to come. Though still very high, with water levels at around 1,300 c.f.s. and dropping, wading the Eagle will become less of an effort in the coming week. We still recommend concentrating the majority of your presentations along the rivers edge in any and all soft water. You may on occasion find a trout "surfing" the hydraulic pillow of water in front of submerged boulders. These surfing trout are active feeders and are the easiest to tempt into a strike. Successful patterns are Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators, PMX's, JC's Wilcox Specials and Irresistible Adams. Sizes ranging from 12 to 16.
Hot Flies:
There really isn't much these fish won't take a swipe at right now. Coming out of runoff, these fish are hungry and beginning to look up. Streamer patterns are still very productive, especially when fished from a boat. In addition to streamers, dry flies too have been producing good amounts of trout. Both streamers and dries should be fished as high and tight to the bank as possible. If you are not on occassion losing flies to the tree gods, you are not fishing close enough to the river's edge. Good streamer patterns are near nuff sculpin in olive, krystal buggers (olive,black, brown, motoroil), leeches in black, sculpzilla (olive or black). Sizes should range from #4 to #12. 3x or 4x nylon tippets will suffice. For dries see above in water clarity for suggestions.
Tips:
Be careful! If floating make sure to wear your life jacket...make it mandatory! Concentrate the majority of your presentations in the seams of soft water along the river's edge. Again, these fish are trying to survive the last remnants of this spring's runoff by conserving energy. CADDIS ARE HERE!!! Stop reading this and get out there NOW!
Colorado River
Water Flows:
3,300 c.f.s.
Water Temperature:
50's° F
Fishing Quality:
good
Water Clarity:
Finally waters on the Upper Colorado have come to near normal flows for this time of year. Though still very high, insects are "popping" like crazy on the Upper C. Do expect to see golden stones, yellow sallies, pmd's, caddis and bwo's. Fishing a dry dropper is a very successful means at getting these fish to strike. Water clarity is good above Radium with 2' of visibility. Concentrate the majority of your presentations along the "shelf" that is clearly defined by the color of water changing from a light tan to dark green. This dark green shelf is where you will find the majority of trout this time of year. In addition to the shelf, you should find trout at the head of any small riffle created by a point or rock along the rivers edge. Don't forget the scum line on the big eddies too.
Hot Flies:
There is a literal a smorgasbord of insects on the water right now. With ideal water temperatures, these fish are looking up and will more then likely move far to take a swipe at your fly. As water levels continue to drop, water temperatures will begin to climb into the high 50's and low 60's. When this does occur you will find fish holding in the faster riffles and currents. Patterns to try are: Elk Hair Caddis, Royal Stimulators, Peacock PMX's, Foam PMX's, Foam Yellow Sallies, Headlight Yellow Sallies, Irresistible Adams, Parawulff Adams, Bugmeisters, LaFontaine's Sparkle Pupa, Lawson's Caddis Emerger, Furminsky's Diving Caddis, Barr's FB Emerger to name a few. Tippets should be in the 3x to 5x range.
Tips:
Call your buddy with a boat or hire a guide with a boat.
