Colorado River Report

July 20, 2019

FLOW: 9750 cfs in Glenwood Springs (Check out the link below to the real-time video camera on the river in Glenwood!)

WATER CONDITIONS: Big but dropping!

OVERALL RATING:  5 out of 10  Conditions are challenging but steadily improving every day

FOOD SOURCES PRESENT: Caddis adults, pupa and larvae, green drake adults and nymphs, BWO adults, emergers and nymphs, midges, golden stonefly adults and nymphs, PMD nymphs and adults, worms, craneflies

THE LOW DOWN: This is shaping up to be a big water year in the Roaring Fork Valley, which is actually a blessing considering the drought conditions we've been experiencing over the last 20 years.

Wading the Colorado is still a bit challenging, mostly because finding soft water has been tough. Flows are big but many people are starting to float the "big river" again this week.  Daytime hatches consist of yellow sallies, PMDs and a few BWOS, and we are seeing a green drake hatch at twilight.

Nymphs of note this week are Cat Poops, San Juan Worms and beaded princes and pheasant tails. If streamers are your thing, utilize a sink tip and get that streamer down in the zone quickly.

HATCHES: Green Drakes 10-12, Caddis 14-18, BWOs 18-20, PMDs 16-18, Midges 16-22, Yellow Sallies 16, Golden Stones 6-10

Appropriate Patterns  

NYMPHS: Stott's USD Green Drake Nymph 12, Twenty Incher 10-14, Prince 10-18, BLMs 18-20, San Juan Worm 10, Tung Bead Baetis 18-20, Biot Baetis 18-20, RS2s 20, Polywing Emerger 18-20, Imposters 20-22, Assassins 20-22, Freestone Emerger 20, Biot Midge 20-22, 2o Incher 1-14, Poxyback Green Drake 10, Tungsten Bruised PMD 16-18, Halfback PMD Emerger 14-18, Copper John Red 14-18, Cat Poop 8-12, San Juan Worm 10

DRIES: Stott's KGB Green Drake, H and L Variant 10-12, Royal Wulff 10-14, Egg Laying Golden Stone 8, Henry's Fork Golden Stone 8-10, Sparkledun Green Drake 10-12, H and L Variant 10-12, Garcia's Mini Hot Yellow Sally 16, Hairy Sally 16, Hackle Stacker PMD 16-18, Yellow Sparkledun PMD 16-18, Hackle Dun PMD 16-18, Foam Body Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, Pearl and Elk Caddis 14-18, Collett's Para BWO 18-20, Hackle Dun Baetis 20-22, BWO Sparkledun BWO 18-20, Morgan's Para Midge 20, Biot Wing Midge 20, Hatching Midge 20, CDC Transitional Midge 20, Hi Vis Griffith's Gnat 18-20

HINTS: If you're trying to fish the green drake hatch, do your homework beforehand and find some soft water where you can get a decent drift during these higher than "normal" flows

Link to the USGS Real Time Flow Chart for the Colorado River 

https://www.coloradowebcam.net/camera/glenwood-springs-webcam-west-glenwood

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