I was pleased with this circumstance, as it meant I would probably have the lower canyon area to myself. Nestled amidst the foothills of the Colorado Front Range, South Boulder Creek offers some fantastic fishing for anglers who dont mind doing a little driving from point to point or doing a little hiking.The headwaters of South Boulder Creek form up west of Rollinsville, CO and from there follow the railroad tracks east all the way through Moffat Tunnel to the Gross Reservoir. Along the way I found a Wolf Moon landing net lodged on a cluster of logs, and I stuffed it in my backpack with the handle in the bottom of the pocket. I made a pledge to myself to return to South Boulder Creek the week that began with August 16, and today, Wednesday I fulfilled that promise. The fish count climbed from five to ten between 11:00AM and 1:00PM, and the hares ear was responsible for most of the landed trout. County: Snohomish Acreage: 22.20 ac. The fishing on Monday was by no means fast action. Several of the trout attacked the yellow sally aggressively, when I twitched it across some shallow riffles, so movement was part of the program during the yellow sally phase. Once my yogurt cup was empty, I knotted a tan size 8 pool toy hopper to my line and then added a beadhead hares ear nymph and salvation nymph. I checked other Front Range possibilities, but this action was simply an exercise in thoroughness, because 86 CFS is near my ideal range, and I was sold on a trip to the small tailwater almost immediately. When the flies were free and separated, I reversed the hand over hand process to resume gripping the rod at the cork handle, but unbeknownst to me, the reel and butt end of the rod had dipped below the surface of the creek behind a large branch that was wedged between several large rocks. Unfortunately the last fish before lunch severed the hackle on the user friendly, and I made a mental note to swap it for a fresh and undamaged fly after lunch. Nevertheless I was pleased with a double digit day in November. By 12:30PM I spied a pair of natural green drakes, so in spite of enjoying a decent catch rate, I took the plunge and removed the dry/dropper arrangement and migrated to a parachute green drake. The turkey flat version duped one trout, and then a wave of refusals ensued. Turn West on Hwy 72 to Gross Dam Road. Boulder Creek fishing weather forcastupdated each and everyday for accuracy. I broke the rod down to four segments and hiked back to the parking lot. After lunch I shifted gears and removed the three fly set and opted for a peacock hippie stomper. There are the traditional hotel and motel accommodations, as well as ski lodges, ranches, and local bed and breakfast places that cater to the fishing, hiking, and hunting crowd year round. All but five of the trout consumed a green drake, and two of the five non-drake eaters fell for a size 14 gray stimulator, which is a close relative to a green drake imitation. The air temperature was 66 degrees, when I departed, and according to Weather Underground the high never exceeded seventy degrees, although it felt warmer with bright sunshine and very few clouds for most of my time on the water. I visited the relatively close tailwater on 8/13/2021 and 08/18/2021 and enjoyed much success. 11.1 CFS dictates cautious approaches and long delicate casts, but Friday proved that success can be found at relatively low flows, and sunken ants were part of the equation. When it comes to, Crystal Mill, 11520 Co Rd 3, Carbondale, CO 81623, USA, "Dearfi Once I gathered myself and took stock of the impact of the near dunking, I was ready to resume casting, but at this point I discovered that my lucky parachute green drake was MIA. Most trout are on the smaller side, but there are angling opportunities year round. A nice fall day and manageable flows were all I needed to make the drive to the kayak parking lot high above the creek and near the dam. As I was pulling on my waders and gathering my gear after assembling my new Sage R8, a truck pulled into the parking lot next to the guide group. South Boulder Creek Access - GO HIKE COLORADO. Our recommendation is based on aspects about the weather conditions, moon phase & water conditions. South Platte River - 11 Mile Canyon. South Boulder Creek is a stream located just 3.2 miles from Boulder, in Gilpin County, in the state of Colorado, United States. South Boulder Creek Fly Fishing Report. 3581 Gap Rd , Black Hawk, CO 80422 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $995,500. Since I hiked a decent distance from the car, I had no backup with me, and climbing the steep hill to retrieve another rod, and then returning to the creek only to make the hill climb a second time was out of the question. I anticipate a heavy dose of small stream fishing, and having one four weight for this duty concerns me a bit. The choice was prescient, and I racked up thirteen landed trout in the morning, before I broke for lunch at noon. FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $50, SHOP Hours: Mon Fri 9 AM 6 PM | Sat 9 AM 5 PM | Sun 10 AM-4 PM. The Yuman live primarily in the Southwest United States and western Mexico, spanning from western Arizona to Southern California and down the Baja Peninsula. I decided to take the risk of another day of bad weather and departed from Denver on Wednesday morning. It seemed that one out of every five looks resulted in a landed fish, with the others categorized as refusals. I was relatively warm from the exertion, so I knotted a peacock hippie stomper to my line and began to cast to likely spots with the hope that the atmosphere would warm, or the layers would wick away the sweat. Fishing Pier to Forks Park (Big Tommy / Big T) IV(V+) 24cfs . The fishery itself boasts an impressive amount of species that naturally reproduce- you are likely to find a wild rainbow, brown, or brookie here. To reach the South Boulder Creek headwaters, head north on the 119 past Blackhawk until you get to Rollinsville. Last Conditions Report for Barker Reservoir: 09.25.22 Barker Reservoir on FishExplorer has 118 historic conditions reports, 23 historic water temperature updates, 64 historic status updates, 70 historic water level updates, available to subscribers. Large hatches of Baetis are common during this time of year on the middle section between the headwaters and the reservoir. Sign Up For the Latest News, Sales And Deals, 2023 Trouts Fly Fishing. Were my expectations too high? July 29 was a bit early for drakes, but I suspected some early emergers could be on the creek. The hippie stomper attracted a few fish, but the salvation was the main target of the trout. Unfortunately the easy dry fly fishing did not endure, and I suffered through an extended dry spell. Apparently green drakes were not present long enough to create the hoped for intuitive response to an imitation outside the emergence period. Monday, August 30 developed into another solid day on South Boulder Creek. Best of all, the South St. Vrain offers the greatest variety of challenges for anglers, and the nearby lakes also offer . South Boulder Creek 08/12/2022 Photo Album. The South Fork rises at Rollins Pass on the Continental Divide and flows 5.5 miles (8.9 km) to the North Fork. Friday was a bittersweet day. Access to the tailwater section is via the Walker Ranch Open Space. The tribe is much more populous in Canada than in the U.S. #40. In general, a dry dropper or hopper dropper is our go to mode of fishing, regardless of the time of year. After lunch I exchanged the pool toy hopper for the peacock hippie stomper, and I swapped the prince for a hares ear nymph. The event is set . Every year anglers routinely catch browns in excess of 18 inches. Could this be a hot menu item? There was only one way to find out. On Thursday evening I searched through my South Boulder Creek blog reports on this site, and I found two from October 2017 that described my experience, when the flows trickled at 9.3 CFS and 10.5 CFS. Middle Boulder Creek rises as two forks from the Continental Divide: the North Fork rises in a cirque below Mount Neva and flows 7.5 miles (12.1 km) to the South Fork. Recent Reports. South Boulder Creek We are proud to offer guided fly-fishing trips on South Boulder Creek. For more information, see Colorado Fishing guide. I will reserve further judgement, until I attempt to land a sixteen inch bruiser on the four weight outfit. Explore this 2.5-mile out-and-back trail near Boulder, Colorado. Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado. South Boulder Creek 09/10/2021 Photo Album. My fishing session ended after one hour and fifteen minutes and nine fish, and I felt I was on the verge of some outstanding action. My new fly rod performed admirably, and I particularly liked the way it cast and the flex that allowed me to confidently control the larger fish. Six cars besides mine occupied space in the parking lot, so I was concerned about competition and pressure, as I began the descent of the steep trail to the creek. South Boulder Creek begins in the James Peak Wilderness and flows into Gross Reservoir, then through the famous El Dorado Canyon before meeting with the river's other fork. I knotted the same fly to my line that produced twenty-two fish on Friday, and the fun began. The surface flies failed to create a refusal, so I concluded that the fish were more focused on subsurface food morsels, and this thought caused me to attach a size 8 tan pool toy hopper along with a prince nymph on a three foot dropper. South Boulder Creek Trail (#900) Length: East Portal Trailhead (TH) to: Heart Lake - 4.2 miles; Rogers Pass - 4.6 miles. I noted a couple of natural green drakes shortly after lunch, so I decided to migrate directly to my ace in the hole parachute green drake. Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, crime, house prices, schools, races, income, photos, sex offenders, maps, education, weather, home value . For the remainder of my time on the water I probed slower moving pockets, riffles and slicks; and the comparadun became a favorite target of the stream residents, although the stomper nailed its share of takers particularly along faster seams, where the trout had less time to inspect my offering. I continued prospecting the double dry combination through some very attractive plunge pools and deep runs for another half hour, but the effort proved futile. Headwater fishing is decent, and there is a fair amount of public land up here, but as always be on the lookout for posted signs as you make your way along the banks. The trout seemed to take a siesta, and this angler felt like doing the same. The "South Boulder Creek Kayak Run" parking lot provides the easiest access. South Boulder Creek 09/21/2022 Photo Album. DISTANCES ARE ONE-WAY. During the winter I tied some parachute green drakes with moose mane tails and poly wings. Our Boulder Creek fishing report will give you an idea of what flies to use and general conditions you can expect. The star of my fly fishing outing on September 10, 2021 on South Boulder Creek was the sunk ant. At one point another angler met up with me, since he parked at the Walker Ranch trailhead, but he cut to the stream quite a bit upstream of my chosen point of entry. The fish count moved steadily to twenty-eight, and as this hot action transpired, a light rain began to descend, and the temperature slid downward. I skipped my fishing shirt and went right to the down coat as my next layer, even though it displayed signs of sweat in several locations. I tied a solitary size 14 parachute green drake to my line, and in short order I was netting rainbow and brown trout from the creek. Regardless of how you fish, youre going to want to focus on the banks and outer seams to start, but dont discount the shallow riffles and runs, pools or pocket water. Given that it is a creek, you can expect comparatively narrow water as well as large boulders that create some amazing pocket water. I used these factors as an excuse to exit, and I hiked back to the parking lot. Another forecast of ninety degrees in Denver, CO had me craving a cold water wading destination. . Looking for more places to fish? I filed this for future reference and hiked back to the car. Below the reservoir, all the way to Eldorado Canyon lies the South Boulder Creek tailwater. . The long tail portrays a tail and trailing shuck, and in the early stages it takes longer for the drake to free itself from the nymph casing? I had decent success with beetles and ants during previous September trips to South Boulder Creek. South Boulder Creek 07/29/2022 Photo Album. The access to this section is fairly easy taking visitors up and over Flagstaff Mountain, onto a dirt road, and into the wilderness. I am also leery of visiting a stream after a dramatic change in flows, as it takes some time for the stream residents to adjust to their modified environment. Feb 28, 2023 Updated 1 hr ago. The most accessible section of the St. Vrain is easily the South St. Vrain Creek, as it is accessible here via the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. The third poly wing remained on my line, until I returned to my car at the end of the day. With very little pressure, these fish are hungry, healthy, and at certain times of the year, they are stacked in this one-mile stretch of water. The poly wing parachute drake was an overwhelming winner, and I stuck with it for the remainder of my time on the water, as I built the fish count to forty-eight. . My license was in my backpack, and I had not yet pulled it on, so I removed it from the middle pocket and showed it to the Boulder County wildlife officer. South Boulder Creek SOUTH PLATTE BASIN Fishing Report Weather @SOUTH PLATTE BASIN - Updated February 08, 2023 - 3:35am by OpenWeather Current River Flow Updates Historical River Flow River Information This small tailwater located below Gross reservoir provides great year-round fishing. Read on. Or at least that is what I thought, as I contemplated another fishing outing on August 13, 2021. The blemishes to the parachute green drake did not bother the trout in the least, and I proceeded to land another fourteen, before the hook point finally broke off ending a string of thirty-six fish landed on one fly. SOUTH PLATTE BASIN Fishing Report View Report. When I observed the stream from high above on the road, I feared that it was quite low, but this assessment proved deceiving, as the flows were decent for late September. Durable, green drake number two proved to be a fragile version of the pattern. South Boulder Creek is best accessed via Coal Creek Canyon Road (72). South Boulder Creek 08/30/2021 Photo Album. SBC is in close proximity to the Denver area and should remain at the top of any tailwater enthusiast's list. Carol J. Jane had waited for him earlier in the week, so in fairness to our relationship, it was my turn to forego other activities. This change coincided with the end of the hatch, so perhaps it was the insect cycle and not the fly that caused the slow down; however, my observation told me that the moose mane version looked more like a natural. There is no road following the creek so if you are looking for some solitude this is the spot. I added a size 14 prince nymph and below it a size 16 beadhead hares ear nymph, and this combination yielded three brown trout. Once again moderate riffles and the tail of pockets and pools were the home to trout feeders. NEAR BOULDER, CO - USGS Water Data for the Nation. The temperature was already at 77 degrees, when I began my hike down the steep trail to the creek, and I once again strung my Orvis Access four weight. I was still seeing the occasional natural, so I decided to cycle through a few more of my green drake styles. South Boulder Creek Fishing Report - Minturn Anglers Minturn: (970) 827-9500 Denver: (720) 851-4665 Home Guide Trips Vail Valley Trips Wade Trips Float Trips Overnight Float Cast & Taste Horseback Fly Fishing Corporate Trips Kid's Camp Winter Wade Trips Winter Float Trips Menu Wade Trips Float Trips Overnight Float Cast & Taste Thick midge hatches will be present year-round. South Boulder Creek Fishing Report Card Here's your fishing report for today the 17th of February for South Boulder Creek. The Grillos user friendly contains two layers of thin foam, and I was hoping for improved floatation. My confidence was a bit shaken. There are an estimated 600 structures and 3,500 people in the South Boulder Creek floodplain within city limits. Brown Trout Smacked My Fly Near the Stick Jumble. A guide and two customers were gathered behind one of the cars, so I hustled to beat them to the trail. Remarks: It's a beauty and a beast. On Sunday night I checked the flows on the local streams and noted that South Boulder Creek was maintaining an attractive level of 83 CFS. I caught myself with both hands, before I fell in, but a bit of water trickled over the lip of my wader bib. Boulder Creek Fishing Vest Mens 7XL Big Green Utility Multiple Pockets | Sporting Goods, Fishing, Clothing, Shoes & Accessories | eBay! I photographed and released number nine, since it was my best brown trout of the day, and during this process the two dry flies twisted around the tip of my Sage fly rod. Whether you're fly fishing or otherwise your chances of getting a bite here are good. I rolled up the short sleeved undershirt and fishing shirt and stuffed them in the backpack in place of the raincoat and Under Armour. The foam hippie stomper is large enough to support a dropper, but I knew that a beadhead would create too much of a disturbance in the low and clear conditions, so I opted to tie on a sunk ant on a 1.5 foot leader. Gorgeous old growth timbered property steeped in Bitterroot history. The comparadun then became a high maintenance fly, as the waterlogged abdomen and thorax required constant drying and frequent application of floatant. This section is one of the more popular stretches and can be fished year-round. It was a great thought, but the beetle attracted zero interest, so I paused once again to reconfigure. I love the green drake hatch, and the fish do as well, as all my catches consumed a green drake imitation. At 3PM I surrendered to the heat and completed the hike back to the parking lot including the steep ascent at the end. Its less so about the direction but the cause for the . I arrived at the kayak parking lot by 9:00AM, and a quick check revealed three additional vehicles in the lot. That being said, much of the river freezes over in the winter leaving fewer fishable locations. The catch rate slowed somewhat over the last hour, but how could the torrid pace continue? 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