Blue River Fly Fishing Report
Gold Medal waterTwo separately-gauged stretches: the Dillon Reservoir tailwater through Silverthorne, and the Green Mountain Reservoir tailwater downstream near Kremmling. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 150–300 cfs on both stretches (RiverReports; Angler's Covey). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
Below Dillon Reservoir
Below Green Mountain Reservoir
What's swimming in the Blue River
Silverthorne species guidance includes published local-guide reporting. River-wide context and the above-Dillon spawning reach are labeled separately; neither is a current tailwater population census.
- Below Dillon in Silverthorne: A 2021 local-guide account identifies rainbows as the most commonly caught trout and describes Brown Trout in strong supply. Its cutbows are explicitly rainbow-cutthroat hybrids, not pure Cutthroat evidence (Summit Daily local-guide account).
- Cutthroat Trout are also reported below Dillon: A published reach-specific species list includes Cutthroat Trout, but provides no population survey or species-specific catch rate. Treat this as reported presence, not a claim of abundance or a particular subspecies (Below-Dillon species report).
- CPW's river-wide page lists Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Kokanee Salmon and marks the Blue as "Stocked," with ample public access via the Blue River State Wildlife Area and Forest Service land (CPW Blue River).
- Above Dillon Reservoir, the Blue from Coyne Valley Road (3 miles north of Breckenridge) down to the reservoir is where the reservoir's brown trout spawn. Since 2026 it is flies and lures only, every brown over 14 inches goes back, and it is closed to all fishing from September 15 to December 1 (CPW 2026-effective regulations; Summit Daily, May 17, 2023).
- The Blue carries Gold Medal status on two separate stretches: Dillon Dam to Hamilton Creek Road Bridge, with catch-and-release flies-and-lures-only water immediately below the dam, and again from Green Mountain Reservoir Dam downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River (CPW special regulations).
- The 19-mile stretch between them, from north Silverthorne to Green Mountain Reservoir, lost its Gold Medal designation after 15 years below the biomass and size standards, according to CPW aquatic biologist Jon Ewert (Summit Daily) -- so the middle of the river isn't Gold Medal even though both ends of it are.
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Blue River
8 hold fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
-
Monte Cristo Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Blue River about 4 miles S of the town of Blue River. It flows year-round.
-
McCullough Gulch Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About a mile up the creek · Forest Road 852.1, high-clearance, open May 21 to Nov 22
About it
It joins the Blue River about 3 miles S of the town of Blue River. It flows year-round.
-
French Gulch Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
CPW special rules
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Blue River at Breckenridge. It flows year-round.
-
Miners Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 2.5 miles up the creek · Forest Road 1000.1, high-clearance, open May 21 to Nov 22
About it
It joins the Blue River at Dillon. It flows year-round.
-
Snake River Rainbow and brook trout, plus 1 other species
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 15 miles up the river · Forest Road 285.1, high-clearance, open May 21 to Nov 22
About it
It joins the Blue River at Dillon. It flows year-round. CPW also records Snake River cutthroat.
-
Tenmile Creek Brown and brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 8 miles up the creek · Forest Road 1221.1
CPW special rules
From the confluence of West Tenmile Creek near Copper Mountain downstream to Dillon Reservoir
- Brown trout over 14 inches long must be returned to water immediately.
- Fishing prohibited Sept. 15–Dec. 1.
About it
It joins the Blue River at Dillon. It flows year-round.
-
Straight Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 3 miles up the creek · A short walk by the Straight Creek Drive Tie Trail from the Straight Creek Trailhead
About it
It joins the Blue River at Dillon. It flows year-round.
-
Cataract Creek Cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
Eagles Nest Wilderness Area
CPW access point · Difficult access
CPW special rules
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
About it
It joins the Blue River at Heeney. It flows year-round.
Show 35 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Blue River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- Bemrose Creek
- Pennsylvania Creek
- Spruce Creek
- Indiana Creek
- Swan River
- Meadow Creek
- Soda Creek
- Willow Creek
- Hamilton Creek
- Bushee Creek
- Maryland Creek
- Pioneer Creek
- Rock Creek
- Quaking Asp Creek
- Pebble Creek
- Boulder Creek
- Harrigan Creek
- Acorn Creek
- Slate Creek
- Pass Creek
- Squaw Creek
- Brush Creek
- Black Creek
- Otter Creek
- Horse Creek
- Cow Camp Creek
- Elliott Creek
- Deep Creek
- Spring Creek
- King Creek
- Spruce Creek
- Camp Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Elliott Creek
- Dry Creek
Species and special rules are Colorado Parks and Wildlife's. Statewide rules apply everywhere. Before you fish, check land ownership, CPW's current regulations and its temporary closures for drought and low water.
How we pick these
Species are CPW's records from its Fishing Atlas. A creek missing from this list may still hold fish; CPW simply has no record for it. The list runs in the order each one joins the Blue River, from the headwaters down, and "joins" names the nearest town to where it does on the same side of the mountains: a Census place, or a town with its own post office. Flow is how USGS maps each channel, not a live reading.
Special rules are the ones CPW writes for each creek in its Fishing Atlas. Rules CPW writes for the river itself, such as closures around a creek's mouth, are not repeated on the creek, and no directions lead into water CPW closes all year.
A national forest stretch is one that both the Forest Service's and BLM's ownership maps show as national forest for at least half a mile of the creek, with a road on the Forest Service's motor vehicle map within 500 feet; directions go to that road. Where a line names a trail, the Forest Service trail comes within 500 feet of the creek instead, and directions go to its trailhead; from where the trail enters the forest, the whole way is national forest in both maps. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to the Blue River
The town confirms the Silverthorne access points below. Match the access and regulations to the intended reach: below Dillon, above Dillon and below Green Mountain are different fishing destinations.
- River's Edge Park, Blue River Parkway in Silverthorne explicitly lists "fishing along the Blue River" as an amenity (Town of Silverthorne parks).
- Willow Grove Open Space, 1290 Mesa Drive, also in Silverthorne, has Blue River Trail access and a small pond (Town of Silverthorne parks).
- Blue River SWA -- Blue River Unit and Sutton Unit (CPW, Summit County) require a fishing/hunting license or SWA pass 16+; no discharging firearms or bows, no overnight vehicle parking (CPW Blue River SWA).
- Gold MedalDillon Reservoir Dam to Hamilton Creek Road Bridge. Dillon Dam to the north Silverthorne city limits is flies-and-lures-only, catch-and-release; north city limits to the Colo. 9 bridge at Blue River SWA is flies and lures only with a 2-fish, 16-inch minimum (CPW special regulations).
- Gold MedalGreen Mountain Reservoir Dam downstream to the Colorado River. This second Gold Medal stretch is separate from the Dillon-tailwater reach above and covers the full run down to the confluence near Kremmling; artificial flies and lures only, trout returned to the water immediately (CPW special regulations).
- The upstream reach from the north inlet at Summit CR 3 down to Dillon Reservoir is closed to fishing Sept. 15–Dec. 1 under the 2026-effective rule. This is above the reservoir, not the Silverthorne tailwater (CPW 2026-effective regulations).
- The 19-mile stretch between those two Gold Medal reaches, from north Silverthorne to Green Mountain Reservoir, lost its Gold Medal status after 15 years below standard (Summit Daily) -- worth knowing so you don't assume the whole river carries the designation.
Create a free account to read angler reviews. No Pro subscription needed.
Fished the Blue River lately?
Tell other anglers how it fished. Which stretch did you fish?
What’s hatching on the Blue River
10 insects, from the published hatch charts of 4 fly shops, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Mar – May and Aug 23 – Nov · hook #14–247 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “BWO (spring)”: Mar 15 – May 15 · #16-20
- Big Y Fly Co “BWO (fall)”: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · #16-20
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive (spring)”: Mar 15 – May 14 · #14-24
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive (fall)”: Aug 23 – Oct 22 · #14-24
- FlyFishFinder “Blue-Winged Olive”: Mar – May (months only) · #18-22
- FlyFishFinder “Blue-Winged Olive”: Sep – Nov (months only) · #18-22
- Cutthroat Anglers (fishcolorado.com) “BWO (small mayfly)”: no dates given · Mayfly Nymph BWO #18-20; Extended Body BWO #18-22
CaddisMay – Sep · hook #10–183 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Caddis”: Jun 15 – Sep 15 · #10-18
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various)”: Jun 8 – Sep 22 · #10-18
- FlyFishFinder “Caddis”: May – Sep (months only) · #14-18
Golden StonefliesMay – Aug 31 · hook #8–103 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Golden Stone”: Jun 1 – Aug 31 · #8-10
- Fly Shack “Golden Stonefly”: Jun 1 – Aug 7 · #8-10
- FlyFishFinder “Golden Stonefly”: May – Jun (months only) · #8-10
Green DrakesJun 23 – Aug 31 · hook #10–122 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Green Drake”: Jun 30 – Aug 31 · #10-12
- Fly Shack “Green Drake”: Jun 23 – Aug 22 · #10-12
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jun 23 – Sep 15 · hook #16–203 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “PMD”: Jul 15 – Sep 15 · #16-18
- Fly Shack “Pale Morning Dun”: Jun 23 – Aug 31 · #16-20
- Cutthroat Anglers (fishcolorado.com) “PMD (small mayfly)”: no dates given
Yellow SalliesJun 30 – Aug 31 · hook #12–182 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Yellow Sally”: Jun 30 – Aug 31 · #12-18
- Fly Shack “Yellow Sally”: Jul 1 – Aug 22 · #12-18
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul 8 – Sep 30 · hook #6–182 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Hoppers”: Jul 15 – Sep 25 · #6-12
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Jul 8 – Sep 30 · #6-18
Red QuillsJul 15 – Aug 30 · hook #10–162 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Red Quill”: Jul 15 – Aug 30 · #10-16
- Fly Shack “Red Quill”: Jul 15 – Aug 22 · #10-16
MidgesAll year · hook #18–262 sources
Where these dates come from:
- FlyFishFinder “Midge”: Jan – Dec (months only) · #22-26
- Cutthroat Anglers (fishcolorado.com) “Midge larva / adult midge”: Jan – Dec (months only) · #18-22 (Miracle Midge #20-22, Griffith's Gnat #18-24)
Mysis shrimpAll year · hook #181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Cutthroat Anglers (fishcolorado.com) “Mysis Shrimp”: Jan – Dec (months only) · Epoxy Mysis #18
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
20 fly pairings from real fishing reports
Browse 50 public pairings across the library. A Free account unlocks 5 more of your choice.
Loading fly pairings…
Fly shops on the Blue River
Blue River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Blue River?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 150–300 cfs on the Blue River, on both tracked stretches (RiverReports; Angler's Covey). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the Blue River designated Gold Medal water?
Yes, the Gold Medal designation includes these tracked stretches of the Blue River: Below Dillon Reservoir; Below Green Mountain Reservoir. Check the access and regulations section for the exact boundaries; the designation does not cover the entire river.
What flies work on the Blue River?
TroutTips tracks 20 fly pairings reported specifically on the Blue River, each tied to a season and a real source. See the Fly Pairings section on this page for the full list.
Are there fly shops near the Blue River?
Yes, Cutthroat Anglers, The Colorado Angler, Mountain Angler, Breckenridge Outfitters, Fly Fishing Outfitters (Avon), Fly Fishing Outfitters (Vail), Ty's Fly N Tackle guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.