Boulder Creek Fly Fishing Report
Boulder Creek near Boulder (North 75th St.). Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 40–80 cfs (RiverReports). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
What's swimming in Boulder Creek
No CPW fishery survey specific to this stretch was found. The species notes below come from angling reference sites and a fly shop; regulations come from official City of Boulder and CPW sources.
- Published town-reach reporting describes Brown and Rainbow Trout and fishing at Eben G. Fine Park. Broader watershed guides also mention Brook and Cutthroat Trout, with Rocky Mountain Anglers placing its Cutthroat account near Nederland/Hessie; those descriptions are not proof of a strong town or North 75th Street target (CU Coloradan; Rocky Mountain Anglers).
- From the upper end of Eben G. Fine Park downstream to 55th Street, City of Boulder regulations restrict fishing to artificial flies and lures only, and every trout caught must be returned to the water immediately (City of Boulder OSMP; CPW fishing regulations).
- Boulder Creek downstream of Valmont Road -- the stretch nearest the North 75th Street gauge this page tracks for live flow -- is closed to fishing year-round to slow the spread of New Zealand mudsnails; the special-regulation, artificial-flies-only water above 55th Street is unaffected by this closure (City of Boulder, New Zealand Mudsnails).
- Boulder Creek is not Gold Medal water (CPW fishing regulations).
Rivers and creeks that flow into Boulder Creek
One holds fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
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South Boulder Creek Brown, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
Walker Ranch
CPW access point · Medium access · Stocked with young trout
Roosevelt National Forest
CPW access point · At Pinecliffe · Difficult access
Roosevelt National Forest
CPW access point · At Rollinsville · Medium access · Stocked with young trout
James Peak Wilderness Area
CPW access point · Medium access
About it
It joins Boulder Creek at Valmont. It flows year-round.
Show 8 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into Boulder Creek. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- Middle Boulder Creek
- North Boulder Creek
- Fourmile Creek
- Gregory Creek
- Bear Canyon Creek
- Fourmile Canyon Creek
- Dry Creek
- Coal 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 Boulder Creek, 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.
Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to Boulder Creek
The tracked gauge sits downstream of the creek's only special-regulation reach, at the lower end of that reach rather than inside it.
- Eben G. Fine Park, City of Boulder -- creek frontage and a pedestrian bridge over Boulder Creek connecting to nearby trails; year-round restrooms with limited fall/winter hours, groups capped at 50, no glass containers or alcohol (City of Boulder). This park also marks the upper boundary of the creek's special-regulation reach (CPW special regulations).
- Rogers Park, Boulder County Parks & Open Space -- stream fishing for rainbow trout, 4-fish limit, artificial and live bait both permitted; open sunrise to sunset, no overnight parking (Boulder County).
- Anglers 16+ need a Colorado fishing license; a standard license covers one line, a second requires a $5 second-rod stamp (City of Boulder OSMP).
- Upper end of Eben Fine Park downstream to 55th Street: artificial flies and lures only, trout returned to the water immediately (CPW special regulations). Outside that reach, statewide limits apply: 4 trout daily, 8 in possession (CPW statewide limits).
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What’s hatching on Boulder Creek
7 insects, from the published hatch charts of 1 fly shop, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
MidgesFeb – Mar · hook #18–241 source
Where these dates come from:
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing “Midges”: Feb – Mar (months only) · #18-24
StonefliesFeb – Apr · hook #12–182 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing “Winter Stoneflies”: Feb (months only) · #14-18
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing “Stoneflies”: Mar – Apr (months only) · #12-16
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Mar – Apr · hook #18–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing “Blue Winged Olive”: Mar – Apr (months only) · #18-20
CaddisApr · hook #14–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing “Caddis”: Apr (months only) · #14-18
Golden StonefliesJun – Aug · hook #10–141 source
Where these dates come from:
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing (Front Range summer hatches) “Golden Stoneflies”: Jun – Aug (months only) · #10-14
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jun – Jul · hook #16–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing (Front Range summer hatches) “Pale Morning Dun”: Jun – Jul (months only) · #16-18
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul – Sep · hook #8–182 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing (Front Range summer hatches) “Hoppers”: Jul – Sep (months only) · #8-12
- Rise Beyond Fly Fishing (Front Range summer hatches) “Ants & Beetles”: Aug – Sep (months only) · #14-18
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
4 fly pairings from real fishing reports
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Fly shops on Boulder Creek
Boulder Creek fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish Boulder Creek?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 40–80 cfs on Boulder Creek (RiverReports). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is Boulder Creek designated Gold Medal water?
No, Boulder Creek does not currently carry Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on Boulder Creek?
TroutTips tracks 4 fly pairings reported specifically on Boulder Creek, 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 Boulder Creek?
Yes, Front Range Anglers, Rocky Mountain Anglers guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.