Eagle River Fly Fishing Report
Eagle River at Avon. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 100–500 cfs (Fish On Colorado). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
What's swimming in the Eagle River
No CPW fishery survey exists for the Eagle River. The species notes below come from CPW's river-wide page plus a secondary local source.
- CPW's river-wide Eagle River page lists Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Mountain Whitefish and marks the water "Stocked" (CPW Eagle River).
- The Town of Avon visitor site describes wild Brown and Rainbow Trout in the Eagle River. Its Cutthroat stocking reference is for Nottingham Lake, not evidence for Cutthroat in the Avon river reach (Discover Avon).
- No Gold Medal designation appears for the Eagle River in CPW's special-regulations listing (CPW special regulations).
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Eagle River
11 hold 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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East Fork Eagle River Brown and brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 3.5 miles up the river · Forest Road 714.1, high-clearance, open May 21 to Nov 15
About it
It joins the Eagle River about 7 miles SE of Red Cliff. It flows year-round.
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Resolution Creek Brown and brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About a mile up the creek · Forest Road 702.1, high-clearance, open Jun 1 to Nov 15
About it
It joins the Eagle River about 5 miles SE of Red Cliff. It flows year-round.
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Turkey Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 2 miles up the creek · Forest Road 709.1, high-clearance, open Jun 21 to Nov 15
About it
It joins the Eagle River at Red Cliff. It flows year-round.
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Homestake Creek Brown, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
White River National Forest
CPW access point · Easy access
About it
It joins the Eagle River at Red Cliff. It flows year-round.
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Two Elk Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About a quarter mile up the creek · Forest Road 762.1, open Jun 21 to Nov 22
About it
It joins the Eagle River about 2 miles NW of Minturn. It flows year-round.
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Cross Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 2.5 miles up the creek · About a quarter mile by the Cross Creek Trail from the Cross Creek Trailhead
About it
It joins the Eagle River about 3 miles NW of Minturn. It flows year-round.
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Gore Creek Brown, rainbow and brook trout
Where to fish
White River National Forest
CPW access point · Easy access
Eagles Nest Wilderness Area
CPW access point · Difficult access
CPW special rules
Special CPW rules apply on parts of it; its guide lists them.
About it
It joins the Eagle River about 4 miles SE of Avon. It flows year-round.
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Beaver Creek Brown, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 3.5 miles up the creek · Forest Road 738.1C, high-clearance
About it
It joins the Eagle River at Avon. It flows year-round.
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Berry Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About a mile up the creek · Forest Road 774.1, high-clearance, open May 21 to Nov 22
About it
It joins the Eagle River about 3 miles NE of Edwards. It flows year-round along most of its length.
-
Brush Creek Brown 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
From the confluence with the Eagle River upstream for 2.5 miles
- Bag and possession limit for trout is 2.
About it
It joins the Eagle River at Eagle. It flows year-round.
Show all 11
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Gypsum Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 9 miles up the creek · A short walk by the Sundell Trail from its trailhead
About it
It joins the Eagle River about 2 miles N of Gypsum. It flows year-round.
Show 30 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Eagle River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- South Fork Eagle River
- Peterson Creek
- Fall Creek
- Rock Creek
- Martin Creek
- Grouse Creek
- Game Creek
- Whiskey Creek
- Traer Creek
- Stone Creek
- Buck Creek
- Metcalf Creek
- June Creek
- McCoy Creek
- Beard Creek
- Lake Creek
- Tames Creek
- Spring Creek
- Squaw Creek
- Red Canyon Creek
- Travis Creek
- Ute Creek
- Alkali Creek
- Milk Creek
- Rube Creek
- Castle Creek
- Eby Creek
- Cottonwood Creek
- Alkali Creek
- Spring 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 Eagle 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 Eagle River
No CPW fishery survey exists for the Eagle River -- species/quality context comes from CPW's river-wide page and secondary tourism sources, though the access points below are official.
- Avon Whitewater Park is a 350-foot Town of Avon park under "Bob the Bridge," with parking at Beaver Creek's Elk Lot on Highway 6 and an accessible river entry along the bike path near the Westin Riverfront Resort (Town of Avon Whitewater Park).
- Eagle River Preserve, Edwards (Eagle County) has a quarter-mile of frontage; dogs must be leashed except in the off-leash area, and the lower parking lot and western portion close Dec. 1–April 15 (Eagle Valley Land Trust).
- Eagle River SWA (Fishing Leases) and Gypsum Ponds SWA (CPW, Eagle County) are both fishing-only, access limited to posted areas; dogs are prohibited (Gypsum Ponds: March 15–July 15) (CPW Eagle River SWA; CPW Gypsum Ponds SWA).
- From the East/South Fork confluence downstream to the Colorado River, trout bag and possession is 2. No Gold Medal designation appears for the Eagle River in the current brochure (CPW special regulations).
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What’s hatching on the Eagle River
13 insects, from the published hatch charts of 3 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)Feb 1 – Jun 30 and Aug 15 – Nov 30 · hook #16–244 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive (spring)”: Apr 1 – May 14 · #16-24
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive (fall)”: Aug 15 – Sep 30 · #16-24
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Blue Winged Olive (spring)”: Feb 1 – Jun 30
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Blue Winged Olive (fall)”: Sep 1 – Nov 30
CaddisApr 1 – Nov 15 · hook #10–227 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various)”: Jun 15 – Sep 14 · #10-22
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Grannom (caddis)”: Apr 1 – Sep 15
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Western Sedge”: May 16 – Aug 15
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Small Olive Sedge”: Jun 16 – Nov 15
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Spotted Sedge”: Jul 1 – Sep 15
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Fall Sedge”: Jul 16 – Oct 15
- Vail Valley Anglers (report 1/26/2026) “Caddis”: no dates given
SalmonfliesApr 1 – Jul 311 source
Where these dates come from:
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Salmonflies”: Apr 1 – Jul 31
Yellow SalliesApr 1 – Jul 311 source
Where these dates come from:
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Yellow Stones”: Apr 1 – Jul 31
Golden StonefliesMay 1 – Aug 31 · hook #6–182 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Golden Stonefly”: Jun 15 – Aug 31 · #6-18
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Golden Stones”: May 1 – Aug 31
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jun 1 – Sep 15 · hook #14–202 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Pale Morning Dun”: Jun 15 – Jul 31 · #14-20
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Pale Morning Dun”: Jun 1 – Sep 15
StonefliesJun 1 – Aug 15 · hook #4–162 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Stoneflies (various)”: Jun 1 – Jul 31 · #4-16
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Alloperla Stones”: Jun 1 – Aug 15
Green DrakesJun 15 – Aug 31 · hook #10–122 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Green Drake”: Jun 15 – Jul 31 · #10-12
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Green Drake”: Jun 16 – Aug 31
Pale Evening DunsJun 16 – Aug 151 source
Where these dates come from:
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Pale Evening Dun”: Jun 16 – Aug 15
Red QuillsJun 16 – Sep 151 source
Where these dates come from:
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Red Quill”: Jun 16 – Sep 15
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul 1 – Aug 31 · hook #8–201 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Jul 1 – Aug 31 · #8-20
MidgesAll year · hook #16–248 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Midges (various)”: Apr 1 – Nov 30 · #16-24
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Black Midge”: Jan 1 – Jun 15
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Black Midge”: Oct 1 – Dec 31
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Olive Midge”: Jan 16 – Apr 30
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Olive Midge”: Sep 1 – Dec 15
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Gray Midge”: Jan 16 – Mar 31
- Eagle River Hatch Guide (pdsdata.net) “Gray Midge”: Oct 16 – Dec 15
- Vail Valley Anglers (report 1/26/2026) “Midges”: no dates given · #18-24 (Zebra 18-22, red neck 20-24, Sprout 20-22)
Streamers & baitfishApr 15 – Oct 31 · hook #2–101 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Streamers (various)”: Apr 15 – Oct 31 · #2-10
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
9 fly pairings from real fishing reports
Browse 50 public pairings across the library. A Free account unlocks 5 more of your choice.
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Fly shops on the Eagle River
Eagle River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Eagle River?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 100–500 cfs on the Eagle River (Fish On Colorado). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the Eagle River designated Gold Medal water?
No, the Eagle River does not currently carry Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on the Eagle River?
TroutTips tracks 9 fly pairings reported specifically on the Eagle 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 Eagle River?
Yes, The Colorado Angler, Mountain Angler, Breckenridge Outfitters, Roaring Fork Anglers, Vail Valley Anglers, Fly Fishing Outfitters (Avon), Fly Fishing Outfitters (Vail), Gore Creek Fly Fisherman, Eagle River Anglers, Minturn Anglers (Minturn), Minturn Anglers (Vail), Bucking Rainbow Outfitters, Minturn Anglers - Denver Front Range guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.