FLYMASTERColorado · river
Big Thompson River
The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles (126 km) long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Originating in Forest Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, the river flows into Lake Estes in the town of Estes Park and then through Big Thompson Canyon. From Wikipedia
- Length
- 78 mi
- Flows into
- South Platte River
Flow now
Big Thompson River At Loveland, CO., 11 mi from the river.
27cfsat build, Nov 12, 11 AM MT
The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 13 cfs to 29 cfs, around 18 cfs.
Also gauged at Cache LA Poudre River At Fort Collins, CO: 30 cfs, Nov 12.
Snowpack
0.2 in of water in the snow at Bear Lake and 2 more stations, against a median 1.0 in for the date (17 % of normal).
The snowpack here usually builds from Oct 25, peaks Apr 27 and is gone by Jun 6; runoff follows the melt.
The season, November
Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.
- Midgessizes 18 to 22
- Small eggs and worms
- Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator
Typical for the week over 10 years: 13 to 29 cfs. Running 27 cfs today, inside that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.
Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.
- Flows swing a lot this week most years. Carry both a heavy nymph rig and a dry-dropper and let the gauge decide.
- Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.
Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.
Fly shops on this water
- Estes Angler Estes ParkWebsiteFishing report, updated Oct 12
- Front Range Anglers BoulderWebsite
- Kirks Flyshop Estes ParkWebsiteFishing report, updated Oct 22
- St. Peter's Fly Shop Fort CollinsWebsiteFishing report, updated Aug 25
Nearby waters
- St. Vrain Creek14 mi
- Cache la Poudre River19 mi
- Fall River19 mi
- Boulder Creek26 mi
- South Boulder Creek30 mi
Open Big Thompson River in FlyMaster for today's plan, the flies, and your own log here.
Flows from the U.S. Geological Survey, snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network, text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Built Nov 12.