Blue River: Below Green Mountain Reservoir

Blue River: Below Green Mountain Reservoir — Fishing Report for April 24, 2026

Quick Stats

Flow: 494 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Fair | Weather: Sunny, High 55°F

The Bite

This is peak BWO season on the Blue below Green Mountain — in theory. In practice, today's bluebird skies are the one variable that can put a damper on the afternoon surface action this stretch is known for in April. Baetis hatches thrive under cloud cover; bright, sunny conditions tend to push them sparse or delay them until late afternoon at best. Don't write off the day — just recalibrate your expectations and lean on what's reliably producing right now.

Flows are sitting at 494 CFS, elevated compared to the seasonal norm of 100–300 CFS but comfortably within the fishable range and rock-steady near the 10-day average. With a very dry water year in the Colorado headwaters basin — snowpack well below normal — reservoir managers likely pulled the trigger on these higher releases earlier than usual. The good news: the water is dam-controlled and should be clear. The elevated flows push fish off the banks and into slower, deeper holding water — seams behind mid-channel boulders, the inside edges of bends, and any depression in the riverbed that breaks the current.

Scuds and aquatic worms are your workhorses today. These bottom-dwelling forage items don't care what the sky looks like, and the fish are keyed on them year-round in this tailwater. If you're on the water by midmorning, watch for midge activity — there's a reasonable window between 10 AM and early afternoon where surface-sipping fish may appear even under sunny skies, especially in slower backwater pockets.

What to Fish

• Scud (orange/pink) #16 — Anchor fly. Drag it slowly along weed bed edges and gravel seams. This is the top producer at current flows.
• Ray Charles #16 — Excellent scud/sow bug imitation. Fish it on point with a smaller dropper above.
• San Juan Worm (red or wine) #12-14 — Reliable all-day producer at elevated flows. Dead weight on the bottom.
• RS2 (gray) #20-22 — Trail 12–16" above the anchor as a midge emerger dropper.
• Zebra Midge #20-22 — Midge larva for the 10 AM–noon window; fish it slow and deep.
• Parachute BWO #18-20 — Hold this in reserve for late afternoon if cloud cover builds ahead of Saturday's storm.

Tactics & Rigging

Set up a double-nymph rig with a Pat's Rubber Legs or San Juan Worm as the point fly — something heavy enough to get down fast in 494 CFS — and trail a Ray Charles or RS2 on 12–16" of 5X fluorocarbon above it. Add enough split shot to tick the bottom. At these flows, indicator depth matters: set it deeper than you think you need to, and fish the slower water inside of the main current tongue rather than fighting the push. A 9-foot 4X or 5X leader to the anchor, with a 5X tippet tag for the dropper, is a practical starting point.

If surface activity materializes late afternoon — look for subtle sipping in the tailouts of slower pools — switch to a Sparkle Dun BWO or Parachute BWO on 6X fluorocarbon with a natural, drag-free presentation. Keep your cast upstream and let the fly ride the seam untouched. The fish here are more forgiving than their Silverthorne cousins, but they'll still refuse a dragging fly.

Access & Logistics

The stretch below Green Mountain Reservoir is accessible via Highway 9 between Silverthorne and Kremmling. Pull-offs along the highway provide easy access to the river through open ranch country. Wading is straightforward at most flows, though 494 CFS warrants caution in faster runs — felt-soled waders or cleats are worth having. Crowds are light on this section; you're unlikely to share water today. Always clean and drain your gear before and after fishing to help prevent aquatic nuisance species from spreading between drainages.

Verify current regulations with Colorado Parks and Wildlife before fishing — regulations can change.

Stop by Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne for flies, local intel, and to support the shops that keep these fisheries healthy.

Looking Ahead

Saturday's incoming rain and snow showers could be the best thing that happens to this stretch all weekend — overcast skies are exactly what triggers heavy BWO activity, and if flows hold steady, Saturday afternoon could offer the dry fly fishing this section is famous for in April. Keep an eye on flows through the weekend; sustained precipitation may prompt reservoir managers to adjust releases.