Blue River: near Dillon
Blue River: Near Dillon — Fishing Report for April 24, 2026
Quick Stats
Flow: 46 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Good | Weather: Sunny, High 54°F
The Bite
With water temps reading 44°F — several degrees warmer than the typical April range for this section — the Blue near Dillon is fishing better than the calendar would suggest. A dry winter has left snowpack at a fraction of normal across the Colorado headwaters basin, which means the spring runoff pulse will likely arrive earlier and run shorter than usual. The upside: the pre-runoff window you're fishing right now is extended and productive. Enjoy it.
Today's sunny skies and a high pushing into the mid-50s will warm the water through the afternoon, and that's when things should get interesting on the surface. Midge hatches have been consistent on this section through the midday hours, and with temps this mild, there's a real chance of scattered BWO activity between 1 and 4 PM — especially if any cloud cover drifts through. The broader, slower character of this stretch compared to the Breckenridge water above gives fish more comfortable holding lies, and they're feeding actively right now.
The morning is a nymphing game. Work the deeper runs and pools — this section has more of them than the water upstream, and the fish here tend to run a size larger. Don't burn time prospecting shallow riffles early; the fish are stacked in the slower, deeper slots where they can hold without burning energy. If you see any surface activity develop in the afternoon, be ready to switch — but don't abandon a productive nymph rig just because it's pretty out.
What to Fish
- Zebra Midge #20-22 — Point fly in a two-nymph rig; fish it slow and deep through pool tailouts on a drag-free drift
- RS2 (gray) #22 — Trail 12–16" behind the Zebra Midge as your dropper; deadly in the slower, glassy water
- Juju Baetis #20-22 — Swap in for the RS2 if you spot any BWO activity or see fish moving toward the surface
- Pheasant Tail #18-20 — A reliable attractor nymph; use it as your anchor fly if you want a slightly heavier setup in deeper runs
- Griffith's Gnat #20 — Keep one rigged and ready for afternoon midge cluster activity on the surface
- Parachute BWO #20 — Worth having if overcast conditions develop; fish it with a natural drift through any visible risers
Tactics & Rigging
Rig a two-nymph setup with a Zebra Midge on point and an RS2 trailing 12–16" above it on a 6X fluorocarbon tippet. Set your indicator depth to get the point fly ticking along the bottom through the deeper runs — you want it moving slowly, not tumbling. A small split shot 8–10" above the point fly will help you stay in the zone without over-weighting the rig. Focus your drifts through the seams at the edges of pools and the slower water just downstream of any current breaks.
If the afternoon surface window materializes, drop to a single Griffith's Gnat or Parachute BWO on 6X and work any visible risers with short, precise casts. Let the fly ride the current untouched — these fish in slower water will refuse anything with drag. A dry-dropper with a Parachute BWO on top and an RS2 dropped 18" below is a solid bridge option if you're seeing subsurface interest but no committed rises.
Access & Logistics
Access along this section is generally straightforward, with pull-offs along Highway 9 between the town of Blue River and the Dillon Reservoir inlet. Wading is easy at current flows. A weekend snow system is building — Saturday brings a chance of snow showers, with more likely Saturday night into Sunday. Trail and bank conditions may be slick by Sunday morning. Plan accordingly and dress in layers today.
Always verify current regulations with CPW before fishing — pay particular attention to any kokanee-specific rules near the reservoir inlet, which can change seasonally. Stop by Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne for flies, local intel, and to support the shops that keep these fisheries healthy.
Looking Ahead
The incoming snow system this weekend could briefly cloud the water and slow the bite — but it's unlikely to push flows significantly given how light the snowpack is this year. By early next week, conditions should settle back into a fishable range, though keep an eye on temps; the runoff window may arrive sooner than expected this spring.