Pumphouse to State Bridge

Pumphouse to State Bridge — Fishing Report for April 24, 2026

Quick Stats

Flow: 725 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Good | Weather: Sunny, High 56°F; mixed precip arriving Saturday

The Bite

This is a float trip day. At 725 CFS, the Colorado is running comfortably within its ideal range — too pushy for relaxed wading in most spots, but a dream for anyone with a drift boat or raft. Water temps at 48°F are right in the feeding zone, and with a light snow year in the basin driving snowpack to a fraction of normal, flows have climbed gradually rather than spiking — which means cleaner water and more predictable conditions than a typical late April.

Today's sunny skies are a double-edged sword. The bright conditions may suppress the BWO hatch that typically fires on overcast afternoons, but they're ideal for Skwala activity. These big stoneflies are still on the water, and on a warm, sunny afternoon like today, adults can draw aggressive takes from browns holding along undercut banks and in the slower water behind mid-river boulders. Keep an eye on the surface starting around 1 PM — if you see fish nosing up along the banks, a Skwala dry is the first thing to reach for. The early caddis are also beginning to show in increasing numbers; don't be surprised to see a few dark-winged adults fluttering near the water by mid-afternoon.

The wet weather arriving Saturday night and Sunday could actually improve conditions heading into next week — overcast skies are BWO weather, and a modest bump in flows from rain-on-snow won't push this section out of shape given how low the snowpack is.

What to Fish

• Pat's Rubber Legs #6-8 — anchor fly, point position; bounce it along the bottom through deep outside bends and undercut banks
• Pheasant Tail #16-18 — 14–18" above the Pat's as a dropper; covers caddis pupae and emerging stonefly nymphs
• Skwala Dry #10-12 — fish tight to the banks and behind structure from 1 PM on; dead-drift with occasional subtle twitches
• Elk Hair Caddis (black) #16-18 — trail 18" behind the Skwala as a second dry once caddis adults appear mid-afternoon
• Parachute BWO #18-20 — keep a few rigged and ready; if cloud cover builds unexpectedly, BWOs can come off fast
• Woolly Bugger (olive) #6-8 — worth a few swings through the deeper pools, especially early in the float before surface activity develops

Tactics & Rigging

Set up a double-nymph rig to start the float: Pat's Rubber Legs on point with a Pheasant Tail running 14–18" above it on a 6–8" dropper tag. Use enough split shot to keep the Pat's ticking bottom through the deeper runs — at 725 CFS, the outside bends are moving and you'll need weight to get down. Fish 3X fluorocarbon to the Pat's, 4X to the Pheasant Tail. Work the seams where fast water meets slow, and let the rig ride naturally through the tailouts without mending it to death.

Once you start seeing fish or adult stoneflies on the water, switch the top rod to a Skwala dry with the Elk Hair Caddis trailing 18" behind on 4X. Cast tight to the bank — within a foot if you can manage it — and let it ride the current untouched. Browns on this section will hold in surprisingly shallow water along the sagebrush banks when the bugs are moving.

Access & Logistics

Put in at the BLM Pumphouse Recreation Area and take out at State Bridge — 14 miles of Class I-II water on entirely public land. The road to Pumphouse is typically in good shape by late April; check BLM conditions if you had recent snow. Crowds are light on this section, especially mid-week, but Friday floaters may share the water with a few other boats. Shuttle logistics are the main planning consideration — confirm your shuttle arrangement before launching.

Stop by Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne or Lure of the Fly in Dillon for flies, local intel, and to support the shops that keep these fisheries healthy. Always verify current regulations with CPW before fishing.

Looking Ahead

The wet pattern arriving Saturday through Sunday — rain and snow showers with overnight lows near 36°F — should keep flows stable or add a modest bump without blowing the section out, given the thin snowpack. Overcast skies this weekend could trigger some of the best BWO fishing of the spring; if you can get on the water Sunday afternoon between showers, it's worth the effort.