Tenmile Creek: Frisco Canyon

Tenmile Creek: Frisco Canyon — Fishing Report for April 24, 2026

Quick Stats

Flow: 38 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Poor | Weather: Sunny, High 38°F today; snow showers likely Saturday through Sunday

The Bite

Spring at 9,000 feet is a slow negotiation, and Tenmile Creek is still in the middle of it. The flow is sitting at 38 CFS — right at the upper edge of the seasonal norm and technically within the fishable band — but flow numbers alone don't tell the whole story here. Water temperatures aren't available from this gauge, but given overnight lows in the low 20s°F and a high today of just 38°F, the creek is almost certainly running in the mid-to-upper 30s°F at best. At those temperatures, trout metabolism slows to a crawl, and even the most perfectly presented fly is likely to get a cold shoulder.

The basin context adds another layer of caution: snowpack across the Colorado headwaters is sitting at just 19% of normal, and water-year precipitation is running at 69% of normal. That's a dry year by any measure. The upside is that runoff should be modest and relatively short-lived — Tenmile won't blow out the way it does in a big snow year. But it also means the creek is running on fumes, and what flow is there is carrying cold, early-melt water from the upper canyon. The fish that are present — browns, rainbows, and a few brookies tucked into the deeper pockets — are likely holding tight to the bottom and barely moving.

A weekend snow event is forecast to move in Saturday and persist through Sunday, which will push daytime temps down further and add a fresh shot of cold water. If you were considering a Saturday trip, the window today — sunny and relatively calm — is the better of the two days, though expectations should remain modest.

What to Fish

• Zebra Midge, #22-24 — Slow, drag-free drift through any open, deeper pocket. This is your best shot at a neutral fish.
• Mercury Midge, #22 — Slight flash can help in the low-light morning hours before the sun hits the canyon walls.
• RS2 (gray or olive), #22-24 — Fished as a dropper 12–16" below a small indicator or a buoyant dry, in the slower water at the tail of plunge pools.
• Parachute Adams, #18 (indicator only) — Not likely to draw surface strikes, but useful as a dry-dropper anchor to keep a midge in the zone without spooking fish in clear, low flows.
• Black Beauty, #22 — A reliable midge pupa imitation if you find any midday midge activity on a sunny flat stretch near Frisco.

Tactics & Rigging

If you're going to fish today, keep it simple: a single small midge pupa or emerger on 6X fluorocarbon, fished with a high-stick nymphing approach through the deeper plunge pools and slower tailouts. The water is clear and low, so stealth matters — approach from downstream, stay low, and make short, precise presentations. A dry-dropper setup with a Parachute Adams on top and an RS2 or Zebra Midge dropped 14–18" below can work in the slower pockets, but don't expect the dry to get eaten.

Focus your time between 11 AM and 2 PM when the sun is highest and any midge activity is most likely. Even then, expect fish to be lethargic. If you're not getting any interest after a dozen good drifts through a likely-looking pocket, move on — the fish simply may not be feeding.

Access & Logistics

Access along the Frisco Canyon section is generally straightforward, with pull-offs along the road corridor. Crowds are essentially nonexistent right now — you'll likely have the canyon to yourself. Trail conditions may be icy in shaded sections, so wear appropriate footwear. With snow in the forecast this weekend, road and trail conditions could deteriorate by Saturday morning.

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

Looking Ahead

The weekend snow event will likely keep conditions suppressed through early next week — don't expect a meaningful improvement before late May at the earliest. With a light snow year in the basin, runoff should be manageable when it does arrive, which could mean an earlier-than-normal fishable window opening up in June. Worth watching.