Summer in Colorado means one thing for fly anglers: hatches. But knowing what’s hatching—and where—can make the difference between a full net and a full skunk. In this episode, we break down Colorado fly fishing summer hatches month-by-month, focusing on the best rivers and creeks near Denver for rising trout, predictable bug activity, and technical (but fun) fishing.

We’re covering the classics: South Platte, Blue, Arkansas, Clear Creek, Poudre, Big Thompson, Fraser, and Bear Creek—but also giving real attention to five under-the-radar spots most blogs overlook: Tarryall Creek, North Fork of the South Platte, Middle Fork near Fairplay, St. Vrain Forks, and Boulder Creek above town. These rivers fish incredibly well in summer and are still dominated by low-quality search results, meaning if you know, you know.

Here’s how it breaks down:

In June, runoff is dropping and the trout are back on the feed. Caddis and golden stoneflies show up first in Clear Creek, the Platte, and the Big T. These hatches spark aggressive surface eats, especially on foam flies and high-floating dries.

July is dry fly paradise. PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and lingering caddis provide consistent morning action. Mid-day, terrestrials like ants and beetles start to come into play—especially on small creeks and high-country runs. This is your best window for dry-dropper rigs and visible strikes.

August is full-blown terrestrial season. Hoppers, beetles, and ants dominate, especially on mid-elevation freestones and meadow creeks. Green Drakes taper off in lower water but still show up in alpine pockets like the upper Poudre, Middle Fork Platte, and tributaries above 9,000 feet. Most anglers keep throwing big foam—smart anglers match conditions and downsize to get eats.

September brings the return of BWOs and the beginning of fall transition. Cloudy days and cooler water push trout back into shallow edges and riffles, sipping tiny mayflies on top. Fish are pickier, but the crowds are gone. This is the month for finesse and foam lines.

We also cover:

• Which flies to pack each month for each major river

• How to fish overlapping hatches with better rigs

• Why underrated creeks like St. Vrain and Tarryall punch above their weight

• What the hatch timing shifts look like by elevation

• Why most fly shop blogs are missing the nuance (and the real windows)

• When to downsize, when to throw foam, and when to switch to emergers

There’s also a full FAQ at the end, covering common questions like:

• When does hopper season peak in Colorado?

• What’s the best dry-dropper combo right now?

• Are PMDs and BWOs the same thing?

• What flows make canyon rivers like Bear Creek or Boulder Creek fish best?

Whether you're chasing headwater cutthroat in July or picking off tailwater risers in September, this episode will help you match your hatch, pick your spot, and fish Colorado like a local.

For the full written breakdown, hatch chart, fly recommendations, and river-by-river tips, head to RiseBeyondFlyFishing.com.

Want access to the secret creeks, off-grid hatches, and deep-dives we’re holding back? Stick around. There’s a premium feed coming.

This week’s fishing report breaks down the best fly fishing near Denver for June 16–22. Flows are finally cooperating, hatches are predictable, and it’s shaping up to be a killer week on the water.

Leading the pack is South Boulder Creek, with stable flows around 90 CFS and trout rising to PMDs and caddis throughout the day. It’s the most consistent stretch close to town right now, especially for anglers who know how to drift a dry-dropper clean through the flats.

Clear Creek is a close second. Above Tunnel 1, clarity is solid through the mornings, and the fish are active on Elk Hair Caddis and small stonefly patterns. Expect great pocket water action from 9 AM until the sun’s directly overhead.

Bear Creek is going technical. Low, clear, and filled with spooky trout—but if you like fishing terrestrials with long leaders and tight casts, this is your moment. A well-placed black ant or beetle can turn the tide.

Further out, Deckers is still holding its own with flows around 325 CFS. Sight fishing is viable in the morning, and fish are eating midges and baetis under indicators. It’s not lights-out fishing, but if you’re early and focused, there are trout to be caught.

Waterton Canyon rounds out the list. The canyon’s flows are favorable, and fish are looking up for Chubby Chernobyls and small nymphs. The trick here is timing—beat the crowds, and you’ll find action.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Current flow rates, clarity, and temperature trends

• The top 5 rivers and creeks to hit near Denver this week

• The flies you need in your box right now (spoiler: it’s beetle season)

• Tactical tips for dry-dropper rigs, stealth, and drift control

Whether you’re sneaking out for a quick morning on Bear Creek or planning a full-day mission to Deckers, this episode has what you need to fish smarter, not harder.

To view the full breakdown and fly picks for the week, visit RiseBeyondFlyFishing.com.

Want more reports like this every Monday? Follow the podcast, subscribe to the blog, and stay dialed.

In this episode, we head up—way up—into the alpine zones of Colorado’s backcountry to talk high country dry fly fishing. If you’re sick of fishing behind three other people on the South Platte, this is your invitation to breathe thin air, throw big loops, and fool native cutthroat in cold, clear water.

Colorado high country streams are at their peak from mid-June through early August. The runoff has settled, the hatches are reliable, and the fish aren’t nearly as picky as their tailwater cousins—unless you screw up your drift.

We cover:

• What counts as high country (hint: if it’s under 8,000 feet, it’s not it)

• The best months, times of day, and weather windows for dry fly success

• What to pack: from Parachute Adams to terrestrials, with only the essentials

• Why stealth matters more than fly choice

• How to get technical without overthinking it

We also spotlight a few of our favorite alpine drainages and small creeks that fish lights-out with a single fly and a 3-weight. Whether you’re hiking into Rocky Mountain National Park or poking around roadside creeks near Leadville, this episode breaks down what makes high country dry fly fishing one of the most rewarding ways to catch trout in Colorado.

No indicator rigs. No mop flies. Just clean casts, good water, and rising fish.

Want to read the full post? Visit RiseBeyondFlyFishing.com for the full breakdown, fly recommendations, and more content for the modern Colorado angler.

In this episode of Rise Beyond, we cut through the noise and bring you the only Deckers fly fishing report that matters. No copy-paste summaries. No outdated hatches. Just real, field-tested insight from anglers who fish the South Platte River at Deckers every single week.

With flows sitting at 325 CFS and PMDs leading the hatch menu, this stretch is both fishable and technical—exactly how we like it. But don’t expect easy hookups unless your rig, timing, and presentation are dialed in. We break down what’s working right now, where to fish to avoid the bobber brigade, and how to adjust when the pressure is high (which it is—always).

Topics include:

• What the water’s doing this week (flow, temp, and clarity)

• The exact nymphs and dries we’re using (with sizes, not fluff)

• How to fish through crowds without fishing like the crowd

• When to switch from indicator rigs to dry-dropper or tightline setups

• Where to go if you want fewer anglers and better shots

• Why we don’t read Orvis or Flies and Lies anymore—and neither should you

We also answer your FAQs about fly choice, leader setup, how to fish rising water, and whether Deckers is even worth your time anymore (spoiler: it is—if you know how to fish it right).

Rise Beyond isn’t a brand built on gear sales or reputation management. We’re not here to sell books, trips, or “consulting.” We’re here to report what’s actually happening on the rivers we fish—because you deserve more than warmed-over reports and recycled advice.

For weekly river intel, fly recommendations, and no-BS fly fishing content, subscribe to the Rise Beyond River Report. And if you want the flies we actually use? You can get them on Amazon, small-batch and ready to fish.

Fish smart. Fish free. Fish better.
risebeyondflyfishing.com

Welcome to a truly wild stretch of Colorado water: the Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir. In this week’s episode of Rise Beyond, we head deep into rugged canyon country for one of the state’s most rewarding—but underfished—tailwaters.

Flows are holding around 575 CFS and clarity is solid at 3–4 feet, making this an ideal time to chase wild browns and rainbows with stonefly rigs, PMDs, and a healthy dose of grit. The hike-in nature of this fishery means fewer anglers, unpressured water, and fish that fight like freight trains. If you’re ready to trade parking lots for pine canyons and outlet bridges for eddy-hugging slabs of granite, this one’s for you.

We break down the key hatches happening this week, from mid-morning PMD risers to the early arrival of golden stones. You'll get tips on gear (bring the big net), rig setups (two-fly tungsten nymph rigs or articulated streamers), and how to approach access points like Gore Canyon, BLM roads, and the Colorado River confluence.

Other topics include:

• Why flows below Green Mountain fish better in late spring

• What makes this stretch so unique in the Colorado trout world

• Best time windows to avoid heavy sun and sudden wind shifts

• Local regulations and etiquette reminders for remote water

We also tackle FAQ-style insights like:

• Can I wade safely at this flow?

• Is there camping nearby?

• What makes this spot tougher than the tailwater in Silverthorne?

As always, our focus is on conservation-minded angling and personal responsibility in wild places. Rise Beyond exists to help modern anglers find better water, fish smarter, and connect deeper with Colorado’s rivers. Get our handcrafted flies on Amazon, sign up for the River Report, and leave every canyon better than you found it.

In this episode of Rise Beyond, we dive into the heart of downtown Silverthorne—home to some of the most technical trout in Colorado. The Blue River, flowing cold and clear out of Dillon Dam, is in prime form this June with flows holding steady around 105 CFS and visibility as good as it gets.

Whether you're a dry fly purist or a tactical nympher, the Blue demands your best game. This episode covers how to navigate the ultra-pressured urban stretch beneath outlet mall bridges, where 20-inch rainbows rise in slow seams while traffic hums overhead. Our hosts share their favorite midges, PMDs, and the deadly Mercury Midge nymph combo, plus how to present small bugs on 6X to fool ultra-wary fish.

We break down the current conditions (flow, clarity, hatch activity), top access points around town, and why cloudy afternoons are streamer heaven on the upper reaches. You'll also hear tips for gear setup, recommended flies, and how to fish confidently during high-pressure weekends.

We also answer frequently asked questions like:

• Is this fishable during runoff?

• What's the best fly to start with right now?

• Are beginners going to catch fish here?

Plus, we talk about ethics in pressured tailwaters and how personal responsibility on urban rivers helps protect this unique fishery. If you're fishing in Summit County this week, this is your intel.

Rise Beyond offers weekly reports, handcrafted flies, and a fresh voice in Colorado angling. Check out our shop on Amazon and subscribe to the River Whisper newsletter for timely hatch alerts, gear picks, and fly-fishing storytelling.

This week on River Whisper, we head north to one of Colorado’s finest Front Range fisheries — the Cache la Poudre River near Fort Collins. With flows dropping to a fishable range and clarity improving in the canyon stretches, now is the time to hit the Poudre before summer crowds and full runoff return.

We walk you through everything you need to know to have a productive session, whether you're fishing before work or planning a dawn patrol adventure into the Narrows. The early bite is real, the hatches are coming off, and trout are feeding hard after a long winter.

🎯 In this episode:
– Where the flows are right and why the canyon is your best bet
– The top 3 flies you should be throwing (and how to fish them)
– Why water clarity changes fast and how to beat the melt
– Hatch updates including caddis, yellow sallies, PMDs, and golden stones
– Tactics for both dry fly purists and deep nymphing junkies
– How to swing streamers with confidence in off-color water
– Access highlights like the Narrows, Mishawaka, and Gateway
– Parking, regulations, and how to stay safe on the river this week

🐟 Top Flies This Week:
– Stimulator (Size 14)
– Two Bit Hooker (Size 18)
– Thin Mint (Size 8)

🧠 Pro tips include using tungsten to get deep in pushy flows, how to spot eddies with holding fish, and why flashy streamers are outperforming naturals this week.

We also answer key listener questions:
– When is the Poudre best this week?
– Is it safe to wade right now?
– What setup should beginners use?
– Where do the wild fish hang out?

📍 All of this within 30–60 minutes of Fort Collins. If you’re looking for cold water, fast action, and summer solitude, this is your must-listen river breakdown.

Follow River Whisper for weekly updates on Colorado's best trout streams — always real-time, always local, always designed to make your next trip count.

It’s early June, and if you’ve been waiting for runoff to settle, now’s your moment, kind of. On this week’s episode of River Whisper, we break down the five best places to fly fish near Denver, based on real-time flows, water clarity, hatch activity, and our on-the-ground intel.

This episode is your ultimate cheat sheet for picking the right water at the right time. We’re looking at early morning windows, avoiding that afternoon snowmelt surge, and putting you in front of fish that are actually eating.

🎯 What’s in the episode:
– Why Clear Creek is finally fishable above Tunnel 1 and what dry-dropper rig to bring
– How Boulder Creek is becoming the star of the week, especially for canyon walkers
– The secret to success on Bear Creek, including why it’s a sleeper dry fly gem right now
– The flows on the South Platte at Cheesman and what to expect when battling spooky tailwater trout
– Why South Boulder Creek is still high but fishable — and how to read the pockets for success
– Hatch breakdowns: caddis, PMDs, yellow sallies, and midges
– Tips for fly choice, tippet size, and stealth tactics in high-pressure areas
– Access strategies to beat the crowds and fish the best water before it blows out mid-day

💡 Whether you're a weekend warrior, a lunch break angler, or planning a pre-work session, we’ve got the data-backed guidance to help you catch more fish and waste less time.

🐟 Top Flies This Week:
– Elk Hair Caddis (Size 16)
– Beadhead Pheasant Tail (Size 18)
– Parachute Adams (Size 18)
– RS2 (Size 22)
– Zebra Midge (Size 20)

🚫 We’re also calling out what not to fish this week — including popular rivers still surging with runoff or too stained to be productive. Don’t waste your drive.

📍 All featured rivers are within 90 minutes of downtown Denver — no 4-hour marathons or snow-packed trailheads. This is real intel, for real anglers, fishing real time.

🧭 Whether you're heading out solo, teaching a friend, or sneaking in a dawn patrol before work, this episode is your guide to the most rewarding water near the city.

Follow us on Spotify for weekly updates on the Front Range’s top rivers, seasonal strategies, hatch intel, and pro tips from local anglers.