Intro | Small-Stream Fishing | Tailwater Trout | Below Silverthorne | Private Water | Hatch Strategy | Blue River Restoration Project | Blue River Map (1.8 MB .pdf)

If you think the Blue is a place where you used to be able to catch feisty 14- to 16-inch rainbows and browns during summer PMD and Green Drake hatches, or where you used to be able to catch 5-pound and bigger tailwater trout on midges and Mysis shrimp in the winter, think again. Whirling disease and six years of drought may have put the Blue River on many anglers' "Injured Reserve" list but, after three major habitat improvement projects and rainbow trout stocking by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Blue River is rapidly recovering its status as one of Colorado's premier trout streams.

Small-Stream Fishing
The Blue begins its picturesque journey high atop the snow-capped Continental Divide, flows north off the backside of Hoosier Pass, and carves its way down to the mountain town of Breckenridge. Locals call this tightly confined, mostly private stretch the upper Blue. Below Breckenridge, the river widens and there are ample opportunities (Breckenridge Access, Gold Hill Access, and Swan Mountain Access) to sample this wild brown trout fishery before it spills into Dillon Reservoir. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) also stocks this section with small rainbows, which adds to the thrill and excitement of small-stream fishing.

Several stream improvement projects have been completed in this area in recent years to combat the loss of trout habitat due to heavy mining and other land-use problems in the area. The rehabilitated areas have strategically placed boulder gardens, banks stabilized with riprap, and deep man-made pools for trout to over-winter. These project areas hold and attract many trout. One section in particular--an area referred to as the "steps" (Breckenridge Access)--is a long series of wing-dams that create plunge pool after plunge pool. This stretch is loaded with trout in the 8- to 14-inch range and is especially good for novice fly fishers.

Downstream of Silverthorne, several tributaries enter the river and the Blue becomes a classic Colorado mountain trout stream.

Tailwater Trout
Below Dillon Reservoir, the Blue River is a classic tailwater fishery, supporting a mixed bag of rainbows, Snake River cutts, and browns. The trout fatten quickly on a diet of midges, mayflies, caddis, and thin, glasslike crustaceans known as Mysis shrimp. [See "Mysis Shrimp" by Dan Wright, July 1998 issue. The Editor.]

Mysis shrimp were introduced to Dillon Reservoir, as well as nearby Taylor Park and Ruedi reservoirs, to feed resident Kokanee salmon. At certain times of the year these shrimp flush through the dam outlet into the rivers below, causing gluttony and rapid growth in the trout immediately below the outflow. Most of the trout in the Blue below Dillon Reservoir are between 14 and 16 inches, but trout that key on Mysis commonly reach 5 to 10 pounds.

Located approximately 60 miles west of Denver, this is a favorite stretch for anglers who enjoy the challenge of technical fishing. Cold, clear water from the bottom of Dillon Reservoir and sporadic hatches of small insects add to the complexity and difficulty of this fabled trout stream. The Blue gives up its fish stubbornly, but those who fish it regularly and master short-line nymphing techniques with 5X and 6X tippets have many rewarding days.

The section below the dam is open to angling all year and typically remains ice-free during the coldest winter months for nearly four miles below Dillon Dam. This section of river flows through the town of Silverthorne and is especially popular when other rivers become jammed with ice. A chain of factory outlet stores parallels the stream, and fast-food restaurants, gas stations, and convenience stores are nearby. The state's major east-west interstate highway (I-70) crosses the river right above a good run--creating an urban experience in a gold medal trout stream. This may be the only place in the state where you can catch a 5-pound trout in February and buy a hot cappuccino without moving your vehicle.

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Pat Dorsey is co-owner of the Blue Quill Angler in Evergreen, Colorado. He is author of the book A Fly Fisher's Guide to the South Platte River (Pruett Publishing Company, 2005). This story originally appeared in the February 2006 issue of Fly Fisherman.

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