Big Thompson - Below Estes Fishing Report - Rocky Mountain Anglers

Big Thompson - Below Estes
Current Flow: 83 cfs
Last Updated: 08/31/2010

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Big Thompson - Below Estes Fishing Report

Flows on the Thompson are at their summer levels and should stay around 125-150 for most of the season. Hatches are consisting of caddis, pmd's, red quills, and drakes later in the evenings. Water temperatures are sometimes higher mid day so fishing tends to be better early or late in the day. Hopper fishing is turning on and dry dropper rigs are good throughout the day. Nymphing has been good with smaller nymphs and sow bugs trailed behind larger stones and attractors. Skating caddis in the evenings is still good but starting to taper off. Days with cloud cover tend to produce more fish, but the wind is pushing hoppers on the water, and hopper takes on the T can be explosive. For best results concentrate your efforts early or late in the day and fish hoppers when the mid day sun dominates. The hopper bite seems to be stronger in the lower canyon, but pmx's, and turks tarantulas are taking fish throughout the canyon.

Hot Flies for Big Thompson - Below Estes

Dries: Parachute Adams #18-26, Griffiths Gnat #16-26, Snowshoe Emerger #20-24, Sprout Midge #20-24(all colors), Emerging Midge #18-24, Trailing Shuck Midge #18-24, Ben's Emerger #20-22, CDC BWO #18-22, Parachute BWO Emerger #18-20, Barr Emergers #18-22, Challenged #18-22, Extended Body Bwo #16-22, Sparkle Duns, PMX, Stimulator #10-18, X-Caddis #14-16, Beetles and Ants as well.

Nymphs: Top Secret Midge #18-24, Poison Tung #18-22, Rainbow Warrior #18-22, Zebra Midges in all colors down to #26, Midge larva in all colors #16-24, Miracle Midge #18-24, Barr Emergers #20-26, Soft Hackle Sow Bougs #16-20, Black Beauty Midge #18-24, Disco Midges in red, blue, green or black, Don King Midge #20-26, Black Beauty Emerger #22-26, Barr Emerger's #18-24, Two Bit Hooker #18-22, Juju Baetis, and pheasant tails as well. Caddis larva are starting to work as well. Leeches, Stones, and san juan worms can be good point flies this time of year.

Hatches for Big Thompson - Below Estes
A mix of bugs including: caddis, pmd's, olives, drakes, small stones, red quills, and midges. No bug is really thick and all can be seen during a few hours on the T, but the hoppers are going strong, especially in the lower canyon!

Weather for Big Thompson - Below Estes
www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast

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