River · Northern Front Range
Big Thompson River at Loveland
Seasonal notes
The Big Thompson below Lake Estes is a tailwater fishery punching well above its weight for a river that most people associate with a highway corridor and the 1976 flood. The bottom-release dam at Estes Park keeps water temperatures cold and flows stable, supporting wild rainbows and brown trout that grow to surprising sizes given the modest flows. The best dry-fly water runs from Loveland up into the canyon — particularly the Big Thompson Canyon stretch of US-34, where pull-offs give access to classic pocket-water runs. PMDs and caddis are the primary hatches in May–July; blue-winged olives come off well into fall. The river is wide enough for two-handed short spey casting in some runs but tight enough in the canyon to reward roll-casting expertise. September and October are outstanding — the crowds thin out after Labor Day and the browns begin staging for fall.
What’s hatching
Nothing major hatching this month — midges and streamers are the safe bet.
What changed this week
No new stocking, closures, or condition changes in the past week.
Current conditions
Discharge
70cfs
Gage height
1.39ft
Water temp
—
normal for Aug 1 (47 yrs of record)
Last reading Jul 31, 5:30 PM MDT. Source: U.S. Geological Survey gage 06741510.
Weather
Air temp
88°F
Wind
8mph
Precip
26%
1024 mb ↓ · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest Stocking
No stocking recorded this season.
Special regulations
Catch-and-release, artificial flies and lures only in the designated Wild Trout section below Lake Estes. The specific boundaries have shifted in recent seasons as CPW adjusts the Gold Medal candidate designation — check the current CPW brochure for the exact start and end points. Below the Wild Trout section, standard statewide regulations apply. Several private ranches own sections through the lower canyon; watch for trespass signs and use established pull-off access points.
Quick ref: Tailwater below Lake Estes; wild rainbow + brown trout; Gold Medal candidate
Location
Nearby waters
Nearby fly shops
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