Drainage Quick Links
South Boulder Creek
80°F
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tomorrow
3:00 pm
|
 broken clouds
|
77° | 84°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 13 mph | 39 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
3:00 pm
|
 clear sky
|
53° | 78°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 11 mph | 58 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
3:00 pm
|
 light rain
|
56° | 72°°F | 0.01 inch | 20% | 17 mph | 47 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
3:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
43° | 73°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 19 mph | 30 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
3:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
49° | 77°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 14 mph | 33 % | 14 psi |
| Hour | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tomorrow
6:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
78° | 80°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 12 mph | 10 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
9:00 pm
|
 few clouds
|
63° | 75°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 12 mph | 15 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
12:00 am
|
 scattered clouds
|
58° | 65°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 13 mph | 23 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
3:00 am
|
broken clouds
|
54° | 54°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 13 mph | 28 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
6:00 am
|
 scattered clouds
|
53° | 53°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 39 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
9:00 am
|
 few clouds
|
62° | 62°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 30 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
12:00 pm
|
few clouds
|
72° | 72°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 2 mph | 21 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
3:00 pm
|
 broken clouds
|
74° | 74°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 19 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
6:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
69° | 69°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 11 mph | 31 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
9:00 pm
|
scattered clouds
|
56° | 56°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 56 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
12:00 am
|
few clouds
|
54° | 54°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 58 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
3:00 am
|
clear sky
|
53° | 53°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 48 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
6:00 am
|
clear sky
|
53° | 53°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 9 mph | 43 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
9:00 am
|
clear sky
|
72° | 72°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 0 mph | 23 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
12:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
78° | 78°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 5 mph | 16 % | 14 psi |
|
Wed May 26
3:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
78° | 78°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 7 mph | 14 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
6:00 pm
|
 light rain
|
69° | 69°°F | 0.01 inch | 20% | 10 mph | 29 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
9:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
59° | 59°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 5 mph | 43 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
12:00 am
|
light rain
|
57° | 57°°F | 0.01 inch | 20% | 8 mph | 47 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
3:00 am
|
overcast clouds
|
56° | 56°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 43 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
6:00 am
|
overcast clouds
|
57° | 57°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 13 mph | 36 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
9:00 am
|
scattered clouds
|
67° | 67°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 18 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
12:00 pm
|
scattered clouds
|
71° | 71°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 15 mph | 14 % | 14 psi |
|
Thu May 26
3:00 pm
|
scattered clouds
|
72° | 72°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 17 mph | 18 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
6:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
67° | 67°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 17 mph | 27 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
9:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
55° | 55°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 6 mph | 19 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
12:00 am
|
clear sky
|
49° | 49°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 11 mph | 28 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
3:00 am
|
clear sky
|
45° | 45°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 30 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
6:00 am
|
clear sky
|
43° | 43°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 25 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
9:00 am
|
clear sky
|
56° | 56°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 19 mph | 17 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
12:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
66° | 66°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 18 mph | 14 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri May 26
3:00 pm
|
scattered clouds
|
73° | 73°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 17 mph | 12 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
6:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
70° | 70°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 14 mph | 16 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
9:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
55° | 55°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 28 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
12:00 am
|
scattered clouds
|
52° | 52°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 33 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
3:00 am
|
overcast clouds
|
51° | 51°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 32 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
6:00 am
|
broken clouds
|
49° | 49°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 31 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
9:00 am
|
clear sky
|
69° | 69°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 15 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
12:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
77° | 77°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 6 mph | 10 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat May 26
3:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
76° | 76°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 10 % | 14 psi |
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Streamflow | 77.2 cfs |
Best Section:
The Walker Ranch stretch or the deeper “plunge pools”, where the steep walls offer relief from the record heat.
Avoid:
The flat, exposed meadow sections near the South Boulder Creek Trailhead.
Key Fly:
Mysis Shrimp (#18-22)
Flow Note:
Flows are holding steady and lean at 69–71 CFS; a predictable but very technical tailwater environment.
Thrusday, March 26th, 2026
South Boulder Creek is currently providing some of the most consistent, yet demanding, fishing in the region. While the extreme drought and record heat are the dominant stories, the steady release of 69–71 CFS from Gross Reservoir has kept the water temperatures in the canyon manageable. We are coming off an excellent winter for this drainage, but with the record-low snowpack, this period of stability is a high-value window that may not last as we head into a likely restricted summer. The upper reaches above Eldorado Canyon are fishing well, but you must be mindful of the ongoing flood mitigation construction near the lower basin. Success right now is entirely dependent on small and lifelike presentations. As midge activity begins to wane, the Blue Winged Olives are taking over in the afternoons. Because the water is so thin and clear, your rig needs to be microscopic. Think slim profiled pupae and tiny emergers in the #22–24 range. Stay low, move slowly through the canyon pockets, and take advantage of this early-season access to the higher-elevation water before the drought pressures tighten.
CPW Station Details
Most Recent visit
Friday, April 4th, 2025
A cold spring day in the Rocky Mountains. I snuck into South Boulder Creek a little late this morning. Right as the snow and sleet began to stabilize in its onslaught. The creek is a bit low but still fished well on this day. I saw a load of fish throughout river. Some in pocket water stacked below riffles, others in soft pools and tailouts. Very active fish feeding upwards in the water column. I located a couple of inconsistent pods of risers.
Overview
Alright folks, let’s talk about South Boulder Creek. If you’re looking for a quick escape from the city, you should visit here. If you want to get your line wet, this place is ideal. Below you will find details insight into how to approach fly fishing this excellent destination just outside of Boulder Colorado. Above, you will find up to date weather and river information. I will also provide any recent visits or reports I can offer.
The River
A Small Tucked-Away Tailwater Worth the Day. This tributary of the South Platte River is a gem for those who enjoy a small adventure. It is perfect for catching small to mid-sized trout in a variety of water types. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, and definitely worth a day trip. While this is primarily a Rainbow Trout fishery, the Brown Trout are not a complete oddity. You will find that you can catch both species in the same runs.
Seasons
One of the special aspects of the South Platte River is its winter access opportunities. South Boulder Creek is one of these limited locations. Because it is a tailwater, below Gross Reservoir, it maintains open water and consistent water temperatures throughout the seasons. It still follows seasonal patterns. In the spring, the river becomes alive, boasting plenty of hatch opportunities, warming waters and awaking surroundings. As summer sets in, the water temps are kept cool, both by the canyon and the tailwater effect. Larger bugs are prevalent and fish become more opportunistic. As fall turns its the fishery holds strong and the fish become aggressive. The main consideration is river flows. Throughout the seasons, fishing can range from good to amazing. It depends a lot on how the drainage is managed. No complaints as of writing this, Denver water seems to be doing a good job overall on the South Platte Drainage
Fish
You’ll find a healthy majority of Rainbows with a good population of Browns mixed in, and the occasional Brookie. This is a healthy fishery in the fact that it produces a range of fish size from the small 4″ par marked Rainbow to the larger 14-16″ (Anything larger being very rare) Brown or Bow.
Tactics
Getting into Bear Creek is like a mini Cheesman Canyon. You can take the upper or lower trail in. Both hikes are downhill going in and uphill coming out. The water types vary widely. They range from glide pools, tailouts, and bends to small pocket water, riffles, and tight runs. It is best to fish the water type with an appropriate tactic. Taking a Euro or tight line nymph rod allows for depth control and precise drifts through pocket water and riffles. This will by far be your most productive method. Keep that dry fly rod handy as there is always a chance for a hatch on South Boulder Creek.
Bugs
This is one of the lucky fisheries in the state of Colorado. It has a reservoir above that is known to hold Mysis Shrimp. It is said that due to this, the fish below the dam can grow especially large and fat. I do find the colors on these fish to be representative of that type of diet. The fish have bright colors. They show prominent red bands. These are similar to the bands below the Dillion Dam in Silverthorn on the Blue River. Outside of that specility, there is the usual suspects. Plenty of Mayflies, including BWO’s and PMD’s. Caddis a plenty and a solid population of smaller Stoneflies such as Golden Stones.
Recommended Flies
Previous Reports
Friday, January 16th, 2026
South Boulder Creek is currently in its most technical winter state. With flows sitting right around 10 CFS, the creek is low, clear, and very quiet. The hike down into the canyon is a bit more adventurous with the recent snow and ice, so watch your footing on the steep trail. While most of the creek remains open thanks to the bottom-release from Gross Reservoir, the low volume means the fish are hyper-aware of your presence. This is not the time for splashy entries or heavy indicators. Focus on the deepest runs and the base of the larger boulder pools where the water maintains a bit of depth and thermal stability.
Monday, June 9th, 2025
The flows coming out of Gross Reservoir have come down a bit but are still running high, over 400 CFS. While this presents challenges, especially with wading, fish can still be found. Expect them to be pushed into softer water and onto edges. The food buffet continues there, though their holding efforts might be minimal. Look for structure and current breaks as well. Summertime means summer bugs! Caddis, PMDs, and a variety of small Stoneflies can be found in the system. Nymphing is going to be most effective in high water. However, a deep dropper system can also be a very effective tactic if worked correctly.
Friday, April 4th, 2025
It appears that the storms are behind us, for now at least. The coming week is looking great in that sense, with mild temps and slight cloud cover. The water is fairly now through the creek compared to the previous weeks where we had been seeing values over 80 cfs. With low clear water the fishing is technical right now. Don’t let that stop you however as the flip side is the potential to find those pods of rising fish that can be sight cast t