Drainage Quick Links
Big Thompson River Fishing Conditions
40°F
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tomorrow
2:00 pm
|
 light rain
|
39° | 41°°F | 0.01 inch | 36% | 27 mph | 65 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
2:00 pm
|
 clear sky
|
32° | 47°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 16 mph | 64 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
2:00 pm
|
 few clouds
|
33° | 51°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 21 mph | 59 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
light rain
|
37° | 46°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 7 mph | 97 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
 snow
|
30° | 46°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 4 mph | 99 % | 14 psi |
| Hour | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tomorrow
11:00 pm
|
scattered clouds
|
40° | 44°°F | 0.01 inch | 36% | 27 mph | 58 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
2:00 am
|
 light rain
|
42° | 44°°F | 0.01 inch | 21% | 25 mph | 59 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
5:00 am
|
light rain
|
41° | 41°°F | 0.01 inch | 36% | 17 mph | 65 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
8:00 am
|
light rain
|
44° | 44°°F | 0.01 inch | 32% | 26 mph | 62 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
11:00 am
|
 scattered clouds
|
50° | 50°°F | 0 inch | 12% | 13 mph | 43 % | 14 psi |
|
Tomorrow
2:00 pm
|
 clear sky
|
43° | 43°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 11 mph | 43 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
5:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
38° | 38°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 11 mph | 54 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
8:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
32° | 32°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 13 mph | 64 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
11:00 pm
|
clear sky
|
32° | 32°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 13 mph | 63 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
2:00 am
|
clear sky
|
32° | 32°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 14 mph | 60 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
5:00 am
|
few clouds
|
32° | 32°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 15 mph | 52 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
8:00 am
|
 overcast clouds
|
36° | 36°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 15 mph | 47 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
11:00 am
|
broken clouds
|
45° | 45°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 16 mph | 32 % | 14 psi |
|
Fri Feb 26
2:00 pm
|
 few clouds
|
47° | 47°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 16 mph | 33 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
5:00 pm
|
few clouds
|
44° | 44°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 18 mph | 42 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
8:00 pm
|
few clouds
|
39° | 39°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 21 mph | 48 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
11:00 pm
|
few clouds
|
38° | 38°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 17 mph | 48 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
2:00 am
|
few clouds
|
33° | 33°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 10 mph | 59 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
5:00 am
|
scattered clouds
|
35° | 35°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 11 mph | 52 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
8:00 am
|
overcast clouds
|
39° | 39°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 48 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
11:00 am
|
broken clouds
|
50° | 50°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 2 mph | 27 % | 14 psi |
|
Sat Feb 26
2:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
51° | 51°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 28 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
5:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
46° | 46°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 4 mph | 47 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
8:00 pm
|
 overcast clouds
|
42° | 42°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 7 mph | 59 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
11:00 pm
|
light snow
|
38° | 38°°F | 0.02 inch | 46% | 4 mph | 87 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
2:00 am
|
light snow
|
37° | 37°°F | 0.02 inch | 56% | 6 mph | 86 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
5:00 am
|
light snow
|
37° | 37°°F | 0.03 inch | 65% | 5 mph | 90 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
8:00 am
|
 snow
|
40° | 40°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 4 mph | 86 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
11:00 am
|
light rain
|
44° | 44°°F | 0.04 inch | 98% | 1 mph | 74 % | 14 psi |
|
Sun Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
snow
|
39° | 39°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 5 mph | 97 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
5:00 pm
|
snow
|
35° | 35°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 4 mph | 99 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
8:00 pm
|
snow
|
33° | 33°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 2 mph | 99 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
11:00 pm
|
snow
|
33° | 33°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 4 mph | 99 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
2:00 am
|
snow
|
32° | 32°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 3 mph | 99 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
5:00 am
|
light snow
|
30° | 30°°F | 0.04 inch | 100% | 4 mph | 98 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
8:00 am
|
broken clouds
|
34° | 34°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 2 mph | 91 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
11:00 am
|
scattered clouds
|
42° | 42°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 93 % | 14 psi |
|
Mon Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
few clouds
|
46° | 46°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 3 mph | 83 % | 14 psi |
|
Tue Mar 26
5:00 pm
|
scattered clouds
|
43° | 43°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 1 mph | 95 % | 14 psi |
|
Tue Mar 26
8:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
34° | 34°°F | 0 inch | 0% | 8 mph | 83 % | 14 psi |
Flow (CFS) : 14.5
Best Section:
Tailwater below Lake Estes.
Avoid:
Moraine Park / RMNP (Ice/Snow).
Key Fly:
Foam Wing Emerger (#22-24).
Flow Note:
Low flows make spooky fish.
Tuesday, June 24th, 2025
The Big T is officially in its winter sleep, but for the patient angler, there is still plenty of life to be found. With flows holding steady near 19 CFS, the tailwater below Lake Estes is your best bet. While Rocky Mountain National Park and Moraine Park are largely a “no-go” due to ice and deep snow, the canyon below Drake is showing some surprising pockets of open water. However, keep an eye on the wind. Estes Park has been gusty lately, which can make light midge fishing a challenge. If you can find a sheltered run and a bit of sun, the fish are active, though they aren’t moving far for a meal.
CPW Station Details
Most Recent visit
Friday, January 9th, 2026
Today was one of my all-time best days on the Big Thompson River. While the river is busy, there is plenty of fishable water to be found. Near the dam, I was able to find a few fish. Then I got squeezed out and headed down the canyon toward Drake. Thankfully so, as I ran into the largest Rainbow Trout I have ever caught on this section of the South Platte River. After catching a few fish, I encountered the big momma shown in the video. She decided to make my day by eating a size 14 Jigged Hare’s Ear. A favorite river and a favorite fly. Life is good!
Overview
Below you will find all you need to know for a successful outing to the Big Thompson River in Colorado. River characteristics, fishing tactic and seasonal details.
The River
The Big Thompson River holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I spent most of my time fly fishing as a child. I proposed to my wife in the upper reaches of the drainage. We were camped out one starry night. The river can be divided into three sections. The first section is the upper reaches within Moraine Park and Glacier Basin. It can be the busiest section. Both are part of Rocky Mountain National Park. The second section is the tailwater below Lake Estes. You will find the largest fish here but also the most pressure and the heaviest crowds (next to the park). The third and longest section is the part that rushes through the canyon towards the town of Loveland. The river offers a wide variety of water types. Including open cutback meandering meadows, the tailwater troths, and the canyon pocket water. This tributary of the South Platte River offers it all!
Seasons
It’s crucial to note. The fishing conditions on the Big Thompson river are highly dependent on the section. They also depend on the river flows. The upper stretch within RMNP offers a solid fishing season from late summer into the fall. However, the access within Moraine Park/Glacier Basin freezes over in winter. The river continues this pattern until the tailwater below Lake Estes. If flows are reasonable, the river remains open for the entire public access stretch below the dam. However, during low flows, anglers may only find a couple hundred yards of open water in the coldest season. The canyon is influenced by altitude, sunlight, and temperatures. It often surprises with sections of fishable water even in the fickle Colorado winters.
Fish
All types of trout can be found on the Big Thompson River. Up high, in Rocky Mountain National Park, expect to find Brookies, Rainbows, and Cuttbows. As you move below the dam, you will notice more Brown trout. Further down the canyon, they become the most prolific. The Brookies and Cuttys thin out, but the Rainbows can be found throughout.
Tactics
This is smaller water when compared to most of the rest of the South Platte drainage. In the park, with the open meadow and cut bank-style stream, I prefer to throw dries as much as possible. Dropper rigs are a great way to fish up there. If fishing the tailwater below Lake Estes, expect to get technical due to the regular pressure. As the river slams through the canyon, it becomes more of a freestone-style waterway. This means you can pick your poison. Dries, dry dropper or nymph your heart out.
Bugs
Like much of the South Platte River, the Big Thompson has plenty of Midges. In addition there is a good mixed bag of bugs that can be found throughout the year. The staple mayflies such as BWO and PMD. The summer Caddis hatches and some smaller Stoneflies. Sow bugs are great below the dam in small sizes. While you might night think to, be sure to hopper cuck in Moraine park if you make the visit.
Recommended Flies
Previous Reports
Tuesday, June 24th, 2025
The Big Thompson River has been one of the best options throughout the spring. It remains that way as we head into the summer. Over the last 20 days, the flows have remained extremely consistent coming out of Lake Estes. The tailwater has fished as great as ever. The canyon near and below Drake has surprised me with large fish. The only questionable section is the river flowing through Rocky Mountain National Park and Moraine Basin. With the current CFS of 165, runoff is still present. If you head into this area, consider fishing the small tributaries and put in a little hiking. This time of year, fish the way you want. If you aren’t seeing surface activity at the tailwater, fish nymphs. Higher in the meadows or down the canyon, dry droppers will be an excellent choice. If you see risers, cut the nymphs and headhunt with dries. Summertime bug activity, such as Yellow Sally’s and Caddis, can be a great starting point when considering bug activity.
Friday, June 6th, 2025
The Big Thompson River has been fishing exceptionally well lately! The river flows through the canyon have fluctuated a bit this past week, so it’s important to stay updated. Provided the flows don’t surge too drastically, the area along the South Platte River continues to be an excellent choice. The tailwater below Estes Park remains a solid fishing spot, and the upper sections are now accessible. Although flows slightly vary with the weather, they appear to be trending downwards for the moment. This period is ideal for using a dry dropper setup while fishing through the meadows of Moraine Park.
Saturday, February 8th, 2025
It took a while, but today sure turned out to be a great day. I arrived at the river late in the morning, as it was a cold winter. Starting in the canyon below Drake was rough. I saw one relatively large fish (for the water) that was seemingly sunbathing before disappearing into the bottom of a riffle where he could no longer be seen. I fished a 200-yard stretch before deciding to head to the dam. Although it was busy, by the time I arrived around 2 pm, most people were wrapping up. Finally, finding the proper water produced some happy fish. The Pig Sticker did its job as a searching pattern, putting a few in the net, including the largest of the day. All the other fish were happy to eat the CDC Emerger. A great day on a home tailwater!
Thursday, April 3rd, 2025
The Big T is looking good. Flows are on the rise. It looks like they did a small pulse release at the beginning of April. This tends to be a positive thing for the water way as it will help flush sediment as well as bugs and even help to expedite runoff. I would expect more cold weather in the next few days but that shouldn’t turn things off. Up by the dam the fishing will be as reliable as ever. While I haven’t been up since the beginning of January, satellite imagery from late last month shows the waterway starting to break free of its winter’s grasp. Snow in the forecast could mean some excellent Blue Wing Olive action. A light dry dropper could be a great tactic when hitting this water. Keep the flies small and look for feeding fish. Good luck out there! Let me know if you go.
Friday, January 10th, 2025
Rocky Mountain National Park is a no go until spring. Unless we get an unseasonable warm period but that is not likely. For now focus below the dam at Lake Estes. The water is flowing pretty low so expect things to be technical. These should be the happiest fish on the drainage right now. If you are fishing below drake, seek the best water you can find and cover water. Get out and fish!
Sunday, November 3rd, 2024
A traffic day on the water today. Chilly start, up near the tailwater section. After driving by and seeing the low water and crowds I decided to move into the canyon. I fished a few sections and had to avoid the Brown Trout that were bedding up. The low clear kept the fish somewhat spooky. Mid-day the fish moved higher in the water column and began eating emerges. I was able to fool a few fish on Rainbow warriors and Manhattan Midges. No luck on the larger attractors on this section.
Monday, July 22nd, 2024
Summertime is a great time to visit the Big T. If you can, I would recommend heading into Rocky Mountain National Park. Remember, it is a busy spot, and you may need to reserve an entry time through Estes Park. However, it can be worth it as the stream is in prime condition, and the meadow is a pleasure to fish. With a common herd of elk hanging around, the fishing is the icing on the cake when fishing the Big T in RMNP. Below the dam, there is a good bit of water. This should mean good fishing all the way through the canyon if you want to keep it more “local”.
Sunday, June 23rd, 2024
Runoff has hit is peak and the waterway is in good shape. Warm days and cool water thus far have kept fish active and feeding. Summer time bugs are in play. Break out your Caddis and Stonefly imitations. Hopper dropper all day!
Sunday, November 3rd, 2024
The Big Thompson is in great shape right now. The tailwater section is fairly low and clear so the fish can be pretty picky. Through the canyon fish are still active. Browns are pushed down onto gravel beds so keep an eye out. The mornings are cold finally, so take your time getting out there and let the water warm up a bit. Hopper droppers are still a great option on this section. If you choose to fish an indicator rig, don’t be surprised if a fish takes your indicator.