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Should I go fishing?
Go with caution.
Best option: Floating. A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Check first: Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer before fishing.
Fishing rating68
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 1 cfs. The flow has been rising about 11% over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1986-2025, 38 readings) show a median near 12 cfs and a low-water marker near 5 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Flow note: the live score now reads USGS 06710605 above Bear Creek Lake near Morrison as the official backstop for the Jefferson County Bear Creek area.
- Try
- Decide which Bear Creek you are fishing before applying advice or rules.
- Leave when
- Skip Bear Creek when thunderstorms stain the creek, when low warm water makes trout handling poor, when park or trail pressure is heavy, or when you cannot confirm the special fishing rule reach language for your exact section.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 1 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 64°F
- Next 24h high
- 81.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 2%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Bear Creek Morrison forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Bear Creek near Morrison
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO emergerView fly guide ↗
- Zebra MidgeView fly guide ↗
- Parachute AdamsView fly guide ↗
- Woolly BuggerbuggerView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Winter
What to look forMidges
Spring
What to look forBWOs, small stones, caddis
Summer
What to look forCaddis, PMDs, ants, beetles, hoppers
FallThis season
What to look forBWOs, midges, terrestrials
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Bear Creek today.
Bear Creek is best when flows are cool and stable. If the creek is very low, warm, muddy, or crowded, treat it as a scouting day or choose a larger nearby river.
Low and clear
Use stealth, small dries, light droppers, and avoid walking through holding water.
Cool stable flow
Dry-dropper rigs and small nymphs can pick apart pocket water and plunge pools.
Muddy after storms
Wait for clarity or use a larger nearby river with safer visibility.
Warm summer water
Fish early, carry a thermometer, and stop targeting trout if temperatures are stressful.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Best access methodFloating
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Wading58/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating · Best fit60/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Bear Creek worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Colorado before you go.
Bear Creek is a small foothills trout stream, so the right plan depends on exact reach, flow, temperature, and public access. This report is scoped to the Morrison and Bear Creek Lake Park area, not the closed El Paso County Bear Creek greenback reach.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pale morning dun (PMD)
- Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
- Pocket water
- Pocket water is a small calm spot among rocks or fast current.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 1 cfs. The flow has been rising about 11% over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1986-2025, 38 readings) show a median near 12 cfs and a low-water marker near 5 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
Best mode nowUse caution
Float: A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooler water and lighter pressure make small dries, nymphs, and streamers more practical.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 64F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 81F. Partly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the Morrison gauge trend as a small-water warning tool. Stable clear flows are the better fit for pocket water and soft edges, while storm spikes, mud, or very thin warm water should end the trout plan quickly.
Skip Bear Creek when thunderstorms stain the creek, when low warm water makes trout handling poor, when park or trail pressure is heavy, or when you cannot confirm the special fishing rule reach language for your exact section.
Choose one short public section and fish it carefully. Bear Creek works best when you slow down, cover shaded pockets and undercut edges, and leave room for other park users instead of hopping every visible pullout.
If Bear Creek is too warm, crowded, or off-color, pivot to Clear Creek for another close Front Range option or to Boulder Creek when a different small-stream plan fits the weather better.
Bear Creek access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
CPW lists Jefferson County Bear Creek special fishing rules from Evergreen Lake Dam to Bear Creek Reservoir. Verify current reach language, artificial-only rules, and rainbow/cutbow release rules before fishing.
Where to access the river
Morrison area
Use the Morrison gauge and watch posted property around bridge and town access.
Bear Creek Lake Park
Lakewood manages recreation and fishing access in the park area. Check current park rules before entering.
Lair o' the Bear context
Jefferson County park access is useful for walking the creek area where fishing is allowed and posted.
- This page is not about the closed El Paso County Bear Creek greenback reach.
- Small streams need extra care in warm, low water.
- Parking and trail use can be busy near Morrison and Lakewood parks.
- Respect private land and posted closures.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
See all 6 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report is maintained from current regulation, access, flow, weather, and public planning sources so anglers can make better trip decisions than a raw gauge or generic overview would allow.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
Which Bear Creek does this page cover?
It covers Jefferson County Bear Creek near Morrison and Bear Creek Lake Park, not the protected El Paso County Bear Creek.
Is Bear Creek good for beginners?
It can be, but it is small and pressured, so beginners should focus on short casts, stealth, and low-impact handling.
What gauge should I check?
Use RiverReports for the Bear Creek visual chart and USGS 06710605 Bear Creek above Bear Creek Lake near Morrison as the readable official backstop for the score. This is a better current-data match than the old Morrison station used before the July 6 review.
When should I skip Bear Creek?
Use RiverReports for the Bear Creek visual chart and USGS 06710605 Bear Creek above Bear Creek Lake near Morrison as the readable official backstop for the score. This is a better current-data match than the old Morrison station used before the July 6 review.