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Use the live sources and what you see at the river before choosing an approach.
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Fly fishing report · West
Big Laramie River
A Colorado-side Big Laramie report focused on Hohnholz, Laramie River Road, remote meadow water, flow checks, and careful access planning.
Check flow & weatherToday's fishing decisionSome live data available
35
Verify first
Verify conditions before committing.
This river does not have a reliable live gauge attached. Check the weather, recent rain, local reports, and the water when you arrive.
Best supported approachCheck the water first
Watch nextFlow: No verified live public gauge is attached, so the page cannot make a strong real-time call.
Updated Aug 3, 3:23 AM UTCCurrent conditions checked regularly
Before choosing how to fishCheck the water first
There is not enough reliable current information to recommend wading, bank fishing, or floating.
Check before you drive
Current flow and weather.
Look at whether the river is rising or falling, then check wind, rain, and storms. These can change both safety and fishing.
Loading current flow and weather.
Before you rely on this report
How current is this report?
Conditions can change quickly. Check these dates before you decide to fish, and open the official source when safety or rules matter.
- River conditions
- Checked Aug 2, 2026, 11:23 PM
- Fishing guidance
- Reviewed May 31, 2026
- Public access
- No reviewed map pin available
- Rules and closures
- Official rule links checked
Medium confidence in the current score inputs.
5 sources are listed below for you to open.
3 public access records are listed. Private spots are never shown.
Source checked Jul 30, 2026
Plan your access
Know where you can enter.
These are public parking, launch, trail, or recreation areas—not secret fishing spots. We never show an angler's private pins, notes, or photos here.
- 0
- Shown on map
- 3
- No map pin
Location checkedDescription only
01No map pin
Area description
Hohnholz Lakes SWA
CPW-managed access with license or SWA pass requirements and specific camping rules.
Restrictions and seasonal notes
Colorado and Wyoming sections have different access and regulation context.
Expect limited cell service and few nearby services.
02No map pin
Roadside access
Laramie River Road
Forest-road planning corridor where weather and road condition can decide the trip.
Restrictions and seasonal notes
Colorado and Wyoming sections have different access and regulation context.
Expect limited cell service and few nearby services.
03No map pin
Area description
Glendevey gauge corridor
Useful flow reference for Colorado-side headwater planning.
Restrictions and seasonal notes
Colorado and Wyoming sections have different access and regulation context.
Expect limited cell service and few nearby services.
How to fish it
Plan this as a remote Colorado headwaters trip.
The Big Laramie is a high-country plan, not a quick roadside city creek. Use the Glendevey gauge, Hohnholz SWA rules, and weather before committing because roads, storms, and access can matter as much as fly choice.
- Use the linked USGS monitoring page for Colorado-side flow context, but do not treat this report as having a verified live public gauge embed.
- Check Hohnholz SWA access requirements before parking or camping.
- Carry small dries, nymphs, and a light streamer selection for meadow and pocket water.
- Do not assume downstream Wyoming information applies to Colorado access and rules.
Why the score looks this way
FlowMore information needed
No verified live public gauge is attached, so the page cannot make a strong real-time call.
Public alertUse caution
An Air Quality Alert is active near this forecast point, so the score is capped at caution until smoke and access conditions are checked. NWS alert: Air Quality Alert issued August 2 at 4:10PM MDT by NWS Denver CO.
SeasonHelps score
Summer: The main dry-fly and camping window when roads are open and flows remain cool.
WeatherHelps score
The NWS forecast is about 73F with Patchy Smoke.
Fishing usefulnessHelps score
Skip the trip when road conditions are muddy, lightning is building over the corridor, the Hohnholz access rules are unclear, or low warm water would turn a remote trout day into unnecessary fish-handling risk.
Read the water
What changes the plan.
The best Big Laramie days have clear water, open roads, and enough flow to keep trout comfortable. If storms, mud, or low warm water are in the forecast, choose a backup water closer to services.
Low meadow flow
Use stealth, small dries, and avoid walking through undercut banks or shallow holding water.
Good summer base flow
Dry-droppers, small nymphs, and attractor dries can cover bends, pockets, and meadow slots.
High snowmelt
Avoid unsafe crossings and look for calmer side water only if visibility is reasonable.
Storm or mud
Remote roads and lightning risk may be a bigger issue than fishing quality.
Your trip plan
Know when to go—and when to skip it.
Best flows
Use the Glendevey trend as a warning tool more than a magic number. Stable clear summer flow is the best fit for pocket water and meadow edges, while runoff spikes or thin late-season water should push you toward a backup river.
When to skip
Skip the trip when road conditions are muddy, lightning is building over the corridor, the Hohnholz access rules are unclear, or low warm water would turn a remote trout day into unnecessary fish-handling risk.
Local plan
Pick one access objective before losing service: Hohnholz SWA if you want the clearest public framework, or the forest-road corridor if you are comfortable scouting meadow water carefully. Fish one stretch thoroughly instead of driving every visible bend.
Backup water
If the Big Laramie looks too muddy, low, or stormy, pivot to the Blue River for a colder tailwater backup or to Boulder Creek when a shorter Front Range small-stream plan makes more sense.
Hatches & flies
Bring a flexible box.
TimingWhat to watchUseful flies
Early seasonMidges, BWOs, small stonesZebra midge, BWO emerger, pheasant tail, stonefly nymph
Fly pattern · report suggests “Zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it ↗
Fly family · report suggests “BWO emerger”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide ↗+ 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box SummerCaddis, PMDs, yellow salliesElk hair caddis, PMD, yellow sally, hare's ear
Fly pattern · report suggests “Elk hair caddis”Elk Hair CaddisLook for a tented elk- or deer-hair wing, clipped hair head, dubbed body, rib, and hackle palmered along the body. The body color should be labeled because tiers often match different natural caddis colors.See photos & how to fish it ↗
Fly family · report suggests “PMD”Pale Morning Dun PatternsPMD names an insect group, not one fly. Pale nymphs, trailing-shuck emergers, upright or low-riding duns, cripples, and spent-wing spinners stay visibly separate.See family guide ↗+ 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box Late summerTerrestrials, caddis, antsAnt, beetle, small hopper, caddis dry
Fly family · report suggests “Ant”Ant PatternsAnt patterns can be foam, fur-bodied, winged, or sunken. The narrow waist and paired body lobes matter more than one material recipe.See family guide ↗
Fly family · report suggests “beetle”Beetle PatternsBeetle flies range from simple foam shells to hair-bodied and sunken forms. A rounded back and compact profile distinguish the family from ants and hoppers.See family guide ↗+ 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box FallBWOs, midgesBWO dry, RS2, zebra midge, small streamer
Fly family · report suggests “BWO dry”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide ↗
Fly pattern · report suggests “RS2”RS2Start with the beadless architecture: two dark-dun Microfibett tails separated behind a slim, tightly twisted and visibly segmented dubbed abdomen; a fuller thorax; and saddle-hackle web clipped into a short angled wing bud. Rim Chung's original-style form uses natural beaver dubbing and hackle web. CDC- or Antron-wing ties, beads, curved hooks, flash, and tailless Avatar-style flies must remain labeled variations.See photos & how to fish it ↗+ 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box 01
Define your route before you lose service.
02
Fish upstream and keep a low profile around meadow bends.
03
Use dry-droppers to cover water without constantly re-rigging.
04
Avoid stepping on soft banks and undercuts.
05
Have a backup plan if roads are muddy or thunderstorms build.
Rules & closures
Check the official rules before you go.
Open the agency page to confirm the exact river section, species, season, tackle rules, limits, and emergency closures.
Official links checkedRules for this river or sectionNo special rule found
We did not find a special rule for this river.
We checked the state source but did not find a clearly supported exception for this river. Check the official rules for the exact section you plan to fish.
Rules checkedJul 30, 2026
Report a correction ↗Always follow the official rule
This summary helps with trip planning. The linked agency rule is the one you must follow.
Updates from anglers
What anglers are seeing.
Recent observations from general areas of Big Laramie River. We review every update before it appears and never publish exact fishing spots, private access details, or photo locations.
Angler updates are not loading right now.
You can still use the river plan above. Check back later for recent observations from other anglers.
Where this report comes from
Open the sources we checked.
Fishing guidance checked: May 31, 2026
Site check: Jul 14, 2026. We regularly test report links, live scores, flow and weather data, and page loading. The content date changes only when the fishing guidance or its sources change.
Common questions
Before you leave.
Is this page about the Colorado or Wyoming Laramie River?+
It focuses on the Colorado headwaters and Hohnholz area. Wyoming sections need separate regulations and access planning.
Does the Big Laramie have a live gauge?+
Yes. USGS 06657500 near Glendevey is the best Colorado-side flow reference used here.
Do I need a pass for Hohnholz SWA?+
CPW requires a valid hunting or fishing license or SWA pass for many visitors age 16 and older. Check current CPW rules before going.
When should I avoid the trip?+
Avoid it when road conditions, lightning, runoff, or low warm water make the remote plan risky.