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All Colorado reports
Big Thompson at Drake
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Check before you go.
Best option: Floating. A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Check first: No structured live flow
Fishing rating56
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
RiverReports is linked for the flow chart, but this page does not have a structured live flow value the score can read automatically. Treat the rating as conservative and open the chart before committing.
Available live dataMediumHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationLowNo structured live flow
Sources checked often
If you go
- Check first
- Use RiverReports for the working chart, then check the USGS North Fork Big Thompson at Drake location page for official reach context.
- Try
- Pick a safe pullout first, then fish the best nearby pockets instead of walking along traffic.
- Leave when
- Skip during muddy runoff, thunderstorm spikes, or when parking and roadside access feel unsafe.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- —
- Live flow is not available here.
- Air forecast
- 51°F
- Next 24h high
- 71.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 8%
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
- 2 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Big Thompson at Drake forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Big Thompson at Drake
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- Caddis Patterns by Stagecaddis emergerView fly guide ↗
- Soft-Hackle Wet Fliessoft hackleView fly guide ↗
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO emergerView fly guide ↗
- Zebra MidgeView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Spring
What to look forMidges, BWOs, small stones, and caddis
Summer
What to look forCaddis, PMDs, yellow sallies, ants, and beetles
Late summerThis season
What to look forTerrestrials and evening caddis
Flies to try
FallThis season
What to look forBWOs and midges
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Big Thompson at Drake today.
Late summer and early fall usually offer the best blend of manageable flows, clear water, and enough insect activity for dry-dropper fishing. During runoff or thunderstorm color, keep this as a scouting stop.
Low and clear
Use small dries, light droppers, and careful approach angles from downstream.
Moderate stable flow
Best condition for pocket water, short drifts, and quick dry-dropper adjustments.
High or stained
Fish only protected edges if safe. Otherwise move to a lower-gradient backup.
Storm risk
Leave the canyon before water color and road conditions deteriorate.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Best access methodFloating
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Wading44/100
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 fit46/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Big Thompson at Drake worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Colorado before you go.
The Drake reach is most useful when flows are stable enough to step around boulders safely and clear enough to fish pockets, edges, and small plunge pools without guessing.
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.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- 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.
- Indicator
- An indicator is a small floating marker that can show when a fish takes an underwater fly.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
RiverReports is linked for the flow chart, but this page does not have a structured live flow value the score can read automatically. Treat the rating as conservative and open the chart before committing.
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
Early fall: Often the cleanest mix of lower flows, cool nights, and lighter pressure.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 51F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 71F. Partly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Stable, clear flows that leave soft boulder pockets fishable without forcing heavy mid-channel wades.
Skip during muddy runoff, thunderstorm spikes, or when parking and roadside access feel unsafe.
Check RiverReports, choose one safe pullout, fish the best pocket sequence, then move rather than walking traffic-heavy shoulders.
Cache La Poudre or Boulder Creek are useful Front Range backups if the canyon is too high or crowded.
Big Thompson at Drake 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
Use the current Colorado fishing brochure and any posted reach rules before fishing. The Drake reach is close enough to several Big Thompson sections that anglers should confirm the exact water they are standing on.
Where to access the river
Big Thompson River Fishing Site
Forest Service pullout access along Highway 34 in Big Thompson Canyon.
Drake-area canyon pullouts
Useful for quick pocket-water stops when parking and road shoulder conditions are safe.
Glen Haven approach
Good for checking upper canyon conditions before committing to the reach.
- Do not treat every roadside gap as an access point. Private land and traffic safety both matter.
- Fish durable entries and avoid scrambling down unstable banks.
- This reach is best as a short-session canyon plan with a nearby backup.
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.
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 page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
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.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report uses official regulation, flow, weather, access, and public-land sources first, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.
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
Is Big Thompson at Drake beginner friendly?
It can be, but only at safe flows and from easy pullouts. The canyon is not the place to learn aggressive wading.
What should I fish first?
Start with a buoyant dry and small beadhead dropper through soft boulder pockets and inside seams.
Should I use the broader Big Thompson report too?
Yes. This page is section-by-section, while the main Big Thompson page helps compare park, canyon, and lower-river choices.