Wade4/100
Wading is the most sensitive plan today. Use protected edges only, avoid crossings, and downgrade quickly if clarity or current feels wrong.
All Colorado reports
Fly fishing report · West
Big Thompson at Drake
See if Big Thompson at Drake is worth the trip today. Check the current flow, weather, hatches, flies, access, and rules before you go.
Photo: BlueStreamFly Opens in a new tab. · BlueStreamFly generated; not exact location
Good day to fish?Latest river check
Poor
Not today. Make another plan.
36
Best option: Float. A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
See update time and confidence
Live data checkMediumHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Today's callLowNo structured live flow
Score calculated Aug 12, 1:23 AM UTCSources checked often
Best way to fishFloat
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Bank / edgeCheck
This report does not describe this as a primary mode. Verify legal access, depth, launches, and retreat options before planning around it.
Float · Best fit30/100
A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
Your plan
Keep today simple.
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.
- 1Start here
Pick a safe pullout first, then fish the best nearby pockets instead of walking along traffic.
- 2Watch the water
Make short upstream casts into soft cushions behind boulders and along inside bends.
- 3Make one change
Keep the rig compact so you can change depth quickly without hanging every drift.
Live river check
What the river is doing
Check the latest flow and weather before you go. A quick change can make the river harder or less safe to fish.
Loading current flow and weather.
About the river reading
No structured USGS gauge is attached.
The report has flow references but no reviewed structured USGS mapping; the relationship remains unknown. Other local gauges may exist, so use this as a starting point.
See how this gauge was matchedHow to fish it
Start with the water in front of you.
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.
Why the score changed
Best mode nowHurts
Float: A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
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.
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 11 at 4:10PM MDT by NWS Denver CO.
SeasonHelps
Summer: Primary pocket-water season with caddis, attractors, and terrestrial dries.
WeatherHelps
The NWS forecast is about 81F with Patchy Smoke.
More trip notes
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.
What to try
Start small. Change with the river.
Match the time of year, then let rising fish and current speed guide the next change.
Usually active summerCaddis, PMDs, yellow sallies, ants, and beetles
Elk hair caddis, yellow stimulator, parachute PMD, foam ant
Fly pattern to try · Elk hair caddisElk 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.Open the fly guide ↗
Fly pattern to try · yellow stimulatorStimulatorLook for a hair tail, dubbed abdomen with palmered hackle, tented hair wing, contrasting front hackle, and bright thorax or head. Colors and sizes vary widely and must remain labeled.Open the fly guide ↗
Fly group to try · parachute PMDPale 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.Open the fly guide ↗+ 1 more reviewed guide in the Fly Box Start with one change at a time. The river will tell you more than a crowded fly box.
Access and safety
Check access before you go.
Use these places as starting points, then open the access link and check signs. 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.
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.
Official river links
Check before you fish.
Check rules, closures, flow, weather, and access at the source. The agency has the final say.
Trip notes checked . Live flow and weather update above. Official links checked on the date shown with each link.
Reviewed by BlueStreamFly source review. See how we check river reports.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed and whether a rule or closure affects your reach.
Fishing rules: Reviewed linkClosures: No reviewed link found
How we checked this source for Colorado fishing licenses and dates
Status: We reviewed this link. Open it for the latest information.
Last reviewed:
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Use this for: fishing rules
Area covered: This report: Big Thompson at Drake report reach
Keep in mind: Rules can change by season and river section. Read the source before you fish.
Show 2 more links in Rules and closures
How we checked this source for Colorado fishing regulations
Status: We reviewed this link. Open it for the latest information.
Last reviewed:
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Use this for: fishing rules
Area covered: This report: Big Thompson at Drake report reach
Keep in mind: Rules can change by season and river section. Read the source before you fish.
How we checked this source for Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing regulations
Status: We reviewed this link. Open it for the latest information.
Last reviewed:
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Use this for: fishing rules
Area covered: Statewide: Colorado
Keep in mind: Rules can change by season and river section. Read the source before you fish.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
River level: No reviewed link foundWeather: Reviewed link
How we checked this source for NWS forecast for Big Thompson at Drake
Status: We reviewed this link. Open it for the latest information.
Last reviewed:
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Use this for: weather
Area covered: Map point: Big Thompson at Drake forecast point
Keep in mind: Weather can change quickly and may be different along other parts of the river.
Show 2 more links in Flow and weather
How we checked this source for RiverReports: Big Thompson at Drake
This link may add useful background, but we have not fully checked it. Confirm the details with the right agency before you rely on it.
How we checked this source for USGS North Fork Big Thompson River at Drake
This link may add useful background, but we have not fully checked it. Confirm the details with the right agency before you rely on it.
Access and land
Check public entry, land rules, parking, and seasonal access.
Public access: Reviewed link
How we checked this source for USFS Big Thompson River Fishing Site
Status: We reviewed this link. Open it for the latest information.
Last reviewed:
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Use this for: public access
Area covered: This report: Big Thompson at Drake report reach
Keep in mind: Access can change. Follow posted signs, respect closures, and stay on public land.
See which kinds of links we found
River levelNo reviewed link found
We did not find a reviewed river-level link for this page. Look for an official gauge before you use the water.
WeatherReviewed link
We reviewed a weather link. Open it for the latest details.
Public accessReviewed link
We reviewed a public access link. Open it for the latest details.
Fishing rulesReviewed link
We reviewed a fishing rules link. Open it for the latest details.
ClosuresNo reviewed link found
We did not find a separate reviewed closure page. This does not mean the river is open. Check the fishing rules and agency alerts.
Local conservationNot yet confirmed
We have not confirmed a reviewed local river group link. Check the right agency before you rely on it.
Quick answers
Before you leave.
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 reach-specific, while the main Big Thompson page helps compare park, canyon, and lower-river choices.