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River guide · Colorado

Fly Fishing the Blue River

Below Dillon Reservoir, the Blue River drops into Silverthorne as one of Colorado's most technical tailwaters: crystal-clear, 40°F year-round, and full of educated rainbows and browns that demand small flies and light tippet. The Mysis shrimp flushed from the reservoir have grown fish to remarkable sizes, and the town-center access makes it a can't-miss stop on any I-70 corridor fishing trip.

  • 6 shops nearby
  • tailwater
  • Year-round (prime: Sept–May for technical nymphing
  • Colorado
  • 6 key hatches
See fly shops ↓

The best time to fly fish the Blue River is Year-round (prime: Sept–May for technical nymphing. Key hatches include Midge, Mysis Shrimp, Blue, Pale Morning Dun. 6 fly shops near the Blue River can outfit your trip.

Fly shops near the Blue River

Shops and guides that fish the Blue River. See all 122 Colorado shops →

Cutthroat AnglersMountain AnglerFly Fishing OutfittersFly Fishing OutfittersMile High Angler, LLCRocky Mountain Anglers
6 fly shops shown

Species on this water

BassPanfishPikeTrout

Nearby towns

SilverthorneBreckenridgeVail

Rivers nearby

Gore CreekWilliams Fork RiverEagle RiverSouth Platte River
Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the Blue River

River typetailwater
Best seasonYear-round (prime: Sept–May for technical nymphing; summer evenings for dries)
AccessPublic access is excellent for a Colorado tailwater: the river runs through the Town of Silverthorne with multiple roadside pull-offs and a published Town of Silverthorne fishing access map. The reach behind the Silverthorne outlet stores is especially popular and fishable within walking distance of town.
Key hatches
  • Midge (year-round, dominant hatch)
  • Mysis Shrimp (year-round subsurface staple)
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis (spring and fall)
  • Pale Morning Dun (summer)
  • Caddis (summer evenings)
  • Terrestrials (mid-summer)
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Blue River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse all 880+ patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

Gear up on the Blue River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the Blue River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

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Updated June 2026