Weekly Report
At this point, there is plenty of open water downstream of Wolcott and while the sections further upstream continue to free up from ice it is probably in your best interest to avoid higher elevations for now. Additionally, we’re seeing regular slush runoff which has hindered productivity in the late morning and led to clarity impairments in the afternoon. Regardless, seek out areas with extended sun exposure and minimal ice as this is where trout will feed most heavily. Nymphing with small searchers/attractors at the lead to one or more smaller midge imitations will do most of the heavy lifting. Don’t be afraid to mix in some bigger offerings as these nutrient deprived trout will feed opportunistically, particularly during the warmest hours of the day. Keep in mind, however, that you are going to have to work for it and things won’t come easy. Focus on depth and presentation as well. Trout are not moving far to feed so you are likely going to need to hit them on the nose with your flies. By and large, you’re going to want to focus on the deepest portion of the water column, ensuring plenty of weight, for most of the day, but don’t hesitate to experiment with varying depths, especially if you see trout holding or feeding mid column.
Recommended Flies
Sub-surface
- Mercury Black Beauty (#20-22)
- Top Secret (#20-22)
- Zebra Midge (#20-22)
- Perdimidge (#18-20)
- Chocolate Foam Back Emerger (#20-22)
- Mercury RS2 (#20-24)
- Stalcup Baetis (#20-22)
- Mayer's Mini Leech (#12-16)
- Egg Sucking Leech (#12-14)
- Mercury Pheasant Tail (#16-20)
- Jig Hook Pheasant Tail (#16-18)
- Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear (#16-18)
- red Copper John (#18-20)
- Frenchie (#18-20)
- Rainbow Warrior (#18-20)
- Perdigon (#16-18)
- Pig Sticker
- Egg
Surface
- Parachute Adams (#20-22)
- Matt's Midge (#20-22)
- Hatching Midge (#20-22)
- Griffiths Gnat (#20-22)
- Cluster Midge (#20-22)
- Parawulff (#18)
Streamers
- Slump Busters (#4-6)
- Sculpzilla (#4 or #8)
- Peanut Envy (#4)
- white Sparkle Minnow (#6)
- black Wooly Bugger (#4-6)
- Cheech Leech (#6)
- Barely Legal (#4)
Need flies for your trip? FlyCast has collaborated with our friends at Anglers All to package a dozen flies that are hot on the Colorado River Basin, right now - Click here for hand selected flies
River Flow
Detailed River Info
Background
The Eagle River is a tributary of the Colorado River and spans over 60 miles through west central Colorado. This beautiful freestone river originates at the Continental Divide near the Mount of the Holy Cross and Camp Hale landmarks. Beginning at the Divide, it travels north until it reaches the Vail Valley to which it turns west where it merges with Gore Creek before ultimately spilling into the Colorado River near Dotsero. Here you’ll find beautiful landscapes ranging from a meandering valley setting to intense rapids cutting through jagged mountainous terrain. In this river, you’ll find plenty of cutthroat, brook, brown and rainbow trout in the 10” to 15” range. However, there are a few native lunkers holding in the upper and lower sections.
Angling
The Eagle offers a variety of fishing styles and is generally friendly to anglers of all skill sets. The upper Eagle, near the headwaters, is known best for its pocket water and swift current. This is one of the more technical sections, but with a little persistence and patience you could find yourself on the fighting end of a trophy brown. Additionally, this stretch offers some incredible dry fly fishing in the late summer and fall. The lower Eagle is more forgiving. However, it sees a lot more angler traffic. Here you will find bigger uniform water with fewer features. A heavy nymph rig has proven to be the most effective in this stretch. However, streamers are always a great option, especially if you’re looking to target bigger fish.
River Access
There are a number of great access points along the Eagle as it flows parallel to I-70 for much of its journey to the Colorado River. If you are looking to fish the headwaters, take Highway 24 from Dowd’s Junction (I-70 and Highway 24) toward Leadville until you reach Camp Hale. Here you’ll find a number of campgrounds and forest service land. However, keep an eye out for private property. Fishing through Vail Valley provides many access points stretching from the Minturn exit to Dotsero. If you follow Highway 6, you’ll find plenty of public access points along the Eagle. Look for BLM sites and DOW leases.