Fishing Report
April 19th 2024
Welcome to the North Park Anglers’ fishing report!
Hello, and welcome to the 2024 Fishing season in North Park! The shop is open, and you can find our hours of operation below. It’s finally starting to feel like spring around the valley, and we’re gearing up for another great summer of fishing. The Delaney Buttes and Lake John have started opening with the warmer weather, and we expect to see more open water in the next week or so with the lakes probably fully opening in the near future. The meadow streams are open up for the season, but conditions and water levels are day to day. Colder days are bringing the flows down and clearing the water up, and warmer days are bumping the flows and muddying the rivers up. If you have any questions, please call the shop at 970-723-4215!
Fly Shop Hours (April) :
Monday-Saturday 8 am-5 pm
Sundays 8 am-2 pm
Meadow Streams:
The meadow streams have opened up for the season, but conditions and water levels are day to day. Colder days are bringing the flows down and clearing the water up, and warmer days are bumping the flows and muddying the rivers up. On days with good clarity, the best fishing has been in the afternoon when the water is at its warmest. Nymphing is the go to right now with stoneflys and worms being the bugs of choice. Various attractor and jig style bugs have been getting a few fish as well. On warmer days with muddy water, pulling a big streamer is never a bad idea either.
Meadow Stream Flows: Michigan and Illinois River flows
North Platte
(Canyon Section)
The Platte in the Canyon is opening up for the season. The water has been pretty muddy and high with lots of ice chunks coming down the river. We expect the fishing in the canyon to pick up when the valley snow has melted off and the river clears up.
North Platte River Flows: North Platte River Flows at North Gate Canyon
(Valley Section)
The Platte in the valley has opened up for the season. The water has been pretty muddy and high with lots of ice chunks coming down the river. We expect the fishing in the valley to pick up when the valley snow has melted off and the river clears up.
FYI: North Platte Flows in North Gate Canyon (Routt Access to Pickeroon)
0-750 CFS Good Wade fishing level
500-4000 Good Float/ Fishing Level
4000 and above is best for Whitewater
North Platte River Flows: North Platte River Flows at North Gate Canyon
Delaney Buttes, Lake John, and Cowdrey Lake
The valley lakes have started opening up. There is still ice currently in some places, but we would not recommend ice fishing on it. Cowdrey Lake has fully opened, and the Buttes are all about 1/4 to 1/3 open. Lake John is still holding out, with peeks of open on the edges. We expect the lakes to really start to open up in the next week or so.
High Country Lakes and Streams
The high country lakes like Big Creek, Chambers, and Joe Wright are all frozen with 3-4ft of ice currently. We expect them to start to open up towards the end of May.
