Fishing Report
June 15, 2025
Welcome to the North Park Anglers’ fishing report!
Runoff is here in North Park! The North Platte and Meadow Streams are fishable, although the conditions are day-to-day and river-to-river with snowmelt and irrigation. With the warm weather and rain the last few days, we’ve seen the rivers bump a decent bit, although they are starting to drop a bit. Between the irrigation, lower snowpack, and colder overnight temps, the rivers are puffy and relatively clear. The Buttes, Lake John, and all our lakes are fishing great, and the chironomids are coming off pretty thick, The options are endless in North Park. We hope to see you soon!
Please read further for more detailed info on our fisheries.
If you have any questions, please call the shop at 970-723-4215!
Fly Shop Spring Hours: 7 AM- 5 PM Daily
Meadow Streams:
The meadow streams are starting to bump up a bit, but they’re still looking pretty good. Conditions are day to day with warmer weather, rain, and irrigation changing the flows and clarity on the streams, but over all we are in a great window on them., The main game right now is nymphing with stoneflies, worms, caddis nymphs, and other various attractor patterns. Streamer fishing has been good as well, especially on cloudy days or if the river is off color. On calm days, we’ve seen fish eating Caddis, PMD’s, and a few Brown Drakes on the surface.
Meadow Stream Flows: Michigan and Illinois River flows
North Platte
(Canyon Section)
The canyon is at a great level for this time of year, and fishing is pretty good. Its on the big side to wade fish, but perfect to float right now. The river is a bit off color, but still fishable. Running a dry dropper with a big chubby to various attractor nymphs or stripping flashy streamers along the bank has been the name of the game. On calm days fish have been looking up and eating Caddis, PMD’s, and a few leftover Salmonflies on the surface as well. We expect the river to keep dropping slowly over the next couple of weeks, and the wade fishing should pick up as the flows drop.
North Platte River Flows: North Platte River Flows at North Gate Canyon
The Platte in the valley is a little big and muddy, although its starting to clear up a little bit. Streamer fishing has been best but a dry dropper with stones, worms, and various attractor nymphs has been producing a few as well. We expect the fishing to pick up more as the flows drop and the river starts to clear up a bit.
Note* The valley section is upstream of where the North Fork of the North Platte, Michigan, and Illinois Rivers dump into the Platte. The gauge we watch at North Gate, where we report flows from, will always be slightly more significant than what the valley section reads.
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 chironomid hatch is in full swing on the lakes around the park. We are seeing giant chironomids mixed with smaller ones. Fishing chironomids under an indicator anywhere from 12 to 20 feet has been the ticket. Size 10-12 bombers in olive, brown, and black have worked best. On calm days, we’re seeing fish cruising the banks eating chironomid adults, caddis, and various terrestrials up top as well. Stripping crayfish, leeches, and baitfish has been good during low-light hours and on cloudy days.
High Country Lakes and Streams
Joe Wright, Chambers, and Big Creek are open for the season. The smaller alpine lakes are starting to open up, and we expect most of them to fully open throughout June. Access into the high country can be difficult this time of year with snow and mud, so be careful if you venture out.
