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The Big "T" is one of the largest rivers on
the Front Range, due in part to the enormous number of
drainages that come together to form it. The other reason
this is a big river is due to the 13-mile, 9-foot diameter
Alva B. Adams Tunnel that brings water from Shadow Mountain
Reservoir on the Western Slope, through the Continental
Divide, and into the Big Thompson River.
The Upper Big Thompson River begins in the mountains
of Rocky Mountain National Park and flows east through
Estes Park before being stored in Lake Estes, along
with the water diverted from the Western Slope.
This stretch of river is a typical mountain freestone
stream that is only ice-free for 4-5 months of the
year. Inside Rocky
Mountain National Park, fishing typically begins
at Moraine Park. The stream has cut through this wide
open meadow that has a large resident herd of elk,
and created some very deep cut banks. While most trout
in the Park do not exceed 14 inches, this stretch of
water can hold some very big trout. Letting the current
take a olive bugger back under the bank may require
more than the usual 5x tippets used here.
 Hatches
during the year are as follows:
Year Round
Baetis: April / May & September / October
Green Drake: July / August
Red Quill: July / August
Caddis: June through September
Terrestrials: July through September
Stoneflies: June through August
Hanging a olive or black midge below a Parachute
Adams is almost always a good choice. If nothing else,
the Adams makes a great strike indicator! Throughout
the Park, smaller is better. Yes, there are some #6
stoneflies in the Upper Big T, but you'll catch more
fish with #14-18 Dries and #18-22 nymphs. You shouldn't
need to go smaller than 5x tippet, but you may want
to use fluorocarbon as these fish do get a lot of pressure.
The Lower Big Thompson, meaning below the dam on
Estes Lake, plunges down a rocky canyon that has a
plethora of public water. Most of the canyon is National
Forest land with pockets of private property all along
its length. Although it is a tailwater, it will dirty
up quickly as it enters the canyon. With almost daily
afternoon thunderstorms, the further you drive down
the canyon, the dirtier and warmer the water will get.
During peak runoff (late May through mid June) the
water below the dam can be very dirty and the flows
quite high (700+ CFS).
 During
the summer, if you find the water to be over 70 degrees,
please don't fish it. The oxygen levels in the water
are so low that even briefly playing a fish has a high
likelihood of killing the fish you release.
The stream can easily be waded, and during the middle
of summer, wet waded, averaging 100-200 CFS. The rocks
can be slippery so felt or studs are recommended. The
only people who float the Big Thompson are a fly fishers
crazy friends, the kayakers, and only then during certain
flows.
The hatches listed above apply to this stretch of
water, too, but the bug size is typically at least
1 size larger. The evening caddis hatches and afternoon
Green Drake & Red Quill hatches provide the dry
fly enthusiast with plenty of opportunities.
This river has lots of large rocks, deep runs, and
plenty of holding water. Coupled with food being more
readily available, more months being icefree, this
section of river is home to some truly large rainbow
and brown trout. |
