Fishing waters descriptions with links to gaging stations
The water level of a particular river or lake is a key piece of data on whether the water is fishable and/or how to fish it. There are many sources for water levels on the internet. Some come with lots of additional data. Below is a list of fishing waters in Colorado with a linked data station and notes about the river. These are only my selections. Also, when possible, I have chosen links that show trends. If a river drops or raises signficanlty in a short period of time, fish will usually need time to adjust.
Arkansas Kemp ARKEMPCO; Upper Arkansas above Co 82 and below Empire Gulch
Arkansas Granite ARKGRNCO; Upper Arkansas below Co 82 at Granite
Arkansas Salida ARKSALCO; Middle to lower Ark
Bear Creek at Morrison BCRMORCO; Min 10-15 cfs This link is good for Lair O' Bair or OFallon's upstream of Morrison. Once the river reaches minimum it can fish well depending on clarity. Also in July if the water comes down water temps can get to high. Sometimes they close it when that occurs. On Weekends very crowded with hiker and picknickers. Weekdays not so bad except for parking lot. Frequent great dry fly action. Sometimes will blow out with heavy water but frequently protected by dam at Evergreen.
Big Thompson below Moraine USGS402114105350101
Big Thompson below Estes BTBLESCO; optimal cfs 75-175; Min/Max cfs 10-500; Below dam and above canyon fishes all year around. Canyon usually ices up in January and thaws by late March.
Big Thompson at Drake USGS06736000; this station does not appear to work. If anyone has a working station for mid canyon or NF of Big T, please send to me.
Big Thomspon at Mouth of Canyon BTABCMCO; good for Sylvan Dale Main Ranch River
Blue River below Dillon USGS09050700
Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir USGS09057500
Boulder Creek Lower Canyon BOCOROCO; optimal cfs 50-100; Min/Max cfs 5-300. Although the station it's near Orodell, it's actually in Doherty Park just below the tunnel. Note that this is below Boulder Falls. Barker Reservoir topped the spillway on May 28. There may still be some spots to fish above the falls, but most likely will have to wait until end of June to fish.
Clear Creek Lawson USGS06716500; below Georgetown Lake
Clear Creek Golden USGS06719505; reflects Clear Creek Canyon flow
Frying Pan USGS09080400; below Ruedi Dam
Roaring Fork Aspen (upper) USGS09073400
Roaring Fork Emma (middle) USGS09081000; below Basalt
Roaring Fork Glenwood (lower) USGS09085000
South Boulder Creek below Gross BOCBGRCO
South Platte above Cheesman USGS06700000
South Platte below Cheesman PLACHECO
South Platte near Lake George USGS06696000; good for Abel property
South Platte, North Fork of South Platte (Bailey) PLABAICO; good for Boxwood, NFR, Shawnee, or Rawhide
Roberts Tunnel for flow into NFSP Tunnel
Alva Adams Tunnel flow ADAMSTUNNEL; amount of water coming from western slope towards Mary's Lake and eventually Lake Estes
Find DWR Stations DWRSTATIONS
Find USGS Stations USGSTATIONS