tailwater · trout

Big Thompson (Estes Tailwater)

Live conditions for Big Thompson (Estes Tailwater): the gauge, the water temperature, the trend, and what the water is doing today — read the way a guide reads it.

Right now

42cfs→ lowfishable

Inside the wade band, stable low.

Water temp57.2°F

Engine callGO 43 cfs in the wade band · 62°F

Gauge read 1:50 AM CDT · USGS 06738000. Readings refresh every few minutes.

The water

Big Thompson (Estes Tailwater) is a tailwater in Denver, fished for trout — brown, rainbow, cutthroat, brook. On free-flowing water the trajectory is the story: falling and clearing after a bump is the window, rising water pushes fish to the banks and brings colour.

troutbrown troutrainbow troutcutthroat troutbrook troutWade only

Wade and float bands in cfs, the safety notes and the 14-day trend are on the signed-in river page.

Access

Olympus Dam Park (Mall Road)walk in
Mall Road Bridgebridge
Green Bridgebridge
Roosevelt National Forest Sign / MM66 Accesswalk in
Call Box Pulloutwalk in
Big Lot Accesswalk in
Sleepy Hollow Parkwalk in
Big Thompson Fishing Pierwalk in

Directions to the put-in or wade access ride on every briefing.

The briefing

Know before you drive to Big Thompson.

Every morning OUTFISH reads this gauge, the dam schedule, the water temperature, the sky and the tips library, and writes one plain-language call for the waters you track: go or stay home, wade or float, when to be on the water, where to put in, what to tie on — with directions.

Start free — 7 days of Guide

Signed in: the wade and float bands, the full hatch calendar, safety notes, the 14-day trend, shop reports and today's briefing for this water.

This month

Active in September:

Blue-winged olive (BWO)MidgesTricos

The full calendar by month, with notes, is on the signed-in river page.

Verify it yourself

The same sources the engine reads, straight from the agency:

More water in Denver

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