Colorado
Blue River below Dillon
Location Snapshot
Blue River below Dillon is a cold Colorado tailwater immediately below Dillon Reservoir in Summit County. Rainbow and brown trout define the fishery through a compact, regulated mountain-river corridor.
Current River Rating
Poor · 39
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Water temperature is unfavorable for trout fishing.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
Timing Evidence
Air temperature is comfortable for a river trout trip.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 64.9 CFS
- Gage Height
- 0.92 ft
- Water Temperature
- 43.5 °F
- Observation Time
- Oct 20, 2026, 11:15 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 09050700 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
Loading readings from the past 7 days…
Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
35°F
Feels like
31°F
Wind
1 mph S
Wind gust
3 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 3:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.02 in
Last 48 hours
0.02 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Tue 6 AM
Clear
Temp 36°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Tue 10 AM
Clear
Temp 46°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Tue 2 PM
Overcast
Temp 55°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Tue 6 PM
Clear
Temp 50°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Tue 10 PM
Clear
Temp 41°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Wed 2 AM
Clear
Temp 37°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 1 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Overcast
High 55°F / Low 35°F
Chance 4%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 10 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Overcast
High 60°F / Low 34°F
Chance 29%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 18 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Drizzle
High 49°F / Low 40°F
Chance 69%
Precip 0.17 in
Max gust 12 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Drizzle
High 57°F / Low 35°F
Chance 60%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 28 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
Loading historical flow…
Fishing Overview
Wild brown and rainbow trout are in the Blue River below Dillon.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Blue River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Wild
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Official sources
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Summit, Colorado
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Summit
Management Category
Gold Medal tailwater
Regulation Scope
Blue River Gold Medal from Dillon Dam to Hamilton Creek Road.
Regulation Summary
CPW Gold Medal Blue River below Dillon Dam. Confirm current Blue River Basin special regulations.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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