Colorado

Blue River below Dillon

Browse Rivers

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

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.

Current Readings

Flow
64.9 CFS
Gage Height
0.92 ft
Water Temperature
43.5 °F
Observation Time
Oct 20, 2026, 9:15 AM

Updated recently · USGS station 09050700 · Direct monitoring location

Readings from past 7 Days

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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

Short-term rainfall and flow-change signals

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Weather Near Gauge

Current Weather

Clear

Temperature

36°F

Feels like

31°F

Wind

2 mph S

Wind gust

2 mph

Current precipitation

0.00 in

Updated

Oct 20, 2026, 2:30 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 4 AM

    Clear

    Temp 36°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 0 mph

  • Tue 8 AM

    Clear

    Temp 37°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 2 mph

  • Tue 12 PM

    Mostly clear

    Temp 51°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 4 mph

  • Tue 4 PM

    Overcast

    Temp 56°F

    Chance 1%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 9 mph

  • Tue 8 PM

    Clear

    Temp 44°F

    Chance 1%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 2 mph

  • Wed 12 AM

    Clear

    Temp 38°F

    Chance 0%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Wind 1 mph

Four-Day Forecast

  • Tue, Oct 20

    Overcast

    High 56°F / Low 36°F

    Chance 4%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 11 mph

  • Wed, Oct 21

    Overcast

    High 60°F / Low 34°F

    Chance 50%

    Precip 0.00 in

    Max gust 18 mph

  • Thu, Oct 22

    Drizzle

    High 49°F / Low 40°F

    Chance 77%

    Precip 0.17 in

    Max gust 12 mph

  • Fri, Oct 23

    Drizzle

    High 57°F / Low 35°F

    Chance 69%

    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

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Fishing Overview

Wild brown and rainbow trout are in the Blue River below Dillon.

Fishery Profile

Documented species you may encounter at Blue River.

High confidenceLast verified: Aug 20, 2026

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

Hatch Match

No destination-specific hatch data is currently available.

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

Loading map…

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

Verified access notes and official resources for Blue River below Dillon. This is StrikeTracks guidance — always confirm with official sources.

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