Welcome back to the Rise Beyond Fly Fishing Podcast — your no-fluff, no-shop-bias report on Colorado’s best fly fishing water. In this episode, we head deep into the canyon to cover one of the state's most overlooked gems: the Lower Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir.

Tailwater purists and solitude seekers, this one’s for you.

The Lower Blue isn’t flashy or friendly—it’s cold, clear, remote, and brutally honest. But if you’re willing to hike in, rig light, and bring your A-game, it might just hand you one of the most memorable trout of your spring season. This stretch rewards the stealthy and punishes the sloppy. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, you’re in the right place.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• April conditions: flows, temps, water clarity, fishing pressure & wind

• Real hatch insight — Midges, Baetis, and when to expect the first wave of caddis

• Top 3 fly patterns to fish this week (and how to rig them for success)

• Tactical tips for nymphing tight canyon seams, swinging streamers in plunge pools, and spotting rising fish in low light

• Access details for the tailwater below Green Mountain, including 🔥 hot spots and local know-how

• How to avoid pressure and make the most of a weekday mission

This is the water that makes you slow down, observe, and earn every strike. The fish are wild. The crowds are light. The payoff? Absolutely worth it.

We cover the best access points and give you boots-on-the-ground tips for navigating the terrain. From the Tailwater Pool just below the dam to The Narrows and the Big Bend, we highlight:

• Where to expect risers on cloudy afternoons

• Where to go deep with Baetis nymph rigs

• Which bends to target with streamers when flows are favorable

• How to fish smart in a canyon that can turn on you quickly if you’re unprepared

We also spotlight critical conservation efforts happening nearby, including the work of the Blue River Watershed Group, the Gore-Ten Mile Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and public access info from the Town of Silverthorne.

We’re here to make you a better angler, not sell you a rod. That’s why we also include:

• Real-time flow intel via USGS Green Mountain Tailwater Gauge

• Tips on interpreting river gauges

• Seasonal streamer movement strategies (spoiler: slow and deep wins April)

🎣 Top Flies for the Week:

• Dry Fly: Blue Wing Olive (#18–20)

• Nymph: JuJu Baetis (#20–22)

• Streamer: Slump Buster or Sculpzilla (#8–10)

Want to fish these patterns? You can find them all at RiseBeyondFlyFishing.shop

📍 Access Highlights🧠 Bonus Intel: