Eagle River Fishing Report with Brian Hilbert
- brianchilbert
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Eagle River - With Brian Hilbert
Flow: 230cfs (at Gypsum)
Clarity: 3’
Fishing Quality: 9/10
Spring fishing on the Eagle River is firing right now, and this is one of those windows you don’t want to miss. We’ve been on the water every single day for the past two months, and the consistency has been nothing short of incredible. Between strong bug activity and fish that are feeding throughout the day, it’s as good as it gets for this time of year.
Here’s exactly what I’m seeing out there and how we’re approaching it.
Morning Game Plan
The day starts off as a classic nymphing program.
Fish are holding in slow, deep water, and that’s where you want to focus your time early. Think softer seams, buckets, and slower runs where fish can sit comfortably without expending much energy.
Top Morning Flies
Day Saver Midge (brown, size 22)
Day Saver Baetis (BWO, size 20)
Tan Caddis Larvae (size 16)
Pats Rubber Legs (coffee/black, size 10)
Run these in a standard nymph rig with enough weight to get down. If you’re not occasionally ticking bottom, you’re not fishing where the fish are.
Pro Tip
Don’t rush through water in the morning. Fish are grouped up in slower zones, so when you find one, there are usually more nearby.
Late Morning Shift
(Around 11:00 AM)
This is when things start to come alive.
Around 11:00, we’re consistently seeing BWOs begin to hatch, and at the same time, caddis are starting to show up. This overlap creates one of the best feeding windows of the day.
At this point, we make a key adjustment.
Nymph Rig Adjustment
Hilbert’s Sexi Top May (size 20)
Juan’s Kryptonite Caddis (size 16)
Pats Rubber Legs as your anchor fly
This tandem setup has been extremely effective as fish transition from deep feeding to actively keying in on emerging bugs.
Dry Fly Opportunities: Read the Weather
As fish begin to rise, your next move depends heavily on the conditions.
Cloudy Days:
If cloud cover rolls in, lean into the BWO hatch:
Parachute Adams (size 20)
Ms. Tickle Cripple (size 20)
Fish will stay up longer and feed more confidently in these conditions.
Sunny Days:
Bright sun shifts the focus more toward caddis:
Elk Hair Caddis (size 14–18)
X Caddis (size 14–18)
Caddis size has been all over the place, so flexibility is key.
Pro Tip
A safe and highly effective setup is running:
One size 14 caddis
One size 18 caddis about 18 inches behind it
This covers your bases when fish are seeing a mix of bugs.
Understanding the Caddis Hatch
The caddis hatch has ranged from fair to excellent, and it’s been heavily influenced by:
Sun exposure
Wind
Overnight air temperatures
After especially cold nights, expect a slower, less intense hatch the following day. Warmer nights tend to produce much stronger activity.
When the Rise Slows Down
Once fish stop actively rising, it’s time to go back subsurface.
Return to:
Caddis larvae
BWO nymphs
Fish don’t stop feeding, they just shift back below the surface.
Bonus Fly: Don’t Sleep on PMDs
Seining the river bottom lately has revealed some surprisingly large PMD nymphs.
After the caddis hatch, I’ve been having great success running:
Daysaver PMD (size 16)
This has been a killer add-on when fish are transitioning out of the main hatch window.
Final Thoughts
Right now is a special time on the Eagle. You’ve got:
Consistent nymphing
Reliable hatch windows
Legit dry fly opportunities
And best of all, you can experience all of it in a single day if you time things right.
Fish with Colorado River Outfitters
If you’ve been thinking about getting out, now is the time to do it.
We’ve been on the water every single day for the past two months, and our guides are completely dialed in on what’s working right now. With the uncertainty of summer flows and conditions just around the corner, it might be wise to book your float trip or walk-and-wade trip sooner rather than later.
Whether you’re looking to improve your skills or just want an unforgettable day on the water, we’d love to show you what the Eagle River is all about.
Call or text 970-236-1937 to book your trip!
For booking information:
Tight Lines!
-The CRO Team