Estes Park Fishing Report – September/October 2025
- Lost Outfitters
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Estes Park Fishing Report – September/October 2025
Fall in Estes Park and the Rockies is a season of transition. The mornings are crisp, the aspens are turning gold, and the trout are feeding aggressively in preparation for winter. Crowds thin after Labor Day, making September and October some of the best months to fish both in town and in Rocky Mountain National Park. Here’s the current Estes Park Fishing Report and a look ahead at what October will bring to each fishery:
Estes Park Fishing Report
Big Thompson River – Below Lake Estes
Current Conditions: Flows are holding steady around 50–70 cfs, with clear water and easy wading conditions. The river is fishing well all day, with nymphing producing steady action and afternoon hatches of Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) bringing fish to the surface on cloudy days.
What’s Working:
Dry Droppers: Small Chubbies or Amy’s Ants with Two-Bit Hookers, JuJu Baetis, or Rainbow Warriors
Nymphs: Zebra Midges, WD-40s, small Pheasant Tails, red Squirmy Worms
Dries: Parachute BWOs, Griffith’s Gnats, small Adams
Tips: Focus on riffles, seams, and the heads of deeper runs. Fish are more concentrated now, so cover water until you locate pods. Light tippet (5x–6x) and a delicate drift are key in clear water.
Looking Ahead – October: Expect BWOs to remain the dominant hatch, with midges taking over as nights get colder. Streamer fishing will also improve as browns stage for their spawn—try stripping small sculpin patterns through deeper pools.
Lake Estes
Current Conditions: Trout are active around the inlet and outlet, with browns staging and rainbows cruising drop-offs. Smallmouth bass activity is slowing with cooler nights, but they’ll still chase streamers during sunny afternoons.
What’s Working:
Fly Rod: Balanced Leeches, Chironomids under indicators, olive and white Woolly Buggers
Conventional: Kastmasters, Panther Martins, PowerBait in bright colors (garlic salmon peach, chartreuse)
Tips: Early mornings and evenings are prime. Fish deeper drop-offs as the sun rises and slow your retrieve as water temps drop. Inlets hold active fish throughout the fall.
Looking Ahead – October: Browns will be aggressive pre-spawn, especially on streamers. Rainbows will continue to feed on midges and leeches until ice starts to form later in the season.
Rocky Mountain National Park Streams
Current Conditions: Flows in Moraine Park, Glacier Creek, and Fall River are low, clear, and perfect for dry-dropper fishing. September still has strong terrestrial action, but BWOs are beginning to dominate the afternoon hatches. Elk are bugling, the leaves are turning, and the fishing is spectacular.
What’s Working:
Dries: Parachute BWOs, Elk Hair Caddis, small Ants and Beetles (early September), Griffith’s Gnats
Nymphs: Frenchies, WD-40s, Zebra Midges, small Hares Ears
Tips: Stay stealthy—these fish are spooky in low, clear water. Target undercuts, foam lines, and slower pools where fish pod up. Cloudy afternoons can bring some of the best dry fly fishing of the year.
Looking Ahead – October: As terrestrials fade, BWOs and midges will be the main game. Fish may rise selectively on calm, cloudy afternoons, but most action will be subsurface with small nymphs.
High Alpine Lakes
Current Conditions: September offers one last shot at high-country fishing before snow and ice shut things down. Brookies and cutthroat are feeding heavily in the mornings, with sight-fishing opportunities along drop-offs and shallow shelves. By mid-October, access to most high lakes will be limited.
What’s Working:
Stillwater Flies: Balanced Leeches, black Chironomids, olive Scuds, small Buggers
Dries: Ants and Beetles (early September only), Griffith’s Gnats on calm mornings
Tips: Start early while fish are cruising the shallows. Switch to slow-sinking presentations as the sun rises. Vary retrieves until you dial in what they want.
Looking Ahead – October: Most high lakes above 10,000 feet will become inaccessible as snow arrives. Lower elevation stillwaters will continue to produce on leeches and midges until colder weather sets in.
Final Thoughts
From the meadows of RMNP to the Big Thompson tailwater, September and October bring some of the best fishing of the year. Terrestrials will carry you through early fall, BWOs and midges dominate as the weather cools, and streamer fishing heats up with the brown trout spawn. Crisp mornings, golden aspens, and active trout make this the perfect time to get out and fish Estes Park.
Need help finding the fish? Book a guided trip with Lost Outfitters and we’ll show you exactly where to go and what to use to make the most of your day on the water.
Let’s go fishing!!
