Colorado Fishing Reports ยท South Platte Basin
Near Downieville and Lawson, Clear Creek runs beside I-70 below Georgetown. It is an easy-to-reach stretch with brown trout and a few rainbows.
Looking for the latest Clear Creek Downieville river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Clear Creek โ Downieville.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Downieville fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge near Lawson shows about 29 cfs, low and clear.
Fish the deeper pockets at midday with small nymphs. It is cold up here, so short trips on sunny days are best.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Downieville, bring: Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Zebra Midge #18-20, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, Parachute Adams #16-18, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Downieville river details
| Access | Frontage road pullouts and the Clear Creek trail along I-70. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 8,000 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 51 miles, roughly 1 hour 8 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Summer and fall |
| Fish | Brown trout and some rainbows |
| Regulations | Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | None here. Arapaho National Forest campgrounds nearby (seasonal). |
| Kids | Partly. Steep banks and highway traffic. |
| Good to know | Mining-era water. Fish are smaller than lower Clear Creek. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Icy.
Spring
Runoff into June.
Summer
Caddis and attractor dries.
Fall
Low, clear water.
How to get there
Take I-70 west to exit 233 (Lawson and Downieville), then use the frontage road pullouts.