Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Colorado Basin
At Dowds Junction, Gore Creek drops its last mile through pocket water to meet the Eagle River below Vail. It is Gold Medal water, easy to reach and often overlooked.
Looking for the latest Gore Creek Dowds Junction 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 Gore Creek โ Dowds Junction.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Dowds Junction fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge reads about 12 cfs, low and clear, typical for November. Fish are holding in the deeper slots and the tail-outs of the plunge pools.
Small nymphs fished tight under an indicator work best: a Zebra Midge or Pheasant Tail in 18 to 20 behind a slightly heavier stonefly. Look for BWOs on cloudy afternoons.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Dowds Junction, bring: Zebra Midge #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20, Pat', s Rubber Legs #10-12, Parachute Adams #18-20, Elk Hair Caddis #16, 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.
Dowds Junction river details
| Access | Pullouts along the frontage road and the bike path near the I-70 and US-24 interchange. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 7,800 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 113 miles, roughly 2 hours 18 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Summer and fall |
| Fish | Brown trout, rainbows and brook trout |
| Regulations | Gold Medal water with special regulations. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X to 6X tippet |
| Camping | White River National Forest campgrounds up US-24 toward Minturn |
| Kids | Partly. The bike path is easy, but the creek is steep and fast. |
| Good to know | Interstate noise is constant. The fish don't mind. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Mostly ice. Not worth the trip.
Spring
BWOs before runoff.
Summer
Caddis, PMDs and stoneflies. Prime time.
Fall
Low, clear water and BWOs.
How to get there
Take I-70 west from Vail to exit 171 (Minturn and US-24). Park along the frontage road near the confluence.