Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Rio Grande Basin
Above Creede near Thirty Mile Bridge, the upper Rio Grande runs below Rio Grande Reservoir, and its flows depend completely on dam releases.
Looking for the latest Rio Grande Thirty Mile Bridge 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 Rio Grande โ Thirty Mile Bridge.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Thirty Mile Bridge fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The reservoir is releasing only a few cfs while it fills for winter, and side streams flooded around November 1 to 2. Expect very low, clear water with fish crowded into the deepest runs.
Fish tiny midges and small BWO nymphs at midday only, and check Forest Road 520 conditions before you go.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Thirty Mile Bridge, bring: Zebra Midge #20-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20, Parachute Adams #16-20, 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.
Thirty Mile Bridge river details
| Access | Forest Road 520 above Creede. The road may be snowy or damaged now. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 9,300 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 291 miles, roughly 6 hours 32 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Summer |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout, with some cutthroat |
| 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 | Thirty Mile and River Hill campgrounds (closed now) |
| Kids | Yes in summer. A gentle river by the campground. |
| Good to know | Flows depend completely on reservoir releases. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Very low releases, ice and hard fishing.
Spring
Snowmelt and releases rise.
Summer
Steady releases, drakes, PMDs and caddis.
Fall
Releases cut back. Browns in the deeper pools.
How to get there
Take Highway 149 west of Creede to Forest Road 520.