Planning a day on Clear Creek? Whether you’re sneaking in a quick after-work session or chasing wild browns all weekend, this episode of the Rise Beyond Fly Fishing Podcast gives you everything you need to master one of Colorado’s most productive—and overlooked—freestone creeks.
In this episode, we deep-dive into the best dry-dropper rigs for Clear Creek, tailored for each season. You'll learn:
🎯 Which dry flies and droppers pair best depending on flows, clarity, and hatch activity
🌿 Seasonal patterns including spring BWOs, summer terrestrials, and winter midges
🏞️ Our favorite access points: from Mayhem Gulch to Georgetown, with tips on when and how to fish each section
🧠 How to shorten your dropper, adjust your tippet, and fish fast pockets like a pro
Featured fly combos include proven rigs like:
Parachute Adams + Flashback Pheasant Tail (Spring)
Amy’s Ant + Olive Perdigon (Summer)
Elk Hair Caddis + Zebra Midge (Fall)
Griffith’s Gnat or single Bling Midge (Winter and low-flow finesse days)
We also dish out pro tips on casting in canyon winds, getting clean drifts in choppy water, and adjusting for fishing pressure near popular pull-offs. If you’ve ever wondered what the fish actually want on Clear Creek, this episode answers that with real data, tested patterns, and guide-level tactics.
💡 Pro tip from the show: "The difference between a missed fish and a hook-up on Clear Creek is often 6 inches of depth and 1 second of drag."
🚗 Whether you’re fishing above Black Hawk or exploring the upper reaches near the Eisenhower Tunnel, you’ll walk away from this episode knowing exactly how to rig up, what flies to use, and where to go.
🔥 Bonus:
Want the flies from this episode? Shop our Clear Creek Dry-Dropper Box, built specifically for this water. Find it at RiseBeyondFlyFishing.com under "Fly Boxes."
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