Eagle River — Avon

Early July — dropping off runoff and coming into its prime window. Caddis are the headline, with Golden Stones / Yellow Sallies, PMDs and the first Green Drakes. Fishes well on foot at these flows and is a strong walk-wade or float once it clears.

The Eagle is a caddis factory — as flows drop through July the evening caddis can be blizzard-thick. Nymph a Pat's Rubber Legs / Golden Stone with a caddis pupa or PMD dropper through the runs and bucket water, then be ready with an Elk Hair Caddis when the evening blizzard starts. Big browns eat streamers in the low light. The Gold Medal water from Edwards down fishes best; upper stretches near Minturn clear first. Watch the afternoon water temp in a hot spell and fish mornings/evenings if it climbs.

Gold Medal from Edwards downstream. Early-to-mid July is the sweet spot as runoff recedes — caddis, stoneflies and Green Drakes overlap. Public access at Edwards, Avon and Wolcott; a float from Edwards to Wolcott covers the best water. Trip tip: the Eagle and Gore Creek together make a full Vail-valley day.