It is the place to go where you stand the best chance to get into one of the various beautiful species of trout that call the South Platte River home. The Colorado Parks & Wildlife publish several maps that illustrate where special fishing regulations apply to the South Platte River in South Park and from Cheesman to Chatfield reservoirs. Orvis Endorsed Outfitter, Royal Gorge Anglers has been guiding on the South Platte for 30 Years, and offers the best fishing reports on the South Platte. Fly Fishing the South Platte River is considered the best Colorado has to offer by many anglers. English. Anglers enjoy a day in Deckers, fly fishing in the South Platte River Denver South Platte (DSP) After Deckers, the river flows through Waterton canyon, and then into Chatfield Reservoir. Fly Fishing the South Platte River: An Angler's Guide (The Pruett Series) Paperback – January 1, 1992 by Hill Roger (Author) 3.9 out of 5 stars 13 ratings See all formats and editions Sports & Outdoors. Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for Trout fishing in South Platte River with the top producing flies and recommended equipment to get you into fish. MB. Spring can be a magical time to be on the South Platte River, with the Deckers stretch providing some truly incredible and consistent fishing over these next few months. Knowing the current regulations of the section Pat Dorsey's fly fishing report is generated from many of the Blue Quill Angler's veteran guides who frequently visit these rivers on a regular basis. LONGEST OWNED GREY REEF FLY SHOP AND GUIDE SERVICE ON THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER At the North Platte River Fly Shop you will find the best full service Grey Reef destination Fly Shop with a large selection of rods, reels, waders, fishing apparel, wading boots, gear … The last lake to discuss is Eleven Mile which is the reservoir directly downstream of the dream stream, and is typically the stock caught while fishing the legendary section of water. GENRE. EN. Once the two forks meet you have pretty much made it out of the headwaters and are now entering a slew of reservoirs and world class fly fishing tailwaters. Fly fishing overview. If you plan on visiting during peak season though, make sure you reserve all of your accommodations months in advance, as local cabins, campgrounds, and hotels fill up fast during peak trout season. The trout average a large size. Fly Fishing South Platte River in 11-Mile Canyon. If you needing some extra help, Angler's Covey is the only full service fly shop with a permit to guide in Elevenmile Canyon and our Orvis Endorsed Professional Guide would be happy to set up a trip for you. If you do decide to visit during peak season (spring and summer hatches after runoff), be prepared for traffic and crowds. 2004. This stretch should not be overlooked however, as it holds two of my three largest trout landed and is significantly less crowded than the dream stream. Fly Fishing Guide to the South Platte River-Pat Dorsey 2018-12-21 The South Platte River begins high atop the frozen Continental Divide, home to a chain of rugged 13,000-foot, snow-capped peaks. The Deckers section of water is located just a short drive outside of Denver and is right below Cheeseman Canyon, another amazing section of water. The amount of time on the water each day. South Platte Fly Shop is one of three full service fly shops located in Colorado that are owned and operated by Frying Pan Anglers. 42. This section of the river also known as “Badger Basin” is the start of the South Platte’ 50-mile journey before entering Spinney Mtn. Antero is the first of the three lakes and was recently drained for repair but is already showing flourishing trout populations since its reopening. This group of reservoirs is very important to Colorado’s trout population as a whole, as a lot of the genetics in Colorado come from Spinney Reservoir where some of Colorado’s broodstock are placed. As a result of its close proximity to Denver, the river has thousands of fly fishing enthusiasts visit each year. Visit our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Colorado. Check out our interactive map of over 30,000 of the best places to fly fish in the US. These deep reservoirs of this area are chock-full of freshwater shrimp called mysis, damselflies, and baitfish, all of which are excellent protein essential for large fish. This region comprises lush valleys, meandering meadow streams, and rose-colored, boulder-filled canyons. Fly Fishing the South Platte River is an excerpt from the larger book Fly Fishing Colorado by Jackson Streit. The mileage below Cheesman Canyon is the renowned Deckers area, a world-class fishery with easy access and lots of opportunity. Spinney Reservoir is home to a large broodstock of Colorado’s hybrid genetics and that speaks for itself as to the quality of fish that mature in this reservoir. Avoid having to stay and travel from locations further away from the fishing by planning ahead for your short or extended trips. View and explore trout flies for fly fishing on South Platte River. The best fishing is from Bridge Crossing to the lower boundary of the Tee Pee Club. For more info on what’s fishing best during your visit feel free to reach out at (970) 423-7031! Install this DIY Fly Fish on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the South Platte River in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing Cochetopa Creek in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Florida River in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Crystal River in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing South Boulder Creek in Colorado, DIY Guide to Fly Fishing the Elk River in Colorado. The age of the general area (especially around Waterton Canyon), has caused the granite in the area to exfoliate, resulting in domes of solid rock that are as majestic as they are mystifying. Conifer, Pine Junction, Deckers, and Sedalia are all popular “jumping off” points for anglers looking to land a Gold Medal trout, and all of them offer access to the river via Highway 67. Deckers is only 53 miles from the Colorado Springs Airport, so flights in and out of that location are recommended for visitors. The river is well known for its wild trophy population of brown and rainbow trout. We provide everything you will need including waders, boots, rods, reels, tippet and flies. Fly Fishing the South Platte River on the Dream Stream Colorado. The forks rise above the Mosquito Range, on the western side of South Park CO. There really isn’t any particular section of the South Platte that doesn’t offer fantastic opportunities to land a trophy Brown, Brook, or Rainbow trout. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for South Platte River, Cheeseman-Chatfield in Colorado! The river is home to a wide variety of warm water fish, however, does hold trout in some of the upper sections. Cheeseman Canyon is another location right down the road from Denver and is a tactician’s dream with big boulders, shallow tailouts, and abundant subaquatic insects allowing world class euro-nymphing and delicate dry fly action. To call the South Platte River a fly-fishing legend is something of an understatement. 1. These tailwaters grow trout to truly impressive sizes as this climate is uniquely perfect for trout forage. The Blue Quill Angler has guides on the South Platte, Blue, Colorado, William's Fork and North Fork of the South Platte several times a week. Pages PUBLISHER. Res. The South Platte River is a gold medal western trout river on the eastern slope of Colorado. For those looking at options closer to Denver, don’t fret, as the fish quality does not change much as you head further downstream. The beauty of the place alone could carry it to legendary status on its own merits, as the massive granite formations and boulders stand like a testament to the passage of giants in ages past. In fly fishing circles, it has achieved heroic myth status as THE fly fishing destination for Gold Medal trout. That said, seeing as how Deckers doesn't receive a run of lake fish, you can almost always expect to have some elbow room through mid-April. The scenery may be legendary, but it is the fishing that makes the gives the area its status as a location for mighty deeds of anglers that would seem downright mythical if not for the innumerable pictures and trophies taken there. Thanks to the weather in the high meadows of the South Platte River region, there are hatches of caddis fly almost year round, and though the winter cold can be absolutely brutal, it is a good way to avoid the crowds that pack the river’s edge during the busy season. Access to the water is somewhat more problematic in the winter, though it has more to do with the ice and snow along Highway 67 than it does other anglers hoping to make the catch of a lifetime. Once the mainly private waters of the north fork meet the main stem, the water becomes difficult to access once again as things get more private. This area is probably the best option for anglers in Denver unwilling to pay the expensive rod fees to access the private water downstream of this area. Fly Fishing the South Platte River in Deckers, Colorado. If you haven’t tried fly fishing in the winter, take advantage of our special rates and let our professional guides show you why we love this secret season. How to Fish the South Platte River in Waterton Canyon by Ascent Fly Fishing. The fish are plentiful throughout. Tomahawk SWA is only fishable for three seasons as the flows taper off in fall to unfishable levels in the public section while Charlie Meyers remains fishable year round. It is expected to be in the warehouse by December 1, 2018, just … Fly Fishing the Dream Stream - South Platte River, Colorado March 18th 2017. The easiest way to get to the headwaters of the river is from Highway 67, which follows the main course of the South Platte’s flow through Pike National Forest to the edge of Waterton Canyon. This area is probably one of the most heavily pressured fisheries in Colorado, but for good reason as you have realistic options at catching several fish over 20 inches and the species list includes Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, CutBow hybrid trout, and Kokanee Salmon. This section runs from the Pumphouse boat ramp down to the State Bridge boat ramp and is the most popular fly fishing stretch in the lower forty-eight. These lakes all fish fairly similar and are less than 50 miles apart allowing abundant nutrient for giants to grow to impressive sizes. As the South Platte leaves Denver, much of the fly fishing opportunity disappears, though you do have chances of catching some football size carp, a battle for any six weight. A few to check out are listed below. There are a number of area fly shops and on-line retailers that publish South Platte River fishing reports. In addition to our Woodland Park store, we also have Frying Pan Anglers in Basalt, CO and The San Juan Angler in Durango, CO.. We are conveniently located on US Highway 24 west next door to the Sonic and McDonalds. DITCH THE LIFT LINE. This river eventually flows to the Platte River then Missouri River before finally becoming the mighty Mississippi River. In addition to this excellent tailwater, it’s “little brother,” Tomahawk SWA, is another amazing stretch just upstream of the dream stream, living somewhat in its shadow. Earned Gold Medal trout fishing status in Colorado. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 6X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard. It may appear that most of this river is private or overcrowded when read about online, but with proper guidance and good mayfly selection this river can be incredibly productive and should be at the very top of every fly anglers bucket list. Both rainbow trout and brown trout are found in the South Platte River in large numbers. The South Platte River begins high atop the frozen Continental Divide, home to a chain of rugged 13,000-foot, snow-capped peaks. Whether you are looking for amazing rivers or flourishing lakes, the South Platte system has you covered! This amazing waterway is best fished between Denver and Alma as this is the cold water stretch and supplies vast amounts of food allowing these trout to grow to large sizes in short amounts of time. The South Plate River starts above Spinney Mtn.