Where to Go Middle Fork of the South Platte
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SUMMER HOURS 6am to 6pm Daily
Report Date: 8/27/2025
FIRE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE
Current Conditions:
The middle fork appeared to have received a good shot of rain over the last few days. While a bump in flows may disrupt a fishery, this will likely bode well for the area. After a couple weeks of insanely low flows, they are perfect now. The river may be a little off color, but this could be a good time to target the middle fork. Keep an eye on things up here with our forecast, there will be more rain. Dry or hopper/droppers is the name of the game. Try working the banks and swinging your droppers underneath the banks. Covering ground and staying on the move is the best way to fish the middle fork.
The mosquitos are here and it can be downright brutal up here. Take bug spray!
Hatches:
We are seeing some mayfly, midge, and caddis activity up here. Terrestrials always do well on the middle fork sections too.
Tactics:
Watch the flows and weather. Cover water!
Weather:
Short Term- We have had quite the opposite weather on how the first half of August was. After a very hot and dry start to the month, its been extremely wet and cool recently. We have seen consistent and almost persistent rainfall over the last few days. This weather change couldnt have come at a better time as fire danger was starting to increase substantially. We will continue to see some cooler and wet weather through the week and into the weekend. Temps will be in the upper 60's/low 70's and rain chances are pretty high each day. Its a good bet that you could encounter rain at any time. Some of the storms could bring quite a bit of lightning with it as well, so remain alert.
Long Term- Starting on Sunday, we look to dry out a little bit. Temps will remain nice but below seasonal averages. This short break should go through Monday, but then things return to a wetter and again cooler forecast starting on Tuesday. This monsoonal pattern looks to be sticking around through at least the first weekend in September with rain chances in the 50%+ range every day. Temps will stay in the 60's and 70's and will be quite pleasant. Beyond that, its anyones guess. We will take this moisture right now because we are bound to dry out and warm up again.
RECOMMENDED PATTERNS
For a custom fly assortment for this location, click here!
Our Top 6 Nymphs for Today:
- Spanish bullet, size 16-18
- 2 bit hooker, red, sizes 16-18
- Foamback emerger, brown, size 20
- Beadhead hares ear, sizes 16-18
- Warrior perdigon, sizes 16-18
- Beadhead soft hackle pheasant tail, size 18
Our Top Dry Flies for Today:
- Hippie Stomper, black/red/yellow, size 14-16
- Stubby chubby, any color, sizes 14-16
- Elk Hair caddis, sizes 16-18
- TL hopper, royal, size 14-16
- Chubby, royal, size 14-16
Standard nymph rig set up for the South Platte:
Screenshot the diagram above to reference while you're out on the water!
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR "WHERE TO GO" PAGE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON OTHER AREAS!
About Alma SWA
Middle Fork of the South Platte River finds its headwaters above Hoosier Pass. Water is diverted from the Breckenridge area and passed through a tunnel under Hoosier Pass into Montgomery Reservoir. This augments the flow particularly in the early summer.
About Tomahawk
Tomahawk is the Middle Fork of the South Platte River. This stretch of the river is a great place to find solitude from the crowds. Summer and fall are a great time of the year to throw big hoppers to eager brown trout. In the summer, bring insect repellent because the mosquitos can get bad. In the fall, bring heavy leaders because large browns come out of their typical hiding spaces and move up river from Spinney to spawn.
This is an area we specialize and are permitted to guide, so give us a shout if you have any questions or if you are interested in allowing one of our Orvis-Endorsed guides show you how best to conquer Middle Fork of the South Platte.
Interested in Booking a Trip?
Directions to Alma - 88.9 miles - 1 Hour 42 Minutes
- From Angler's Covey head west on US 24 W/Cimarron St, go 63.2 miles
- Turn right at CO-9 N towards Fairplay, go 16.1 miles
- Turn right at US-285 N, go 1.0 mile
- Turn left at CO-9 N/ Main Street, Fairplay and through Alma, 8.1 miles
- Watch your speed, this area is famous for speed tickets.
- Turn left at Co Rd 4, Park along stream in desinated areas.
Directions to Tomahawk - 70.5 miles - 1 Hour 19 Minutes
- Head West on US-24, go 63.2 miles
- Turn right on Co-9, go 7.2 miles