Where to Go Middle Fork of the South Platte
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SUMMER HOURS 6am to 6pm Daily
Report Date: 6/14/2026
Current Conditions:
Antero is done draining and we are seeing a drop in flows everywhere downstream. This is a good time to get in and fish the middle fork. We do anticipate that these flows will drop even more here soon. The mosquitos are already getting pretty bad, so be sure to prepare for that!
Tomahawk SWA- These flows are just about perfect for the middle fork. This is a great time to go check that area out! Work the banks with hopper/dropper set ups and cover ground.
Badger basin (Above Spinney)- The flows here are currently at 50 cfs. and a great time to hit this area. There is a lot of "boggy" terrain along this stretch from the high flows from draining Antero. There are spots that are pretty greasy.
These can be a fun options for the angler that wants to get away from the crowds.
Hatches:
There are a good number of BWO's and caddis on the middle fork. And of course hoppers are always a good choice here!
Tactics:
Cover ground with a hopper/dropper rig.
Weather:
Short Term- Today will cool off a bit and be absolutely beautiful. We could see an afternoon thunderstorm here today, so keep an eye out for that. Any storm should be brief and things should clear up fast. We will dry out and warm up next week. Temps could get close to record highs on Wednesday and we will see temps in the mid 80's! Precipitation chances are non existent during this time. Heading towards the end of week, precipitation chances will increase again. We have decent chances of rain from Friday through the weekend, and into next week. Temps will remain warm though. In all, this coming week looks like a great time to head out to the water.
Long Term- With the increased precipitation chances next week, it looks like we may start to see some consistent afternoon rain coinciding with the summer monsoon season. Temps will also be nice and in the 70's. Longer range forecasts have been hinting at this for a little while now, and this looks like the set up to that. We desperately need to get some consistent rainfall as our snowpack statewide is already gone. This is about 3 weeks earlier than normal, and expected after our low snow year. Each year when this happens, our fire danger increases.
Tips:
With the higher flows, dont sleep on some of those larger patterns. Scuds, cranefly larva, worms, and stoneflies can all be great additions to the typical hatching insects.
RECOMMENDED PATTERNS
For a custom fly assortment for this location, click here!
Our Top 6 Nymphs for Today:
- Blowtorch, sizes 16-18
- Thread Frenchie, sizes 16-18
- Jig pheasant tail, sizes 16-18
- Copper John, copper, sizes 16-18
- Bead head prince nymph, size 16
Our Top Dry Flies for Today:
- Chubbies, all colors, sizes 12-14
- Stubby chubbies, tan, sizes 16-18
- Hippie stomper, red, size 16
- Amys ant, green, size 16
- Big boned caddis, tan, size 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