Where to Go South Platte River – Deckers
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Report Date: 10/10/2025
Current Conditions:
The flows in the Deckers area have been stable for the last few weeks or so. The flows are still great at 165 cfs and just about average for this time of the year. The Deckers corridor has been fishing good recently and we are seeing a wide variety of tactics working. Nymphing, dry fly fishing, and even dry/droppers are all doing excellent. Focus on the smaller hatch specific patterns. The right flies, perfect drifts, and an attention to details are key.
Anglers can expect some variance in these flows throughout the remainder of the main season.
Cheesman reservoir is currently 86% full
Hatches:
The bug activity has increased a bit. The fall BWO's are starting to become very prolific and the fish are paying attention to them in all life stages. Midges are pretty strong right now as well. There are still a few Tricos around as well. Youll have to take it day by day in here right now in terms of what bugs the fish are focusing on.
Tactics:
Nymphing is the most effective technique right now. Depth/weight will always be the most important thing with nymphing, but especially now. Focus on seams, shelves, and transition points in the river. Make sure your flies are in the feeding zone! Dry fly fishing has also picked up and a great option now!
Tips:
The river hasnt been as busy with some other sections of the South Platte becoming more popular right now. Its a great time to fish this area.
Weather:
Short Term- Over the next 24 hours, we could see a bit of precipitation up here. Any storms that do happen should be pretty short lived. Temps will still be nice in the 70's but we will have a good bit of cloud cover. Sunday will be gorgeous and then a change on Monday. Then, temps will drop about 15 degrees with highs in the 50's. The rest of next week looks pretty mellow and nice. Highs will be in the 60's and we could see a rogue rain storm on Thursday. Overall, this weekend and next week look like great fishing weather!
Long Term- Long term forecasts are still pointing at a sustained dry and warm fall season. But as we head into next weekend (10/18) we will see another disturbance move through the area. We should see some rain on Saturday night. Temps will also cool off pretty significantly next weekend and the highs wont get out of the 50's. We will be keeping an eye on that storm as it does have some potential to impact this area.
This is an area we offer guided fly fishing trips. We are one of two outfitters permitted to operate in the USFS section of Deckers. There is not better way to learn an area like this than hiring one of our Orvis endorsed professional guides!
RECOMMENDED PATTERNS
For a custom fly assortment for this location, click here!
Our Top 6 Nymphs for Today:
- Mimic May, olives, size 22
- No mercy midge, brown, size 20
- Foamback emerger, brown, sizes 20-22
- Pheasant tail.(no flashback) sizes 20-22
- Stalcups baetis, olive size 22
- Jedi Master, grey, size 22
Our Top Dry Flies for Today:
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- Barrs vis a dun, olive, size 22
- Sparkle dun, BWO, sizes 18-20
- Mole Fly, brown, sizes 20-22
- Smokejumper, baetis, sizes 22-24
- Neils BWO, size 22
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Our Top Streamer Patterns for Today:
*Wooly buggers, black, brown, sizes 8-12
*Humdinger, brown, size 4
*Baby Gonga, yellow, size 6
*Poacher, olive, size 8
Standard South Platte nymph rig set up:
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!
The South Platte River at Deckers was devastated by debris in 2002 from Colorado's largest fire in its recorded history followed by two huge floods. Since then, Deckers has been making great progress toward recovery and the debris left over from the fire and floods is being used by caddis for making their cases. The caddis have taken over the river the last few springs. Caddis hatches that rival the famed Arkansas River's "Mother's Day hatch" have happened in Deckers the last four years. It's showing no sign of slowing down.
When the fish aren't coming up to caddis, a tandem nymph rig with typical fare can still be deadly. The summer months can be a lot of fun for anglers that are into throwing streamers and big dry flies. Elk hair caddis, Amy's Ants, stimulators, and foam hoppers such as the streambank hopper are great dry flies to have. Good nymph patterns to carry are: Mercury Pheasant Tails, South Platte Brassies, San Juan Worms, Pat's Rubber Leg Stonefly, RS-2's, Murphy's Bubbleback Midge, Blindside Midges, Buckskins, Top Secret Midges, Medallion Midges, and Black Beauties.
I'm so pleased to see this fishery come back strong after the Hayman fire. Deckers has been producing some of the area's strongest, most beautiful trout in the last couple of years. While the area may get crowded, there is a ton of water along the corridor and it's always fun to go seek out new water. As with anywhere on the South Platte, be sure to check the flows before you go. Sudden bumps or drops in the flow will negatively affect the fishing on this river.
Jon Easdon, Guide and Director of Services
Deckers is also a great winter fishing destination because it is a tailwater. A tailwater fishery is where a river comes out below a dam; consequently, during the winter months the water temps are just warm enough to stay relatively ice-free all year. Sections where the sun hits the water is where you can find feeding fish. This time of year can be the most productive for solitude-seeking anglers who aren't afraid of using light tippets and very small flies.
This is an area we specialize and are permitted in, so give us a shout if you have any questions or if you're interested in allowing one of our Orvis-Endorsed guides show you how best to fish the Deckers area.
South Platte River – Deckers.
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Directions - 40 miles - 49 Minutes
- From Angler's Covey head west on US 24 W/Cimarron St, go 16.7 miles
- Turn right at CO-67 towards Deckers, go 23.1 miles