Where to Go South Platte River – Deckers
Current Reports
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Report Date: 10/21/2026
Conditions:
The USGS gauge below Brush Creek near Trumbull is currently reading just below 60 cfs, representing a sharp drop from mid-October releases. Water clarity is exceptionally gin-clear throughout the open meadow stretches and boulder runs. These reduced seasonal flows have drawn trout out of shallow riffles and compressed them tightly into remaining deep main-channel slots, plunge pools, and soft drop-offs behind bridge pillars. Brown trout remain actively staging on shallow gravel tailouts for the fall spawn; anglers must exercise strict river ethics by avoiding active redds and keeping all fishing pressure focused on deeper holding water.
Guide Reports:
Mike Haycock - 10/5/2026
Great midge hatch 8:30-11. Slower fishing after that. Fish willing to eat in deeper runs and tailouts during hatch. No egg eaters yet. All fish on light colored midge emergers size 22 and 24.
Josh Heney - 10-4-2026
Fished really slow only one fish to the net.
Weather:
Short-Term
High-country autumn weather over the next 3 days will bring pleasant daytime highs hovering in the low-to-mid 60s under partly cloudy skies. Mornings will open brisk and frosty in the 30s to low 40s before sun-driven warming takes effect. Light to moderate canyon breezes will build to 8 to 15 mph by early afternoon, creating a gentle surface chop across open meadow glides that helps mask leader shadows and terminal tackle.
Long-Term
Extended regional forecasts over the next 10 days indicate a steady fall cooling trend across the South Platte corridor. Highs will gradually step down into the upper 40s and 50s, while overnight lows consistently drop into the 20s, bringing hard morning freezes to the valley floor. Steady tailwater releases out of Cheesman Reservoir will maintain stable subsurface water temperatures, preserving predictable midday feeding windows and driving trout deeper into their winter holding lies.
Hatches:
Midges dominate the daily hatch profile, emerging reliably during calm morning and early afternoon windows. Fall Blue-Winged Olives offer delicate dry-fly opportunities on overcast days, particularly in quiet foam lines and slow tailouts. With cold morning frosts taking hold across the valley, terrestrial activity has effectively run its course, shifting trout attention entirely to subsurface midge pupae, Baetis emergers, and small attractor nymphs.
Tactics:
These low 60 cfs flows combined with heavy public pressure make ultra-stealthy bank approaches mandatory. Lengthen leaders to 9 to 12 feet and downsize to 6X or 7X fluorocarbon tippet to eliminate micro-drag across subtle current seams. Transition to minimal weight (#8 split shot or smaller) paired with micro-yarn or yarn-paster indicators to prevent heavy splashing in shallow, glassy water. Focus dead-drifts exclusively through the deepest slots and shaded ledge runs.
Tips:
Rig multi-fly nymph setups using small midge emergers, tiny Baetis nymphs, subtle scud patterns, and small bloodworm or leech point flies fished deep with minimal split shot. For rising fish, present small midge dry flies or BWO emergers during peak hatch windows. Pay attention to tributary mouths like Brush Creek, as localized autumn rain can briefly alter clarity downstream even when the main stem gauge remains stable.
This is an area where we offer guided fly fishing trips. There is no better way to learn an area like the Deckers than hiring one of our Orvis-endorsed professional guides!
Recommended Fly Patterns:
Dry Fly Patterns
- Mole Fly, brown, sizes 20-22
- Extended Body BWO, sizes #18-22
- Griffith's Gnat, sizes #18-22
- Parachute Ant, Black, sizes #18-20
- Bionic Ant, size 14
Nymph Patterns
- RS2, grey, size 20
- Juju Baetis, Black, Olive, or Purple, sizes #18-22
- CDC RS2, Grey or Black, sizes #20-24
- Bling Midge, size 20-24
- Buckskin, size 18-20
- San Juan Worm, Natural Brown, sizes #12-16
Streamer Patterns
- Mini Dungeon, Yellow or Brown, sizes #6-8
- Slump Buster, Olive or Black, sizes #8-10
- Thin Mint Bugger, sizes #8-10
Anglers Covey Bug Of The MOnth:
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River Details:
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 to make 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 who 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.
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