Deckers – South Platte
14 Day Forecast: Look for sporadic hatches of midges, Tricos, and blue-winged olives
Effective Patterns: #20-22 Jujubaetis, #18-20 Top Secret Baetis, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #20 -22 Mercury Midge, #18 Buckskin, #20-22 Parachute Adams, #16-20 Mathew's Sparkle Dun, #22-24 Trico, #22 Pat's Midge, #24 Hi-Vis Baetis, and #22 Hi Vis Griffith Gnat.
Measurements
Colorado Fly Fishing Report for Deckers on the South Platte by Pat Dorsey
The mileage below Cheesman Canyon is the renowned Deckers area, a world-class fishery with easy access and lots of opportunity. The best fishing is from Bridge Crossing to the lower boundary of the Tee Pee Club. Like Cheesman Canyon, the fish are challenging to catch, and there is no substitution for a good dead drift. Deckers can offer good dry fly fishing at times but like upstream in the “The Canyon” a good nympher will catch the majority of fish. Anglers can expect to catch assortment of browns and rainbows with some exceeding 20 inches. The river is made up of riffles, runs, shelves and gravel bars, and nice pocket water. The ideal flow for Deckers is between 150 and 400 cfs. The regulations are two trout over 16 inches in length and flies and lures only. Please consider catch and release on all fish caught in the area.
Deckers is a world-renowned stretch of the South Platte River. There are miles of public water to fish in and around the hamlet of Deckers.
Tips & Other Information:
Outflows were reduced to 100 cfs below Cheesman Reservoir yesterday. Deckers is fishing fair for both small (6-12 inch) rainbow and brown trout. On occasion, you catch a few fish over 14 inches. Like any river, Deckers is hatch-driven, when bugs are coming off, you’ll see the fish…when there is a shortfall of midges and mayflies emerging, the fish are hiding. With that being said, the fish are spread out and holding odd places, tucked in near weedbeds, hiding around structure, and making their presence known during the height of a hatch. The morning midge hatches have been reliable as of late. The Trico hatch is finally a part of matching the hatch during the morning hours. The afternoon brings some blue-winged olive hatches which is good news. If you really look for them, you’ll be surprised how many rising fish there are right now. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and fish with a Hi Vis Baetis and try to pound fish up near the stream bank, near weed beds, rocks, pockets, etc. during the non hatch periods…you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Revised 11/01/24
Note: Denver Water plans to drop the river to 50 cfs on November 11 through 13, 2024 so that Colorado Parks and Wildlife can do their trout sampling. This occurs every year during this same timeframe…please make a note of it.