Deckers – South Platte
14 Day Forecast: Look for sporadic hatches of midges.
Effective Patterns: #20-22 Mercury Midge, #22-26 Black Beauty, #22-26 Top Secret Midge, #20 Rainbow Warrior, #20 Pale Olive Larva, #22-24 Bling Midge, #20 Red Larva, #20 South Platte Brassie, #20 Buckskin, #24 RS 2, #24 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Micro Egg, #18 Red Flossy Worm, #22-24 Matt's Midge, #22 Pat's Midge, #20-24 Griffith Gnat, and #24-26 Parachute Adams.
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:
The best fishing is from Scraggy View Picnic Area up to the Tee Pee Club. On the lower river, anglers should expect and plan for slush ice. It’s time to concentrate your efforts in the slow, deep pools where trout overwinter. Trailing two midge patterns (one larva and one pupa) off an attractor is a great strategy for this time of year. Don’t rule out fishing with a golden stonefly nymph or cranefly larva this time of year as anchor ice often dislodges the “naturals” from the substates. Late afternoon may bring out some surface feeders, so make sure you bring plenty of Griffith Gnats, Matt’s Midges, and Parachute Adams in sizes 22-26.