Deckers – South Platte
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges, blue-winged olives, PMD's, Tricos, and caddis. On the lower river, there are green drakes and yellow sallies coming off.
Effective Patterns: #8 Pat's Rubber Legs, #20-22 Jujubaetis, #18-20 Top Secret Baetis, #20-22 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Black Beauty, #18-20 Pale Olive Midge Larva, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20 Sparkle Dun, #22-24 Trico Spinner, #14 Yellow Sally, #18 Barr Emerger, PMD, #18 Mole Fly, #20 Parachute BWO, #20 Hi-Vis Baetis, 20-22 Parachute Adams, #16 Elk Caddis
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 are about 94 cfs and the feeder creeks are adding an additional 10 cfs. The gauging station near Sugar Creek is currently reading 104 cfs. Denver Water tells me Cheesman Reservoir will NOT spill this year and they are gonna have a tough time fiilling it. At the currenet rate, they are tellling me that it will take 43 days to fill. Fishing has been good in the Deckers area as of late for 10- 14 inch trout. Fish over 14 inches are fewer in numbers, but there are a handfull of them around. This is my personal finding and is supported by the latest electro-shocking data. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently stocked 10 inch catchables in the immediate Deckers area. Plan for a good midge hatch in the morning, followed by some PMD’s, and Tricos. Overcast days are producing the best hatches. There are some green drakes and yellow sallies on the lower river as well. Caddis continue to a factor so make sure you are carrying a plenty of larvae, pupae, and adults. Revised 7/1/25