Landing the Big Ones
Top Rocky Mountain guides share tips, tricks,
and strategies for high country fishing
by Landon Mayer
The South Platte River is one of the most highly prized fishing rivers in the State of Colorado, and a favorite among fly fishers. The river is rich in diversity as it runs out of the mountains, meanders through open fields, feeds reservoirs, and forms tailwaters as it exits the very reservoirs it fills. Throughout its journey it creates a habitat within which large quantities of quality fish live. The opportunities that exist for anglers to find various challenging fishing conditions are truly remarkable.
With some of the most prolific hatches comes perhaps the best dry fly fishing in the state, and as a bonus some of the most technical and challenging tailwater nymphing in the region. Often the South Platte can make for a challenging, yet rewarding, fishing experience for any fly fisher. These waters present the chance to catch the trout of a lifetime.
The four most popular areas of the river are Spinney Mountain Ranch, Eleven Mile Canyon, Cheeseman Canyon, and Deckers. LetÕs take a look at what each one offers:
Spinney Mountain Ranch
Nestled in the South Park valley off of highway 24, the tailwater below Spinney Mountain Reservoir is often referred to as the ÒDream Stream.Ó And for good reason. The stretch of river between Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir is about a mile and a half long. This waterway is home for Rainbows, Browns, Cutthrout, Cut-Bows, and Kokanees, w ith an abundance of each in their seasons. Also some of the biggest trout in the state are caught here, and large numbers of quality fish can be found throughout its length. The stream can be productive year round, depending on the weather, and when it is ÒonÓ it can offer some of the most spectacular fishing youÕll ever enjoy. However at certain times the Dream Stream can also challenge even the most experienced of anglers.
Midges are the most dominant food source throughout the cold winter months. In late spring and early summer, when the runoff occurs, the flows through this section of the South Platte are increased. This results in an abundant supply of one of the most important food sources in the river, which are Scuds. Scuds are a fresh water crustacean with a very high protein content, that reside in the reservoirs but are washed downstream due to the release of waters into the tailwaters. This rich food source is partly responsible for the healthy trout population in the river below each of the reservoirs.
During the summer months and into early fall, there are nearly daily, and sometimes prolific, hatches on the river. These hatches include Blue Winged Olives (BWO), Caddis, Trico, PMDs, Midges and Stone Flies.
While these hatches can produce some truly great dry fly fishing, the most productive way to fish the water is by using nymphs and emergers. The river is full of a number of aquatic insects including Batis Nymphs, Stone Flys, PMDs, Tricos, Midges, Scuds, aquatic worms, Crane Fly larvae, Leaches, Caddis larvae, and Pupa.
The Dream Stream is nestled in a valley, between two sets of hills that form a natural funnel resulting in an area that is almost always prone to afternoon winds. Though many anglers are often driven off the river by the afternoon winds, those that stay can enjoy some of the toughest but most rewarding fly fishing. Sticking around and fishing hoppers along the bank during the summer months can produce some large fish, and spectacular strikes. And last, but not least, streamer fishing on the river can be an exciting way to produce some aggressive takes by eager trout. The best way to effectively fly fish streamers is to cover all of the water in fanlike patterns, and fish all of the numerous runs and deep bodies of water the length of the Ranch. Covering lots of ground, and fishing quickly but thoroughly, will increase your chances of finding the fish.
Eleven Mile Canyon
Located off Highway 24, near the town of Lake George, Eleven Mile Canyon is the tailwater that exits Eleven Mile Reservoir. The canyon itself is a magnificent display of unique rock formations, and a gorgeous setting for one of the most productive areas on the South Platte River. This section of the river has an abundance of aquatic life and a large population of fish to match. There is a nine mile fishable stretch of river below the dam, and the most often fished section is the three miles of river below the dam. This section was designated in 2001 as catch and release, artificial fly and lure only water. Because of the natural protection of the canyon walls, this area can provide wind free conditions for a good portion of many days.
The river is host for some of the most productive, and complex hatches during the summer months. During this time you can witness various bug hatches coming off at the same time, or back to back, throughout the entire day. Midges are the productive fly to fish with during the winter months. During late Spring through Fall BWOs, PMDs, Caddis, Tricos, and Midges work well.
Eleven Mile, while being a very intense dry fly fishery, can also be equally productive with nymphs and emergers. The often clear water can allow you to get an excellent visual of the fish, which helps in making good drifts and timely sets. With practice, nymphing can often be as visual as dry fly fishing. The abundance of nymphs and aquatic life within the river will consist of Scuds, aquatic emergers, May Fly nymphs, BWOs, Batis, PMDs, Caddis pupae/larvae, Midges, Crane Fly larvae, Trico nymphs, and Leaches.
When fishing in Eleven Mile Canyon it is important to match the hatch throughout the day, and change flies as needed to be productive. With one of the largest bio mass of aquatic life in the state, you need to be attentive to changes in the life cycle around you. Eleven Mile Canyon is a jewel for many anglers, one that should be fished at each opportunity.
Cheeseman Canyon
Cheeseman Canyon is one of the most scenic areas of the South Platte River. With access to the river via mountain hiking trails, it gives anglers the feel of an adventure to just get to the fishable water. The river is made up of many different types of runs and pocket waters; if you want something different, just walk for a short distance.
This area of the South Platte is known to many as a challenging fishery. To be able to execute drag free drifts in the tricky flows and holding waters is often the key to success. A lot of the trout in this section of the river are found in deeper water, surrounded by seams and varying current speeds. If you maintain line control while fishing in these areas, it will result in your fly being presented to the fish as a natural as a real bug.
During the summer months the canyon can provide some really great dry fly opportunities. This is especially the case in the shallower slow moving water and gravel runs. BWOs, PMDs, Tricos, Red Quills, Midges, and Caddis are some of the most productive hatches.
The most commonly effective way to fish the canyon is with nymphs. With the overwhelming number of feeding lanes the fish can inhabit throughout the river, covering lots of water and presenting the fly naturally to the fish is the most productive way to fish these waters. It is important to understand the water column the fish is holding in. To achieve this you will need to determine how deep the fish is in the water, and adjust your gear so the fly reaches that depth. Aquatic worms, Scuds, Batis nymphs, Trico, PMDs, BWO, midges, Caddis larvae, and pupa are always good. When the flows go up and the river is running high, there are a large number of worms and scuds that are washed down river. Try fishing an attractor top fly, with a May Fly nymph or emerger below. That can often be a deadly combination. When water conditions are lower, smaller midges and May Fly nymphs have been found to work well.
Deckers
The Deckers section is one of the oldest, and most famous, fisheries along the South Platte River. Due to the unfortunate Hayman Fire in 2003, the river has been damaged by the devastating effects of the forest fire. This is a classic example of how the waterways around these treeless areas can be affected negatively. Due to the amount of soot and sand accumulation after nearly each rain or water run off in the area, the ecology of the river is nowhere near as robust as it once was. Although the river is in its recovery stages, and will hopefully return to being the fishery it once was, it is still a fragile system.
Some anglers are still able to be successful on the water when there are low and steady water flows. If there is a substantial amount of rain fall, often times the water rushes through the Deckers area; because of the lack of vegetation along the hills it takes mud and debris into the river. Early to late summer, and during the winter, seem to be the most productive times to fish this area because of the stable flows.
Many anglers have kept clear of the water on a regular basis because of the damage done by the fire. which hopefully will result in a quicker recovery for this stretch of river. IÕd encourage you to do the same, enjoying it on an infrequent basis until it has recovered, and using common sense by staying on maintained trails and leaving the waterway should it start to rain.
With the fly fishing opportunities the South Platte has to offer, in my opinion it is a treasure in our own backyards. With the large number of fly fishers in the region, the pressure on these waters has the potential to be high. These fish have seen it all and are often wary, so fluorocarbon leaders and tippets are a must. Tricks like that can be the difference from having a not so good a fishing day to having an exceptional one.
Often these waters can become crowded, with fly fishers from all over the world coming to enjoy some of the most spectacular fishing to be found anywhere. With all the anglers on the water it is important that each of us put into practice our streamside etiquette. This sharing of the river by each fly fisher will help to create a pleasant experience for all. IÕm sure that your next fishing adventure to the South Platte is going to be a successful one, and I hope to see you on the water!
About The Author
Landon Mayer is enjoying the spring months sight fishing for trophy trout throughout the region. This fall he caught a state record Brown Trout and a potential world-record CutbowÑboth in the state of Colorado. To see photos of those fish and others, as well as read about the strategies used, visit www.extremeflyfishing.com.
