The South Platte near Deckers saw yet another bump this week and flows are up at just about 300cfs. If you thought the fishing was good at 250cfs wait until you see how happy these trout are at 300. Big bugs have been on the menu and you really can’t go wrong, whether you want to capitalize on the last few weeks of the hopper season, or tie on the nymph rig with some big-water bugs and a good bit of weight.
Our guides have continued to have a ton of luck with larger hopper dropper rigs. Don’t be afraid to size up the hopper and your nymphs. We have been seeing a ton of big fish on san juan and squirmy worms as well as Pat’s Rubber legs and big bright caddis nymphs!
As for the dry fly fishing, the bump in flows has slowed down some of the top-water action. We are still seeing strong numbers of Tricos, PMDs, and Caddis throughout the day, but it seems like the subsurface game is a better bet if you want to put numbers in the net. If you do want to dedicate some time to the dry we recommend showing up early and make sure you are well stocked on tiny Trico Dry and Spinner options.
The fishing is great right now and having some higher flows has made for some great late summer days on the water. that being said we still recommend keeping an eye on water temperatures as we get into the hottest month of the year. Early word from Denver Water is that they want to keep Cheesman Reservoir at or above 95% and right now we are sitting at 96% so this could mean a drop in flows in the next week or so. Try and get out and take advantage of the water while we have it! Keep an eye on the flows and keep your thermometer at the ready! If you need any help restocking on flies come and see us in Lone Tree. We will make sure you have everything you need for a great day on the water!
Tyler Banker