Fishing Season: Year Round, Prime March through October

South Platte River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

38

Orvis Cherry Creek's Tip of the Week

Happy Holiday from our crew at Orvis! Winter is here! GO SMALL! The flow will go down depending the demand on water downstream! The winter flow today is 145 cfs which is great for this time of the year. This year the trout are smaller than the past years! Trouts around 12 to 18’ are generally caught this year whereas in the past, large trout around 20” plus are readily available! The temperature in the coming week will be in the 40’s degree. Ice is starting to form below Deckers. Winter fishing: You can get up later and not have to worry. The best time to fish is between 10 am to 3 pm. With the cooler weather, start down sizing the flies to 20, 22 and 24, Indicators, lighter leaders, tippets and rod too. Finesse is a must! Don’t splash the flies with heavy indicators! Trouts are not in the riffles as much. They are more spooky and picky! They are back in the deep lies and seams. Fishing will be more technical with the lower water! Fish will key on particular flies. Don't forget BWOs (20-22), midges (size 20-24)through out the day. Mercury midges, bling midges, Top Secret emergers, Chocolate Thunders, RS2's and all small beatis patterns are proving effective. UV scuds, worms, stoneflies, and brown and olive leeches are great attractors. By late morning, watch for hatches! Dry flies fishing should start late morning or the late afternoon if and when you see hatches. Micro San Juan worms and eggs are the effective flies! Please handle the fish be care1. If you have a rod vault, don’t leave any valuable in the vault. Thieves are targeting the rod vaults around Deckers and Cheeseman area.

Directions open in app

Map of South Platte River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Orvis Cherry Creek
Anglers Covey
Freestone Outfitters
Sunrise Anglers

5-Day Outlook as of 12/28/24

The flow is at 145 cfs! The flow is above normal for winter! Use midges and BWO all day! Midge hatches usually come later on in the morning. Watch out for dries with the cloudy days. Olive and brown mini leeches are very effective right now. Since the flow has come down a bit, fishing is very technical! The water is getting colder.

Techniques & Tips as of 12/28/24

For fall fishing, fish generally gathered at deeper pools and runs that the trout doesn’t need to spend energy to feed. Small midges and baetis are the ticket, smaller diameter tippet and adjusting depth frequently is a key strategy. Match the hatches!! Fluorocarbon tippets in 5 & 6 and even 7X are most effective for nymphing. Utilize heavier split shot or larger tungsten head point flies to get down deep, adjust depth prior to switching patterns. With lower water level, use smaller indicator! If you're not having success with the micro flies and midges, throw out scuds, leeches, eggs or worm. I like to use mini leeches to entice the trouts especially when nothing is working! If you see some action on the top water, no mercy midge or Matt's midge are the keys. Adams are great flies to use in the early and late afternoon! With the flow this week, 5X and 6X will catch you a lot of fish. Come see Gene at Orvis Cherry Creek for more information!

Local Species Available Year Round, Prime March through October

  • Fish Icon

    Brown and Rainbow Trout

Orvis Cherry Creek's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail Natural 18-20
Rojo Midge Red 20-24
Midge Black/Red 20-26
Bead Head Brassie™ Brass 18-24
Top Secret Midge Brown or Purple 20-24
Splitcase BWO Olive 18-22
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer Natural 6-12
Bead Head Prince Black 20-22
Mayer's Mini Leech Black/ Olive/ Brown 14-16
Poison Tung Black or Blue 20-24

Bead Head Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail

Wet fly patterns don't get any better than this.

2.49

Item #164J

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Orvis Cherry Creek's Recommended Gear

Description: About South Platte River

The South Platte River (Cheesman Canyon to Chatfield Reservoir) The South Platte River is one of the best small tailwater fisheries in the world. Offering anglers over 100 miles of public access and easy walk wade fishing, the South Platte is a combination of three forks which have as their headwaters the 14,000 foot peaks of the Colorado Rockies. This river is famous for prolific midge, mayfly, and caddis hatches where dry fly and nymph fishing are second to none. The river is accessed within a 2 hour drive of Denver, and can be fished year-round . Picturesque Cheesman Canyon, famous for big rainbows, granite boulders, and crystal clear water, is a favorite hiking and fly-fishing destination just 54 miles from downtown Denver. “Big fish eat small flies here!" Species: Trout, Brown, Cutbows, Rainbows, and Cutthroat. Resources: Orvis Cherry Creek 303-355-4554, Anglers Covey 719-471-2984 www.anglerscovey.com Maps: Delorme Gazetteer, Fly fisher’s guide to Colorado

Nearest Airport:

Denver International Aiport

Hatches:

Midges, BWO, scuds, San Juan worms, trout classics (PT, CJ, etc.), mini leech, rubber legs, No Mercy Midge and don't forget hopper dropper in the afternoon!

Best Time to Fish:

early morning to dusk with nymphs and the occasional streamer

Best Stretch:

Cheesman Canyon, Deckers to Night Hawk Hill

Best Access:

Upstream from the bridge at Deckers and the Bridge Crossing day use area