South Platte River: Deckers

Weekly Report

South Platte flows at Deckers bumped ~50 cfs earlier this week. Sitting at 252 cfs, flows are at a healthy and productive level. Due to cool water and overnight air temps, focus most of your attention on softer water (pronounced pools, soft runs, outer seams and slack water) during the morning and evening. As the sun rises and warms the water, cycle in riffles, transitions and pockets. As we transition to fall, trout are still looking up at the surface but are a bit more selective, so do your best to match the hatch. Midges are still coming off strong during the low light hours and you’ll find a few tricos during those windows as well. Midge patterns such as Griffiths Gnats and trico patterns such as Parachute Tricos and CDC Trico Spinners are good patterns to have on hand. The BWO hatch is really picking up and putting on a show during the afternoon, so be prepared to fish baetis emergers leading up to noon and dry flies (Parachute BWOs, Hi Vis BWO etc.) between 12 pm and 2 pm. As long as overnight air temps hold above freezing, terrestrial patterns will encourage opportunistic takes along the banks. Fish a terrestrial pattern on its own or trail a searcher and a pupa/emerger pattern for a hopper double dropper. When trout aren’t actively feeding on the surface, a nymph rig is your best bet. Lead with a Blood Midge, Miracle Nymph, Zebra Midge, Two Bit Hooker, Micro Mayfly or Flashback Pheasant Tail. Behind one of those patterns, trail a #20-22 midge pupa or baetis emerger. Think Mercury Black Beauties, Top Secrets, Jujubee Midges, Chocolate Foam Backs, RS2s, Mercury Baetis etc. Squirmy Worms, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ears, eggs and Pat’s Rubber Legs are good slumpbuster lead patterns if you’re not getting looks.

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