[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”121″ gal_title=”January 14 tylers fish takes the show rainbow warrior”]
Good evening my friends!
Welcome back to the freshest, most up to date information on the South Platte River, Decker’s! Looking at the river flow, Trumbull coming in this evening around 73 (cfs), with a water temperature of 41, clarity remains good, with some of the moss starting to die and break off from the latest deep freeze. With that being said, be prepared to check those flies often. The weather was quite a mix today, cold this morning, but not windy at all. About ten-thirty or so, a snow shower came through and things heated up quite considerably as the flakes started to fall! After that, the sun came out, even saw a dry midge or two around 3:3opm. The fishing remains pretty hot! The fish aren’t really getting active until about 10 or 10:30, but at the same time, throwing a streamer at night can be really productive too. Messed around a little last night with the boy’s! Had a couple fish on, but nothing in the net! Just seconds after the snow flurries started to consistently fall this afternoon, the fish really got active and went after the Grey, rs-2 pretty hard! As I made the comment out load, ” I really hope these snow flurries get things going” ZZZZZ, Screaming reel and Tyler hooked up on a 17 inch Cut-bow. As I opened my mouth to offer my “net skills” WHAM! Fish on! Both of us hooked are now hooked up on aggressive Cut-bow’s that had obviously been sparked by the snowflakes on the surface. Mine got off, but Tyler landed his. His fish is in today’s gallery, you’ll know which one I’m talking about when you see it! This continued for about 8-10 minutes, before shutting off as quickly as it turned on, but the fish remained active and returned to feed closer to the bottom and on the shelves. Looking ahead for the rest of the weekend, snow showers will be moving in overnight, with snow expected for Sunday and Monday. A small break in the snow on Sunday evening may be a window for some good rising action we similarly saw today. Winter fishing is great, but please remember that will more people up here because the fishing is so good, I’ve seen an increase in trash being left by the riverbank and along the road to Decker’s. If you have the opportunity to pick up some of this trash, even thought it’s not yours, please do so, as it not only goes where it needs to go, it doesn’t end up hurting, maiming, or needlessly killing our precious Wildlife.
Since I’ve been writing this blog now for about 8 months, I didn’t want you, the reader, to think that I’ve gotten too technical, HAHA! or have started taking myself too seriously! I completely recognize that this is still just FISHING! What I’m getting at here, remains to be seen, I’m just saying, what does all of this historical data crap really mean anyway? That’s another fun observation I’ve made about both myself and other fly-fisherman. I’ve pretty much allowed my simplification of things, at times, to allow me to make crucial decisions that are most certainly going to effect the outcome of my success on the river, on any given day. You see, sometimes I follow the scientific Angler that’s in my head. I get out the tiny little net, scoop the water and some stuff off the bottom of the river, and make a pretty educated guess of what to throw, based on the contents of the net, then reaping the rewards of my work! And then, there are those other times in which I choose my flies like my ex-wife made her football pool picks for the week, by picking my favorite color or what looks “Sparkly” and such! Not really sure what makes me go back and forth between both styles, but at the end of day, I’m having a good time on the river, catching some pretty amazing fish, and having great times with good people from all walks of life! That’s all I’ve got for today my friends, hope to see you on the river soon!
Chris
January 24, 2017 Fishing update for Decker’s
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”125″ gal_title=”JANUARY 24, midges and chilly/snowy 65 cfs”]
Hi Folks,
Sorry for the absence, not quite the full-time blogger billionaire yet! So, gotta get out there and work to keep the dream alive! Alright, with the disclaimer out of the way, let’s get to the update! Flows are unchanged for about a month now, 61 (cfs) below Cheesman Dam, with slightly higher flows through Decker’s and Trumbull at about 65-70 (cfs). Looking ahead to weather for the next two days, much cooler temps for the high’s, only reaching the mid twenties, tomorrow and Thursday. Look for more sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures as we go into the weekend, with light and variable winds around 6-10 mph. I’ve only gotten out on the river a couple of times the last few days, but managed to put a few in the net. I had my friend Tony, who is one of the local guides join me out there in the sporadic snow showers we saw today! There’s a good shot of him holding a nice Rainbow he picked up this afternoon behind my house. The fishing continues to be pretty good, however, the colder temperatures have kept the fish pretty low key until about 11 or 11:30 each day. I’m finding fish holding in pretty much all the usual spots, both in the deeper pools and even saw a bunch of fish stacked up today in the shallow, rocky shelves. As I tend to go back and forth between the shelves and the deeper holes, I’m constantly having to adjust my weight and strike indicator to account for drop-off and the proper drift. This is something that my neighbor and friend have really helped me with, as my normal instinct was to immediately assume that it was my flies that weren’t working! This is growth my friends! One thing I’ve learned by living up here and fishing mostly everyday, is that I’m constantly learning! Whether my bug knowledge improves, or my technique, I’m constantly watching and listening to other anglers that are willing to share what they’ve picked up along the way. This is another reason that I like to recommend a guided fly-fishing trip from FLIES AND LIES http://www.flies-n-lies.com. Whether you book a full day or half-day trip, the fine folks here will get you on the fish! Also, if you’re like me and have developed some “bad habits” around your game, they will get you back on track and greatly improve your chances of consistently catching fish! That’s all I’ve got for today my friends. More to come in the next few, as my schedule looks good to get me out on the river a bit more in the next few days. Until next time, have a great Wednesday and I’ll hopefully see you out there soon, on the WORLD FAMOUS South Platte River, Decker’s, Colorado.
Chris
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January 19, 2017 South Platte River Fishing Report
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”124″ gal_title=”January 2017 mixed bag of pics”]
Welcome to South Platte River Fishing Report!
Good evening my fellow fishing enthusiasts! Ice is mostly a thing of the past, not like 2,000 years past, but with a second day of temperatures almost reaching 60*, mother nature has surely worked her magic by melting off the remaining glaciers that have been clinging to the river banks for weeks! What does this mean for the fishing, we’ll get to that in just a few, but first, let’s get you up up speed on the current conditions here in the South Platte River Valley. Flows below the dam remain mostly unchanged for the third week, 62-70 (cfs) as the river winds it’s way down through Decker’s and Trumbull. Clarity is pretty good, however, with the second day of solid melt-off, you’ll most likely see a little more of debris set free from remaining ice from the riverbank, with an average water temperature of 41*. Looking ahead at the weather for the next few days, we’re expecting a light dusting of snow this evening, with cloudy skies tomorrow and forecast high of 41*. The weekend looks like a mixed bag of sun and clouds, with highs in the mid 30’s. The fishing continues to be pretty solid, with the fish feeding more aggressively in the riffles, but don’t pass up the chance to sight fish to trout that are feeding in the shallower pools and run-outs. Referring back to the ice melting off the banks, be stealthy when approaching the river, as fish are tending to hold closer to this abundance of food that’s being released with the melt-off. Nymphing continues to prove to be the most effective way of getting the fish in the net, with the usual suspects getting it done. Midges and Baetis patterns continue to dominate, but the “Pat’s Rubber Leg’s” has been my lead bug of choice the last couple of days, taking several fish over 16″ with this bug. Underneath this Rubber legs, the RS-2’s, zebra’s, WD-40’s, and mercury flashback midges have been getting strikes consistently throughout the day. If you don’t have these bugs in your box, don’t fret! Stop in to see the guys and Flies and Lies http://www.flies-n-lies.com and they’ll get you set up with all these bugs and I’m sure they’ll even give you a few of their favorites as well. Interested in a cabin for the night or the weekend, they’ve got that covered too. In addition to the cabins available through Flies and Lies, there are also additional cabins for rent through the Decker’s Country Store. Visit http://www.southplatterivercabins.com for more information on price and current availability. That’s all for now my friends! Until next time, have a great evening and I look forward to seeing you on the river soon.
Chris
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January 17, 2017 Fishing Report
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”123″ gal_title=”january 17 warm up and good fishing”]
Good evening!
Well, the snow and ice are mostly gone, the fish are hungry, and the weather is looking great for the next two days! Before I get into the fish stories and actual fishing report, let’s update you on the current conditions. 67-73 (cfs) is the current flow through Decker’s/Trumbull, with good clarity and a water temperature of 41* The ice has mostly melted away, except for some ice along the banks and the shaded areas, but be careful on this stuff my friends, a little bit of snow on this stuff and your going down! Flows are slightly lower below the Cheesman, coming in this evening at 62.5 (cfs). I personally haven’t fished the canyon in a few months, but the parking lot has been packed and the reports have been mixed. Similar to Decker’s, this tail section of the South Platte is truly a fantastic fishing experience. Whether your taking the Gill Trail, or hiking the upper trail to the dam, you are bound to see an abundance of wildlife, including deer, fox, elk, and if you’re extremely unlucky, a black bear or even a mountain lion! In addition to the wildlife, the views of the reservoir and the dam are astonishing. Sometimes you’ll forget your their to fish, until you get a view of what looks like a naval shipyard full of submarines, swimming around in the multiple pools and shallows you’ll find along this stretch of river. If you’re brave enough to hike the upper trail in winter, give yourself ample time to get back out, as the rock formations and steps you have to navigate can become snow covered and slick. It’s best this time of year to pack your gear in, making sure that you’ve got the proper footwear to navigate the trail. Also, make sure to take extra water, as this climb out can dry you up pretty quickly.
Today we started to see the beginning of a nice warm-up for Wednesday and Thursday. Highs in Decker’s will be around 55, with plenty of sunshine and little wind. The snow we saw over the last few days kept the fish down deep, but with today’s rise in temperature, the fish got pretty active this afternoon and we were able to hook up on a few nice fish around Trumbull. The midges and beatis continue to produce, with a variety of bugs getting it done. Some of our latest success has come from the Rainbow Warrior
, olive and grey WD-40, multiple-colored juju baetis, and the red zebra midge
. Now, that’s on the midge end of things! As you are mostly aware by now, my nymphing skills weren’t the best about 6 months ago, so I am always hoping to throw that Olive Wooley Bugger
, or toss a dry fly, if I’m seeing a rise. With that being said, today we did manage to see a few dry midges, so on went the small Griffiths Gnat
All of these flies can be purchased right here by clicking on the respective link! In addition to the few that we took today on the midge, I did manage to pick up one fish on a Mercury, Grey RS-2
, as it was sipping just below the surface. Looking towards the next couple of days, expect to see more people on the river, especially in the usual places, the bridge area, Lone Rock Campground http://www.reserveamerica.ocm, and of course the “Turn Hole” and “WIRE” sections. All of these areas/holes are along the YMCA road adjacent to the Decker’s Resort. With that being said, don’t pass up the chance to explore downriver! With over 10 plus miles of mostly public access to the river awaiting you downstream, be sure to try your luck at any of the spots where you’ll find the brown “P” signs along the way. Remember, you still must pay the “daily fee’ if you are parked in an area where this sign is displayed. That’s all for today folks! Hope you enjoy the picture gallery today, as I’ve put a few pictures up from the area in front of the Decker’s Resort, as well as some from the surrounding areas. Until next time, have a great evening and I hope to see you on the river soon!
Chris
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January 14, 2017 Decker’s Fishing Update
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”121″ gal_title=”January 14 tylers fish takes the show rainbow warrior”]
Good evening my friends!
Welcome back to the freshest, most up to date information on the South Platte River, Decker’s! Looking at the river flow, Trumbull coming in this evening around 73 (cfs), with a water temperature of 41, clarity remains good, with some of the moss starting to die and break off from the latest deep freeze. With that being said, be prepared to check those flies often. The weather was quite a mix today, cold this morning, but not windy at all. About ten-thirty or so, a snow shower came through and things heated up quite considerably as the flakes started to fall! After that, the sun came out, even saw a dry midge or two around 3:3opm. The fishing remains pretty hot! The fish aren’t really getting active until about 10 or 10:30, but at the same time, throwing a streamer at night can be really productive too. Messed around a little last night with the boy’s! Had a couple fish on, but nothing in the net! Just seconds after the snow flurries started to consistently fall this afternoon, the fish really got active and went after the Grey, rs-2 pretty hard! As I made the comment out load, ” I really hope these snow flurries get things going” ZZZZZ, Screaming reel and Tyler hooked up on a 17 inch Cut-bow. As I opened my mouth to offer my “net skills” WHAM! Fish on! Both of us hooked are now hooked up on aggressive Cut-bow’s that had obviously been sparked by the snowflakes on the surface. Mine got off, but Tyler landed his. His fish is in today’s gallery, you’ll know which one I’m talking about when you see it! This continued for about 8-10 minutes, before shutting off as quickly as it turned on, but the fish remained active and returned to feed closer to the bottom and on the shelves. Looking ahead for the rest of the weekend, snow showers will be moving in overnight, with snow expected for Sunday and Monday. A small break in the snow on Sunday evening may be a window for some good rising action we similarly saw today. Winter fishing is great, but please remember that will more people up here because the fishing is so good, I’ve seen an increase in trash being left by the riverbank and along the road to Decker’s. If you have the opportunity to pick up some of this trash, even thought it’s not yours, please do so, as it not only goes where it needs to go, it doesn’t end up hurting, maiming, or needlessly killing our precious Wildlife.
Since I’ve been writing this blog now for about 8 months, I didn’t want you, the reader, to think that I’ve gotten too technical, HAHA! or have started taking myself too seriously! I completely recognize that this is still just FISHING! What I’m getting at here, remains to be seen, I’m just saying, what does all of this historical data crap really mean anyway? That’s another fun observation I’ve made about both myself and other fly-fisherman. I’ve pretty much allowed my simplification of things, at times, to allow me to make crucial decisions that are most certainly going to effect the outcome of my success on the river, on any given day. You see, sometimes I follow the scientific Angler that’s in my head. I get out the tiny little net, scoop the water and some stuff off the bottom of the river, and make a pretty educated guess of what to throw, based on the contents of the net, then reaping the rewards of my work! And then, there are those other times in which I choose my flies like my ex-wife made her football pool picks for the week, by picking my favorite color or what looks “Sparkly” and such! Not really sure what makes me go back and forth between both styles, but at the end of day, I’m having a good time on the river, catching some pretty amazing fish, and having great times with good people from all walks of life! That’s all I’ve got for today my friends, hope to see you on the river soon!
Chris
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Jan. 11, 2017 Decker’s fishing update
fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”120″ gal_title=”January 11, first day after rib hurt”]
Good evening!
Welcome back folks! The ice is melting and the fish are hungry! We’re finally getting out of the deep freeze and the South Platte has really opened up in the last two days! The majority of the ice remaining on the sections of river from Trumbull, up to the “WIRE” is now mostly just along the banks and the obvious, the shaded areas that hardly ever see sun. As a result of this big melt off, you guessed it, the food that gets released becomes a smorgasbord for hungry trout! Ok, with that being said, let’s get you up to speed on some of the current conditions. The current flow through Decker’s/Trumbull is running about 65-70 (cfs) with 58 (cfs) just below Cheesman Dam. Clarity is good and the water temperature was at 41 degrees this afternoon. Finally, after not fishing for two weeks, due to a rib injury, I’m feeling better and gave fishing a shot for the first time today. Knowing that the release of all this ice was going to provide a nice bump in the food supply, as many small midges, scuds, worms and such get trapped in the ice along the banks and in the shallows. When the melt comes, all that food gets put right into the feeding columns, where the anxious, hungry trout are waiting! With this knowledge, it was pretty easy to get on the fish today with a basic nymph rig. Although I only fished for about 30 minutes today, testing the ribs, I was able to hook up on three fish with two emergers, trailing a red San Juan Worm. Only landing one of the fish, it was pretty clear that the Olive WD-40 was a sufficient selection, as I hooked up on these fish just moments after changing my flies to the ones fore-mentioned. Today and yesterday, I did see a few more fish rising, so don’t be afraid to throw a small gnat or parachute. We’ve got a mixed bag of weather heading this way the next couple of days, but based on previous situations like this, the rise and fall of the atmospheric pressure, tends to get the fish pretty aggressive during these periods. Forecast for tomorrow is partly cloudy, high of 43, with light snow showers moving in overnight. Friday and Saturday look pretty good with temps in the 40’s, with partly sunny skies, with snow moving back in on Sun/Mon. Today’s picture gallery contains some shots of the ice and subsequent melt-off! I apologize for not having too many new fish pictures, as I’ve just not been able to get out there lately! Hope you enjoy the pictures and I hope to see you on the river soon!
Chris
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