[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”109″ gal_title=”dec.9 big fish snowy and cold 70cfs”]
Good Evening Folks!
In light of the freezing cold weather I haven’t had much personal time on the river until just yesterday! But, when I finally got out to fish, it was pretty fantastic for the amount of time I was in the water! Before we get to the fish stories, backed up with photos of course, let’s update you on the current conditions. Currently it’s 31 and clear, with more sunshine and warmer temperatures on tap for the weekend. Flows remain below 100 (cfs), with about 70 through Decker’s/Trumbull. 39 degrees on the river temperature and the clarity had been improving, but this last blast of arctic air, combined with a chilly water temperature, and you end up with a frozen moss bed that’s now going to die, break off and be a pain in the behind for a few days, most likely starting with the warm-up tomorrow! Be prepared to clean those flies my friends, but don’t be discouraged, it’s worth it. Most of the fishing that I did was in the Trumbull area, while covering some of my regular fishing buddies, Wendy and Chuck, fish bridge area around the Decker’s Resort. The fishing has really been good since the cold and snow came through earlier in the week, as I’ve gotten out a few times since the snow stopped on Wednesday. As the front that brought the snow moved in on Tuesday, the grey RS-2 seemed to do the trick over and over again! Fishing mostly the faster water, with a short, three-fly nymph rig, I was able to catch many fish on a variety of flies! In addition to the RS-2, the pink San Juan Worm, juju’s, WD-40, back Barr’s emerger, and were consistently getting the fish into the net! This afternoon, around 2pm, there was actually a nice rise taking place on what seemed to be an emerger. This is when I stopped nymphing, switched over to a Parachute Adams, size 22, then followed that with the Barr’s Emerger. After just a few casts upstream to a few aggressively feeding fish, I was hooked up. This didn’t last long, but by this time the sun had disappeared behind a ridged and the temperature must have dropped twenty degrees! During these cold winter months I’m usually fishing these days between about 11-3pm, as the fish seem to take a little longer to get going, not to mention me! I hope you enjoy today’s picture gallery as it will include some great shots of some fish we’ve caught in the last two days, plus I’ve finally witnessed my good friend Wendy, catch a fish with her Tenkara rod! We give her a lot of grief for this way of fishing, but it’s actually a pretty neat way of going about it! For more information about Tenkara rods, please visit http://www.tenkararodco.com I’ve also included a few pictures of the frozen moss that covered the bottom of the river the last few mornings, as we’ve had sub zero temps permeate the river bed. That’s all for today my friends! The winter fishing is fantastic and there’s plenty of room on the river and in the cabins! Looking to book a guided fishing trip with a cabin? Stop in and see the friendly and knowledgeable folks at FLIES AND LIES http://www.flies-n-lies.com and book yours today!
Have a great evening!
Chris
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Dec. 17 2016 Decker’s Fishing Update
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”111″ gal_title=”Dec.17 2016 My biggest fish ever!”]
Good Afternoon!
Lot’s of changes to report to you this morning, with a picture gallery that’s sure to get you up here as soon as possible! Alright folks, currently it’s still snowing in Decker’s, should be moving out by mid-afternoon. -2 is the current temp, and with the wind chill, it feels like about -15! The river flow was increased Friday, we’ve got 103 (cfs) below the dam, with about 110 through Decker’s/Trumbull. As planned, and in anticipation of the front coming, I fished all day yesterday and the fishing was really good! With the warm up that we had prior to the cold front coming in, most of the ice that had built up on the edges of the river and on the rocks had melted off. This was a key indicator in my bug selection for both Friday and Saturday. Knowing that melt-off was going to release a ton of midges and scuds that were trapped in ice, I knew that the river was going to be full of all of this freshly released flow of food. With the increase in flow, usually pushing the fish down, and the abundant food newly presented to the fish, going deep with a three-fly nymph rig was going to be the set-up of choice. I started out with trailing a small, size #24 zebra-brass midge and a grey RS-2 behind a indicator bug, which happened to be an Olive Scud, size 16. With two split shots about 6″ up from my first fly and about 4 feet between the weight and strike indicator, I was ready for the deep hole! This seemed to be the answer! Fishing from about 10am to about 3pm yesterday, we hooked into lots of fish and puts some considerably big ones in the net, including a 22″, 6# Rainbow that I caught on a Flashback Mercury Midge
, size #24. The debris in the river yesterday, caused by the flow increase and ice melt was something to deal with pretty regularly, but cleaning off your flies was well worth the effort! Although the weather has been up and down for the last week, the fishing has been pretty solid. AlthoughI have been mostly sticking to to nymphing with midges and emergers, I have been throwing a streamer from time to time, with some pretty good success along the banks. A few of the smaller bugs that have been working for me have been the Juju Midge, tan and grey RS-2, WD-40 (black and olive), Rainbow Warrior, Black and Red Zebra Midge, and the Olive Wooley bugger has been my streamer of choice. Tomorrow’s weather is looking pretty good with a warm up to 26, plenty of sunshine and lots of open spots to fish! That’s it for now my friends! Today’s gallery is from the last two days on the South Platte, at Decker’s! Until next time, have a great day and I hope to see you on the river soon!
Chris
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Dec. 14, 2016 Decker’s Fishing Update
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”110″ gal_title=”dec.14 70 cfs cold/sun/cold/sun/snow weekend”]
Good Evening!
Welcome back my friends, let’s get you caught up on the current conditions here in Decker’s! No change in the flow and the water temperature has been at 39 degrees the last few times I’ve checked. Temps have been in the low teens and single digits most mornings, not warming up until about 11 each day. The fishing has been pretty good between 11-3, with most of the action happening in the faster moving water, preferring the sun lit sections of the river! Midges
are making up most of the food source these days, with the occasional blue-winged olive 
. I have seen a few short periods of rising fish, but most of the fish I’ve put in the net have been a result of nymphing the drop-offs and faster moving water. I’ve not spent much time fishing the last couple of days, but I will be spending Friday fishing most of the day. I’ll return Friday night with a better bug selection report, after a day on the river. The weather is looking good for tomorrow, but snow will be moving in over the weeekend. It’s a great time of year to fish the South Platte at Decker’s. The crowds don’t exist and the fishing is consistent throughout the winter! Currently, the Decker’s Resort is undergoing some construction, as the Denver Water Board is committed to continuous improvements to the Decker’s Resort, so don’t let the new roof project stop you from visiting the businesses at Decker’s, they’re all open for business. At this time, I would like to introduce you to a wonderful artist that I have been lucky enough to meet! Her name is Stephanie Sondock and you can see her full portfolio by visiting http://www.paintingsbystephaniesondock.com That’s all for now my friends. More on Friday, after the full day of fishing. Until then, have a great evening and I hope to see you on the river soon! Today’s picture gallery is made up of a few shots from Buffalo Creek to Pike’s Peak, below are a few of Stephanie’s beautiful works of art!
Chris
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Dec. 12, 2016 Decker’s Fishing Update
fishing reportHi there Friends!
The wind is whipping, but the sun is shining! Howdy folks, just getting you updated today on the latest from Decker’s/Trumbull. No change in the flow, but as expected, the deep freeze we received the other day has killed off some of the moss and we’re now having to deal with it! Decker’s sitting around 70 (cfs), with 64 in the canyon. Spending the weekend working myself, I didn’t get much time on the river, but I did manage to squeeze an hour or so in this morning. With the river at 39 degrees and the sun not making it’s way over the ridge until about 11 am or so, the river behind my house doesn’t get warmed up much before 11. With than being said, I headed downstream this morning and fished an area near the Ouzel Campground area, located on Platte River Road, downstream about 6 miles from Decker’s. Armed with small midges and a few San Juan Worms, I was able to pull a few fish I saw feeding along a drop-off ridge into a deeper pool. Red Zebra and Fire midge were the two that worked the best. Pink was the color of the San Juan Worm I was using as in indicator fly. Grabbing some quick lunch and going to head back out. This time I’m going to the Lone Rock Campground area to see what’s happening lately on the river bend and some deeper water. More later this evening on what’s working right now on the South Platte River, Decker’s, Colorado! Until then, have a great afternoon!
Chris
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Dec. 9, 2016 Decker’s Fishing Report
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”109″ gal_title=”dec.9 big fish snowy and cold 70cfs”]
Good Evening Folks!
In light of the freezing cold weather I haven’t had much personal time on the river until just yesterday! But, when I finally got out to fish, it was pretty fantastic for the amount of time I was in the water! Before we get to the fish stories, backed up with photos of course, let’s update you on the current conditions. Currently it’s 31 and clear, with more sunshine and warmer temperatures on tap for the weekend. Flows remain below 100 (cfs), with about 70 through Decker’s/Trumbull. 39 degrees on the river temperature and the clarity had been improving, but this last blast of arctic air, combined with a chilly water temperature, and you end up with a frozen moss bed that’s now going to die, break off and be a pain in the behind for a few days, most likely starting with the warm-up tomorrow! Be prepared to clean those flies my friends, but don’t be discouraged, it’s worth it. Most of the fishing that I did was in the Trumbull area, while covering some of my regular fishing buddies, Wendy and Chuck, fish bridge area around the Decker’s Resort. The fishing has really been good since the cold and snow came through earlier in the week, as I’ve gotten out a few times since the snow stopped on Wednesday. As the front that brought the snow moved in on Tuesday, the grey RS-2 seemed to do the trick over and over again! Fishing mostly the faster water, with a short, three-fly nymph rig, I was able to catch many fish on a variety of flies! In addition to the RS-2, the pink San Juan Worm, juju’s, WD-40, back Barr’s emerger, and were consistently getting the fish into the net! This afternoon, around 2pm, there was actually a nice rise taking place on what seemed to be an emerger. This is when I stopped nymphing, switched over to a Parachute Adams, size 22, then followed that with the Barr’s Emerger. After just a few casts upstream to a few aggressively feeding fish, I was hooked up. This didn’t last long, but by this time the sun had disappeared behind a ridged and the temperature must have dropped twenty degrees! During these cold winter months I’m usually fishing these days between about 11-3pm, as the fish seem to take a little longer to get going, not to mention me! I hope you enjoy today’s picture gallery as it will include some great shots of some fish we’ve caught in the last two days, plus I’ve finally witnessed my good friend Wendy, catch a fish with her Tenkara rod! We give her a lot of grief for this way of fishing, but it’s actually a pretty neat way of going about it! For more information about Tenkara rods, please visit http://www.tenkararodco.com I’ve also included a few pictures of the frozen moss that covered the bottom of the river the last few mornings, as we’ve had sub zero temps permeate the river bed. That’s all for today my friends! The winter fishing is fantastic and there’s plenty of room on the river and in the cabins! Looking to book a guided fishing trip with a cabin? Stop in and see the friendly and knowledgeable folks at FLIES AND LIES http://www.flies-n-lies.com and book yours today!
Have a great evening!
Chris
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Dec.7, 2016 Decker’s, Colorado Fishing Update
Fishing Conditions, fishing report[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”108″ gal_title=”dec.7 2016 bailey snow elf day”]
Welcome to the winter fishing season!
Greetings my friends! Woke up to a couple of inches of fresh snow, bitter cold temperatures and grey skies until about 2pm. No change in the flows, we’re still sub 100, with some ice forming in the slower moving sections of the river. I just walked down to the river a few moments ago and temped the river at 39 degrees! If you didn’t know, the Decker’s section of the South Platte River is known as a tail-water fishery. By definition, a tail-water fishery refers to waters located immediately downstream from a hydraulic structure, such as a dam (excluding minimum release such as for fish water), bridge or culvert. I only fished for a few minutes today, as my day was spent playing in the snow with Bailey, our Golden Retriever! If you’ve been through Trumbull, specifically “hole in the wall” you’ve most likely met, or you’re bound to meet our friendly little friend when you come through our section of river! Temps today were in the low teens with one more day of cold! The fish are most active from 11 to about 3 each day, with most of the action in the shallow, sunnier spots of the river. Nymphing small midges and the occasional dry seems to be working for me most days, with the streamer being thrown to the banks when I’m covering more water. Zebras, juju, chocolate thunder, black beauty, RS-2, WD-40, and the small, size 24 “bleached out” BWO was really snagging fish for a short period on Friday while the snow was falling and the skies were grey. Not too many Anglers on the river today, but look for more pressure as we head into the weekends. One thing to keep in mind when coming to fish the South Platte at Decker’s or Trumbull, is that the further downriver you go from the Decker’s Resort intersection, you’ll have much more sun covered water for most of that 11-3 period of good fishing! For a complete selection of all the flies and advice you’ll need for a successful day on the S.Platte, stop in and see the guys at Flies and Lies or visit their website at http://www.flies-n-lies.com for more information on guided fly-fishing trips and cabin rentals! That’s all for now my friends. Until next time, stay warm and I hope to see you on the river soon!
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