July 3, 2016[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”20″ gal_title=”sunday july 3″]
Good morning everyone!! Woke up to another foggy morning here in the valley with some much cooler temperatures and overnight rain. When I left this morning at 6:15, it was a chilly 48 degrees, but it’s warmed up quickly to a comfortable 68! Going to be more like a holiday weekend should be with temperatures reaching the low 90’s! The river flow at the Cheesman dam was coming out at 350 (cfs) and 426 (cfs) at the the Trumbull station. After looking at the river in Decker’s this moring, it’s looking to be about 380(cfs). Considering all the rain we have had over the last two days, the river is still pretty clear, offering good chances to sight fish! I’ve been fishing on and off for the last two days with a few neighbors and they are killing it with a #18/20 Chocolate Thunder, below a rubber legs or Amy’s Ant. I’ve also hooked into a few fish with a Barr’s Emerger, trailing a variety of smaller midges. It’s been mostly nymphing in the morning, but the dry-fly action has really picked up around five o’clock in the afternoon!! Last night the trout were taking a Green-hackle BWO, along with a Parachute Adams. I did see fish rising this morning here and there as I hiked the river from Trumbull to Decker’s. As far as the fishing crowds go, it’s much busier on the river between Trumbull and Decker’s today then it was yesterday at this time. Keep in mind there is excellent water to be fished downstream from Trumbull and Decker’s! Don’t miss out on some of the deeper pools, gravel bars, and eddy’s that hold lots hungry fish!
Each morning, when I walk out of the house around 6 am, I’m not always sure where the camera, or my feet for that matter, are going to take me. As I began my walk towards Decker’s this morning, I couldn’t help but immediately notice the work and beauty created overnight by the various spiders that make the willows and trees along the river their home. I knew instantly that I was to be treated to the “Art Work” of the Spider world as I continued along my morning journey along the river. As fly-fisherman we have the luxury of either tying our own flies or simply going to our local fly-shop to get what we need, or in most cases, what we think we need! Well, out here the spider sees things just a little bit different and must look out for #1! My favorite picture is the one where the fly-line is on the power line next to the spider web. You tell me who’s better at catching their prey? Have a great Sunday my friends!! Remember, do something nice this weekend, take two kids fishing!
Chris
Oh what webs they weave!
fishing reportJuly 3, 2016[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”20″ gal_title=”sunday july 3″]
Good morning everyone!! Woke up to another foggy morning here in the valley with some much cooler temperatures and overnight rain. When I left this morning at 6:15, it was a chilly 48 degrees, but it’s warmed up quickly to a comfortable 68! Going to be more like a holiday weekend should be with temperatures reaching the low 90’s! The river flow at the Cheesman dam was coming out at 350 (cfs) and 426 (cfs) at the the Trumbull station. After looking at the river in Decker’s this moring, it’s looking to be about 380(cfs). Considering all the rain we have had over the last two days, the river is still pretty clear, offering good chances to sight fish! I’ve been fishing on and off for the last two days with a few neighbors and they are killing it with a #18/20 Chocolate Thunder, below a rubber legs or Amy’s Ant. I’ve also hooked into a few fish with a Barr’s Emerger, trailing a variety of smaller midges. It’s been mostly nymphing in the morning, but the dry-fly action has really picked up around five o’clock in the afternoon!! Last night the trout were taking a Green-hackle BWO, along with a Parachute Adams. I did see fish rising this morning here and there as I hiked the river from Trumbull to Decker’s. As far as the fishing crowds go, it’s much busier on the river between Trumbull and Decker’s today then it was yesterday at this time. Keep in mind there is excellent water to be fished downstream from Trumbull and Decker’s! Don’t miss out on some of the deeper pools, gravel bars, and eddy’s that hold lots hungry fish!
Each morning, when I walk out of the house around 6 am, I’m not always sure where the camera, or my feet for that matter, are going to take me. As I began my walk towards Decker’s this morning, I couldn’t help but immediately notice the work and beauty created overnight by the various spiders that make the willows and trees along the river their home. I knew instantly that I was to be treated to the “Art Work” of the Spider world as I continued along my morning journey along the river. As fly-fisherman we have the luxury of either tying our own flies or simply going to our local fly-shop to get what we need, or in most cases, what we think we need! Well, out here the spider sees things just a little bit different and must look out for #1! My favorite picture is the one where the fly-line is on the power line next to the spider web. You tell me who’s better at catching their prey? Have a great Sunday my friends!! Remember, do something nice this weekend, take two kids fishing!
Chris
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My fuse won’t light!!
fishing reportJuly 2, 2016[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”19″ gal_title=”foggy 4th weekend”]
Good morning and welcome from the very wet and rainy South Platte River Valley!! Chef Chris here with your live morning report from Decker’s/Trumbull, Colorado. Waking up this morning to continued rain showers and fog throughout the valley. Current temperature is 57 degrees with forecasted high of only 68 degrees. The flow coming out of Cheseman dam this morning was 294 (cfs) and 432 (cfs) at the Trumbull station. With the feeder creeks, it seems to be right around 350 (cfs) around the Decker’s bridge. The clarity is a little off this morning with last nights rain showers, but I did see fish this morning rising along the banks at various points from “Hole in the Wall” up to Decker’s. I’m guessing a San Juan Worm would do well this morning! The caddis hatches have been strong and I’ve also been taking fish on caddis pupa and larva as well. Mid-morning seems to be the most productive for me, then later in the evening I’ve been working on a few dry fly presentations in hopes of raising the behemoth brown I know is lurking behind my house!!
As we get into the full swing of summer and the busiest time of year here in the South Platte valley, we see a number of visitors and tourist to our valley for the first time. Keeping in mind that the campground space is limited and private cabins are even more scarce, it pays to plan ahead for your visit to the Decker’s/Cheesman Canyon area. If it’s a cabin your desire, a reserved campsite, or even a full day on the South Platte fishing, let livedeckerscolorado.com make all of your planning simple. Just click on our “Things to do” page to start making your exciting outdoor adventure plans for you and your family today! If you have already spent some time in our beautiful valley, you probably know that cell phone service is not available, nor is their gasoline in Decker’s or Trumbull. Please print off any directions you may need and be sure to fuel up prior to entering the Decker’s area. Our campgrounds are full and their are many people out enjoying the river, be it fishing, tubing, rafting, kayaking or just taking a walk along the river road. Please be careful and watch your speed as many people are distracted and it only takes a split second to change lives forever!! Be safe out there this weekend folks and have a great day!!
Chris
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Independence Weekend
fishing reportJuly 1, 2016[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”18″ gal_title=”friday 4th of july weekend”]
Happy 4th of July weekend my friends!! Chef Chris here with your morning conditions report. Woke up this morning with a little fog in the valley with 50% humidity. Temperatures are in the low 70’s already and it’s looking like we’re going to have spotty showers throughout the day. The Trumbull station recorded a flow of 335 (cfs) this morning, and 238 (cfs) at the Cheesman dam. The clarity is a little off this morning below some of the feeder creeks, but clears up nicely as you go a little further downstream. I walked this morning from Trumbull to Decker’s and along the Y-camp road. I saw several fish rising at the Decker’s bridge area and also by the Lone Rock Campground. Be sure to make your reservations early for Lone Rock Campground by connecting to the reservations link located on the “things to do page” I fished yesterday between “Hole in the Wall” and the second Decker’s bridge. I was fishing with a friend who pulled a nice 16″ brown on a bead-headed pheasant tail. As we worked our way from Trumbull to Decker’s we started to see more rising fish and switched over to a dry-dropper pattern using an Amy’s Aunt, trailing a grey/tan stone fly and following up with a Split-case olive midge. Because I have had so much success with the streamer, I will always toss a Wooley-bugger if all else seems to fail!!
While my internet was being switched over to my new residence yesterday, I took the opportunity to hike in the National Forest on the other side of the river from my house. As we hiked the ridge about 600 feet or so above the South Platte, we came accross many different plants and wildflowers that seem to have been perfectly landscaped by “Mother Nature” herself. As we continued on our path towards Decker’s, we came accross a wash-out area, that after further inspection revealed several nice pieces of smoky quartz and a few other gemstones. The South Platte river valley is a popular area for gemstone hunting along with several areas where gold panning is still a popular activity. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I took yesterday while hiking and I look forward to sharing more of my adventures with you daily.. Have a great day and remember!! Take a kid fishing.
Chef Chris
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Dry me to the moon!!
fishing reportJune 30, 2016
Good evening my friends!!! Chef Chris here with your river conditions report for the day. Sorry I didn’t report earlier, even the National Forest has problems with it’s internet connection from time to time!! I’ll be picking back up tomorrow with the early morning river conditions and weather reports!! In the meantime, I’ll tell you that the dry-fly action has really picked up and I’ve had success with the BWO-green, and a parachute Adams. I’m still picking up fish by nymphing in the early morning, mixed in with the occasional streamer toss! Come back tomorrow for some exciting pictures from this morning’s hike above the communites of Trumbull and Deckers. Have a great evening
Chef Chris
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Her name was “Olive”
fishing reportJune 29, 2016
Good morning! Chef Chris here with your daily morning river conditions report from the South Platte River Valley! Woke up this morning to a nice cool mountain breeze and some chilly morning temperatures. We saw a few overnight showers, but we didn’t see anything like they did in Denver overnight. Forecasted high today is a comfortable 87 degrees. This will be a nice change after the 90’s that we’ve been seeing. This morning the Trumbull Station recorded a flow rate of 414 (cfs) with some early morning cloudiness from last nights rain showers. I like these flow rates, but be careful of some of the deeper holes, you will go for a ride down river if you’re not paying attention! Yes, learned this one the hard way! I fished last night from the second bridge in Decker’s, to “hole in the wall” in Trumbull. I did well with a couple of stone-fly/midge combinations. I also had good success with the “Olive Wooley-Bugger” and an Olive-pheasant tail. Starting to see much more top water activity in the evening as the caddis, tricos, and duns are coming off strong along the river road. Going to fish this evening around “Bridge Crossing” Stop in to Flies and Lies and be sure to look at the river map located outside of the store! You can also book a great half-day or full day guided fishing trip while visiting the store! Check out their full website at http://www.flies-n-lies.com. Remember!! Kelsey and Lone Rock campgrounds are the only two in our immediate area that take reservations. You can make them right here at livedeckerscolorado.com! Have a great day and remember, take someone out lunch!!
Chris
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