Winter fly fishing in Colorado: One of this sport’s largest misconceptions is that fly fishing is solely a spring-fall activity. Filter Your Selection Below or View All Ranches: Adjust slider to see a specific price range. This will all read a little better if you back up and find Parts One, Two, Three, Four and Five and Six. Only eight miles from Lazy Bones Ranch, Deckers offers some of the best fly-fishing in Colorado. One of the things that makes Deckers incredible is its’ year-round accessibility and warmer water temperatures. You will … This entire stretch can be accessed by road. Fishing can be done from the shoreline, a pier, a kayak, a private boat or a state-of-the-art large vessel. Close. In the summer and fall, anglers can expect some incredible Caddis and Mayfly hatches that result in irresistible dry fly fishing. Deckers is also a great winter fishing destination because it is a tailwater. If you are looking for isolation of any kind, Deckers is not your spot. Experience some of the best winter water in Colorado, only a few minutes from your own front porch. share. Freshwater Fishing Nymphing will be more consistent than dry flies during this time of year. Hello everyone,In this episode "Celebrating a big win and some winter fly fishing from Deckers, Colorado". It's close to Denver, incredibly easy to access and can yield trout worth writing home about. Winter fishing is oftentimes the most technical fishing of the year. Believe it or not, trout can be caught on any of these days throughout the winter in PA. Only 322 miles of Colorado’s 9,000 miles of trout streams, and three lakes carry this “Gold Medal” classification. 15. Southern California winters are warm but the fishing gets hot. Trail one of those patterns behind a midge larva or searcher/attractor pattern. ... Hi everyone! The portion of river near the property is considered Gold Medal water with some of the best Rainbow and Brown trout in the nation. We have been running most of our guided fly fishing trips to the South Platte River near Deckers. Winter Fly Fishing Clothing. share. The flow at Deckers is currently at 60 c.f.s. David Bacon, a.k.a. ** When the water emerges from the ground at forty-five degrees, it takes a while to equalize with the surrounding air and surface temperatures. report. The high flows have the fish spread out nicely throughout the entire river. This small dark fly wiggles in even the slightest breath of current, important when you are fishing nearly dead-drift in winter. If you are looking for solitude and able to fish with smaller productive tailwater flies like midge larva and pupa imitations, Deckers will be a prime winter fishing location. WaveWalker". Sub-surface: Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-24), Miracle Midge (#22-24), Bling Midge (#22-24), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Top Secret Midge (#22-24), Manhattan Midge (#22-24), Jujubee Midge (#22-24), RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Buckskin Caddis (#18), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#16-28), Pat's Rubber Legs, pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm. FlyCast has collaborated with our friends at Anglers All ​to package a dozen flies that are hot at Deckers right now -. youtu.be/4YpZWE... 2 comments. I was wondering what people thought about trout fishing in the fall/winter time. This is right in line with the historic average of 55-60 c.f.s for this time of year. RS2 (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#20-22), Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger (#20-22), JuJu Baetis (#20-22), Mercury Pheasant Tail (#20-22), WD 40 (#20-22), Buckskin Caddis (#18), Guides Choice Hares Ear (#16-18), red Copper John (#18-20), Rainbow Warrior (#16-28), Pat's Rubber Legs, pink/green scud, leech pattern and San Juan Worm. According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Deckers stretch of the South Platte contains just over 3,000 trout per mile with Rainbows, Browns and Cutthroats making up this healthy population. Beneath Cheeseman lies the most popular stretch of the entire drainage; Deckers. save. Parachute Adams (#24), Griffiths Gnat (#22 - 24), Need flies for your trip? Holding at 60 cfs, flows are low and water clarity is high. While most rivers form thick ice layers during the winter months, tailwaters like Deckers are warm enough to stay ice free throughout the winter. The best fishing is from Bridge Crossing to the lower boundary of the Tee Pee Club. Knowing this, we recommend focusing on soft pools, runs, pockets and tailouts. Continue browsing in r/flyfishing. Winter is one of the most highly underrated seasons to fly fish in Colorado. Stable flows and mild weather along the Deckers stretch of the South Platte have increased productivity. The key to winter fishing is staying comfortable. Use smaller tippet sizes – 5x to your attractor fly, followed by 6x to the midge – to increase your chances of hookups in low and clear winter water. Target a specific fish out of a pod rather than fishing blind; Concentrate your fishing to deep, slow pools; Focus on fishing from around 10:00 am to about 3:00 pm. Type any word of phrase to find relevant properties and articles (ex: "Trees Ranch" or "trophy elk"). ** Smith and I found ourselves on another late December, post-Christmas fishing trip with light snow and good winter fishing. This is a subreddit for anglers who pursue, or wish to pursue, their favorite fish on fly rods. The Deckers stretch of the South Platte River is a heavily sought after and highly productive stretch of river located roughly one hour from Denver. A tailwater fishery is where a river comes out below a dam, consequently during the winter months that means the water temps are just slightly warm enough to stay relatively free of ice all year. At a lower altitude than many parts of the South Platte, Deckers has warmer temperatures, less ice, less wind, but heavier crowds for winter fishing. There will be days where fishing is tough, but also days where plenty of fish can be caught. Colorado Fly Fishing Report for Deckers on the South Platte by Pat Dorsey. This is when trout become most active during the day. Deckers and Cheesman Canyon Access The 10 mile stretch of the South Platte River that runs from the Wigwam Club north to the confluence of the North Fork of the South Platte is commonly referred to as "Deckers." The Deckers section of the South Platte river is easy accessed from many locations. Lazy Bones Ranch is only a two mile snowshoe from the South Platte and accessible by car year-round. Surface: Parachute Adams (#24), Griffiths Gnat (#22 - 24), Need flies for your trip? Winter Fly Fishing & Strategies. The blog was created as an outlet that allows us to share information, stories and tutorials about all things related to fly fishing we can. While many of the state’s best fisheries are covered in ice this time of year, there are a number of great freestone and tailwater options that provide some of the best winter fly fishing in the country. The mileage below Cheesman Canyon is the renowned Deckers area, a world-class fishery with easy access and lots of opportunity. Deckers Winter Brown. Temperatures ranging from below zero to 60 degrees are all possible. The South Platte River flowing below Cheesman Canyon through the small town of Deckers is a gold-medal fishing area featuring access points along a 20-mile stretch of the river. hide. Trout will primarily feed in the deepest water column but with mild weather and increased hatch activity, don’t be surprised if you see trout feeding mid-column on emergers during the warmest hours of the day. save. Let’s take a look at the top spots for winter fly fishing in Colorado: Cheesman/Deckers: This is a busier area in the South Platte. Winter fly fishing at Deckers, Colorado with my pup. https://www.mirrranchgroup.com/winter-fly-fishing-at-deckers The water is clear for the most part, so sight fishing is possible. By Capt. It's proximity to Denver and it's wade friendly features makes for a great destination for anglers of all experience levels. This has led to fish being more much active than normal despite the winter cold. Winter Trout Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania The winter months in Pennsylvania can vary quite a bit. This portion of the South Platte is a tail water section, so depending on the will of the angler, productive fishing can be enjoyed year round. I’ve always believed … Anglers can drive along County Road 126, search for an appealing section of river and find a place on the side of the road to park. The one thing to keep an eye out for is ice/slush runoff during the morning hours. FlyCast has collaborated with our friends at Anglers All ​to package a dozen flies that are hot at Deckers right now - Click here for hand selected flies. That said, for the unprepared, winter fly fishing can not only be a frustrating snooze, it can turn ugly and downright dangerous in a heartbeat. If staying comfortable and keeping hard-fighting fish on your line are high priorities, the SoCal coast is your kind of place. Almost all of the public fishing access in Deckers is roadside, making the ease of access one of the main attractions. Mercury Midge (#22-24), Black Beauty (#22-24), Miracle Midge (#22-24), Bling Midge (#22-24), Zebra Midge (#20-24), Blood Midge (#20-22), Disco Midge (#20-22), Top Secret Midge (#22-24), Manhattan Midge (#22-24), Jujubee Midge (#22-24). Its coloration is a perfect imitation of the sculpin, a small baitfish common in freestone streams. ** Find the full Fly Fishing in the Winter series HERE. Sections where the sun hits the water is where you can find feeding fish. report. Runs and Riffles was started in February of 2019 as an extension of one person's fly fishing hobby. General rule of thumb for winter fishing is to target fish in the slow, deep pools. To learn more about strategy and tactics that will be useful in the winter months, join our FREE Winter Fly Fishing presentation here at the shop on October 24th. As all of our guides and several of our frequent guests know, winter is an excellent time to fly fish in Colorado!In this ‘secret season,’ the waters are crystal clear, the air is crisp, and crowds from summer have long gone.Our many tailwater fisheries provide incredible winter fly fishing environments and are home to beautiful trout willing to take your fly! If you happen find fish up on their redds- LEAVE THEM ALONE!. There are miles of public water to fish in and around the hamlet of Deckers. Our renowned fly fishing guides , to include Colorado’s only two Simms Ambassadors , know every aspect of Deckers on the South Platte River and we invite you to join us on one of our guided fly fishing trips to Deckers . In the summer and fall, anglers can expect some incredible Caddis and Mayfly hatches that result in irresistible dry fly fishing. Use an attractor pattern in front of the midge such as an egg, stonefly nymph, scud, or San Juan worm. In fact, it takes miles. http://www.anglerscovey.com/where-to-fish/colorado-rivers/south-platte-river-deckers, http://www.coloradoflyfishingreports.com/reports/deckers/, Mirr Ranch Group 901 Acoma St. Denver, CO 80204, O: 303-623-4545 T: 877-623-4545 F: 303-623-4646. So, with the idea of improving your cold season angling experiences and outcomes, we came up with 17 winter fly fishing essentials no … Fishing the Deckers stretch of the South Platte River is arguably one of the most difficult but rewarding rivers in the state. Must Have Flies: Winter Edition. "Capt. Deckers is home to a very healthy population Rainbow Trout that can exceed 20" and you can expect to see them moving up onto the shallow flats with regularity as the spawn approaches. Adjust slider to see a specific acreage range. 74 comments. Boats departing San Diego's bay require only 20-30 minutes to reach some of the most productive fishing grounds in the world. This Gold Medal section of the South Platte starts below Cheesman Reservoir and ends just downstream from the Scraggy View Picnic Area. Small tail water midges and Baetis patterns that strain your eyes to look at are the ticket for a productive day. Deckers is a world-renowned stretch of the South Platte River. In the winter and spring, nymphing is … Deckers is found directly downstream from Cheesman Reservoir along Highway 67. ... I’m new to fly fishing, this was the most exhilarating fishing experience I’ve had I was so excited! Winter fly fishing at Deckers, Colorado with my pup. r/flyfishing. If you're not interested in searching for your own stretch of river, the intersection of County Road 126 and County Road 67 is a popular place to park and walk to the river. Expect to catch mostly Browns and Rainbows, with the occasional Cutthroat. Deckers. The water temperature and available food sources in the river allow large Rainbow and Brown trout to inhabit this section of river year round. Fly-fishers need to bring their A game as low, clear flows, ice-cold water, sporadic hatches, and lethargic trout all add to the challenge and complexity of the winter season. Current Conditions Clarity: Excellent […] Below is our list of seasonal flies for the winter months. ** NOTE: This is Part Seven of a Troutbitten series on fly fishing for trout through the winter months. These two things combined with cool water temps encourage trout to hold in soft water. 447. 1/2. There tend to be some slippery slopes and crowds, but it’s popular because of its plentiful midge hatches. For more information about fishing the Deckers area or Cheesman Canyon, feel free to stop by the shop or call. While this occurs, fishing will be difficult and unproductive, so let the river sit until 11 am and fish the afternoon hours. However, as a huge fan of the secret season, I picture something entirely different: open (both as in ice-free and crowd-free) water, quiet and peaceful rivers, […] In order to receive this designation, the river must produce 60 pounds of fish per acre and at least twelve of this total 60 must be 14”. Aside from the hoards of anglers that flock to this river every weekend, it is one of our favorites to fish. A fly fishing blog. Posted by 7 days ago. Deckers is famous for it's deep holes and runs but can also provide great pocket water fishing. When the flows are up and the winter storms have subsided, you can sometimes catch fish greater than 20” on this specific stretch of river. Sure, there are inherent perks to fishing on a comfortable 70-degree day, but winter fly fishing in Colorado offers anglers unbeatable solitude and a great way to break up the monotony of winter. Although a lot of public access points can be found upstream, as you get closer to the property you will find greater privacy and seclusion on the river. Deckers is famous for it's deep holes and runs but can also provide great pocket water fishing. For steelhead fly fishing, the upper 40 miles of the Trinity near Lewiston is perfect because of its deep pools and ledgerock shelves situated in between canyons and lush evergreen forests. The Blue River: This runs out of the Dillon Reservoir and is an ideal spot for winter fly fishing. The blessed waters of Central Pennsylvania rivers come mostly from huge underground lakes (aquifers). hide. In the winter and spring, nymphing is the name of the game. Written by Tom Caprio of 5280 Angler The notion of winter fly fishing in Colorado might conjure up visions of freezing temperatures, iced-over water, ominous weather, and general misery. River access can be found along S Hwy 67, South and North Platte River Road, and Y-Camp Road. 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