River & Run
Home/Rivers/South Platte River

River guide · Colorado

Fly Fishing the South Platte River

The South Platte is Colorado's signature Front Range trout river, with a chain of celebrated tailwater reaches (Cheesman Canyon, Deckers, the Dream Stream below Spinney Mountain, and Eleven Mile Canyon) all within easy reach of Denver. Cold, clear, dam-regulated flows produce technical sight-fishing to wild and stocked rainbows and browns that grow large and selective. Cheesman Canyon in particular is regarded as one of the most demanding catch-and-release fisheries in the West, rewarding small flies, fine tippet, and a careful approach. Midges and Blue-winged Olives dominate the calendar, with a strong summer Pale Morning Dun and Trico window.

See fly shops ↓

When to fish

Year-round

Best months: year-round

  • Best

Midge: year-round, dominant in winter. Blue-winged Olive: Mar–May, Sep–Oct.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the South Platte River

Cheesman Canyon is reached by trail from the Gill Trail parking area; Deckers and the Dream Stream (below Spinney Reservoir) have roadside public access close to Denver.

The water

Tailwater

Key hatches

  • Midge
  • Blue-Winged Olive
  • Caddisfly
  • Golden Stonefly
  • Pale Morning Dun
Hatch calendar

Conditions

Loading river conditions

6-day forecast

Loading forecast

Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Hatch calendar

Months each hatch is active on the South Platte River, with hook sizes and local timing notes.
Hatch · hookJFMAMJJASOND
Midge(midges)hook #20–24year-round, dominant in winterJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Blue-winged Olive(mayflies)hook #16–20Mar–May, Sep–OctMarchAprilMayAugustSeptemberOctober
Caddisfly(caddis)hook #10–18May–Jul, eveningsMayJuneJulyAugustSeptember
Golden Stonefly(stoneflies)hook #8–10MayJuneJuly
Pale Morning Dun(mayflies)hook #16–18Jun–AugJuneJulyAugust
Trico(mayflies)hook #18–22Jul–Sep, morningsJulyAugustSeptemberOctober
  • Mayflies
  • Caddis
  • Stoneflies
  • Midges
  • This month
Also on this water
  • Terrestrials — ants, beetles, hoppersJul–Sep

Timing from Big Y Fly Co's South Platte River hatch chart ↗. Notes are local timing; dates shift a couple of weeks with weather and water.

Fly shops near the South Platte River

Shops and guides that fish the South Platte River. See all 114 Colorado shops →

12 fly shops shownSouth Platte River

Species on this water

TroutBassBonefishCarpPikeRedfishSalmonTarpon

Nearby towns

ShawneeWoodland ParkCastle Rock

Rivers nearby

Blue RiverGore CreekArkansas RiverWilliams Fork River
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the South Platte River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

Gear up on the South Platte River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the South Platte River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

Find your flies