South Platte River
Dream Stream

General Overview

Flows are bumping back down and should match inflow into Spinney from here on out. This flow will be very productive for nymphing edges and drop offs with scuds and SJ worms and fish should start to move back into riffles as well. With Caddis, PMD, Yellow Sally and Trico activity along with continued BWO and Midge activity...fishing should be alot of fun on this stretch in the Summer Primetime!

Stream Conditions

Flowrate above Elevenmile Reservoir: 603 cfs

Clarity: Tinted to Clear

Suggested Methods

We're seeing Summer hatches finally! There are alot of PMDs, Yellow Sallies, Caddis and even a few Tricos on a daily basis. The challenge has been flowrate, so most of our guides have been leaning heavily on nymphing and mixing in some streamers. Use plenty of weight and focus near the cut banks and drop offs.

The South Platte below Cheesman Res is a different fishery at the moment with flows around 960 cfs. When things bump up to the +500 CFS range as they are now it's all about nymphing bigger bugs with plenty of weight and heavier tippet. Think leeches, scuds, caddis pupae and larvae, bigger mayfly emergers, rubber legs stonefly nymphs, attractor jigs like the HDA variant, etc. Streamers can even be in play in Cheesman and down at Deckers when flows are on the higher side. I've always had the best success in here with relatively smaller white or cream-colored streamers. Other sections like Eleven Mile and above Cheesman are also fishing great with similar bugs and rigs.

Griffiths Gnat #18-22
Parachute Adams #18-22
Sprout Midge #18-20
Mole Fly #18-20
Para Extended body
Smokejumper (BWO) #18-22
Sprout midge black (18-24)
Squirmy Worm #12
Girdle Bug #10 Tung Golden Stone #12
UV orange scud #14
UV Olive Scud #14
Balanced Swim leech
Split Foam BWO #16-18
Iron Lotus #14-16
Micro Mayfly #16-18
Top Secret Midge #18-22
RS2 #18-22
Black Beauty #20-22
Zebra Midge #20
Blue Poison Tung #18-20
UV Scud #16-18 Hunchback Scud #16-18
Mercury Black Beauty #18
Tung-Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails #16-20
Rainbow Warrior #18-20
Girdle Bug #10-12
Pine Squirrel Leech #12
Medallion Midge #18-22
Disco Midge #18-22
Johnny Flash #18-22
Chocolate RS2 #18-24,Foam Back Emerger #18-24
Eggs #14-16
Copper Johns #16-20. Coffee Sparkle Minnow #4-8
Dungeon #4
Sculpzilla #4-8
McCunes Sculpin #2-6
T&A Bunker #4-6
Swimmin' Jimmy #4-6
Clawdad #4.

General Overview

Flows are bumping back down and should match inflow into Spinney from here on out. This flow will be very productive for nymphing edges and drop offs with scuds and SJ worms and fish should start to move back into riffles as well. With Caddis, PMD, and Trico activity on the horizon along with continued BWO and Midge activity...fishing should be alot of fun on this stretch in the Summer Primetime!

Stream Conditions

Flowrate above Elevenmile Reservoir: 456 cfs

Clarity: Tinted to Clear

Suggested Methods

We're seeing some BWO activity now, with a continuation of heavy midge activity. You will be best suited to run a variety of attractor nymphs along with BWO nymphs or Midge Larva early and midge pupa or BWO emergers later on if you witness fish in the film or mid-water-column. At times you'll find fish posted up feeding on adult Midges and small BWOs. Caddis will also be starting up soon, so be ready with the full lifecycle. As flows bump up, don't forget to lean heavily on Worm patterns, Cranefly Larva and your larger attractor nymphs. Small streamers will also start to be very effective.