South Platte River

The South Platte River system is Colorado's most celebrated trout fishery, with several Gold Medal sections that produce exceptional numbers of large, well-conditioned trout in dramatic Front Range canyon settings. The most famous stretch is Cheesman Canyon, a rugged, hike-in section between Cheesman Dam and the town of Deckers where crystal-clear tailwater flows support a remarkable density of rainbow and brown trout in the 14- to 22-inch range. The canyon's restricted access and catch-and-release regulations have created a population of heavily educated fish that demand the finest leaders, smallest flies, and most careful presentations a trout angler can muster.

Below Deckers, the river flows through a broader canyon with easier access and somewhat less technical fishing, though the trout remain large and plentiful. The Eleven Mile Canyon section above Spinney Mountain Reservoir offers a different experience entirely, with freestone characteristics and a mix of browns, rainbows, and the occasional cutthroat trout in a setting that feels more like a mountain stream than a Front Range tailwater. What makes the South Platte exceptional is its proximity to Denver and Colorado Springs, providing world-class trout fishing within an hour of the state's major population centers. The river's midge hatches are legendary, with winter dry fly fishing on tiny Griffith's Gnats and RS2 patterns that would seem absurd on any other river but produce consistent action on the South Platte even in January. For anglers willing to embrace technical challenges and fine tippets, the South Platte rewards with some of the most satisfying dry fly fishing in the American West.