April 25, 2023
The South Platte River – Deckers. (Bridge Crossing and Mark’s Run to Between the Islands Run.).
Flows: 107 cfs.
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent
Water Temp: 44F @ 2p.
Water clarity: Very clear to ~4’.
Air Temp: 45F @ 9a – 39F @ 4p.
Hatches: Midge: Spotty in AM. BWO: 12N to 4p (when I left.)
Flies: #16 Red Midge Larva, #22 Miracle Midge, #22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #24 Olive Jujubee Midge, #24 Sparkle Wing RS2, #18 Pheasant Tail, #24 Mercury Black Beauty, #24 Sparkle Dun, #22 Parachute Adams, #22 Griffith’s Gnat, #24 Matt’s Midge.
Top producers: Pheasant Tail, Sparkle Wing RS2, Parachute Adams, Sparkle Dun, Miracle Midge, Matt’s Midge.
My day started with a quiet, beautiful morning at the Bridge Crossing Run.
I was hemmed in by the weather.
Heavy rain mixed with wet snow was predicted to begin mid-day along the entire front range and eastern plains of Colorado. Heavy snow was already falling in the mountains.
My choices were The Tailwater in Pueblo, the Platte River in downtown Denver or Deckers. The high-country spots were out.
I dreaded the thought of driving home white-knuckled from Pueblo in pouring rain or snow. The drive home from downtown Denver wouldn’t be much fun either, with the congested rush hour traffic. Deckers could be cold – and the drive home would most likely be through snow over the pass – but it wouldn’t be nerve racking. I could get at least a half day of fishing in before the storm hit at either Deckers or downtown Denver.
I formulated my plan as I dressed. My first stop would be the Bridge Crossing on the South Platte just north of Deckers. It is the closest place on the river that I like to fish. I could get there by 9a – get a few trout – then head down to Deckers and Mark’s Run to get some fish rising before the storm hit.
A view of the island and pool below it at the Bridge Crossing Run.
A beautiful morning greeted me as I parked at Bridge Crossing! It was sunny and 45F. Warm sunshine with the crisp smell of mountain air. The run was entirely open. No one around.
The water was running low and clear. A little lower and a little clearer than I liked. It meant spooky fish that would require stealth and gentle presentations. With that in mind I decided to start with a Hopper/Copper/Dropper set up which I haven’t used in quite some time.
I tied on my trusty Chubby Chernobyl as my Hopper, a #18 Red Copper John as my Copper, and a #22 Mercury Flash Back Black Beauty and #22 Miracle Midge as my Droppers. I had sighted a few fish from the bridge and was now ready as I approached the river taking care to be as stealthy as possible. Once at river level I couldn’t make out the fish and wasn’t sure if they were still there, so I casted my flies to where I last saw them.
This was just upstream from the bridge where the river is a little wider, a little slower, and very clear. Not the kind of water I like to fish. After giving it a good try I headed upstream to mid-way between the bridge and bend of the river. The water was still a bit slow but it has some deeper troughs and I spotted a few fish in one of them.
My 1st fish of the day would be later in the Rock and Road Run.
Second cast – fish on! Oh yeah this was a great start. I had that bad boy tight – fighting him mid-river. It wasn’t a particularly big fish – but he had a lot of gusto and was taking me up and down, then across the river. Then --- nothing. What?
After examination I found that my knot gave way. Ugh! “No excuse for that” – I thought to myself. Self-inflicted wound. That hasn’t happened in a while, and I was sure I had good knots when I tied them up at the parking lot – but something gave. It happens.
He had hit my Miracle Midge and after tying on another one, I headed further upstream to the faster water and the pool below it. I could see some fish in the tail-out below the pool but from what I could tell they weren’t feeding. Just sitting there. Or I just couldn’t get my flies into the zone.
Thinking my flies weren’t in the zone – I got my nymphing rod and went after them - thinking “I’ll show these guys”.
The Rock and Road Run.
My nymphing rod was still tied up as I left it last week. A #16 Red Midge Larva leading followed by a #22 Mercury Black Beauty. I then followed that with another #24 Miracle Midge – that seemed to work earlier.
Well – I didn’t show those guys anything. They continued to sit there not moving. If they were eating, they would move to my flies - even if they weren’t directly on target. In most cases anyway. I’ve seen fish move three feet to take a fly and I’ve had times when it seemed that I had to get the fly right in front of their nose before they would hit.
I still wasn’t sure what the case was, but I moved on. Hell with them – I didn’t have a lot of time and I didn’t want to waste any more of it on them.
Time was a premium today.
This hungry brown took my Pheasant Tail in the Rock and Road Run.
Moving into the pool my thought was that there had to be a fish or two in it. And there was. I saw them feeding on the top. They got my attention, and I drifted my flies toward them. That worked and I soon had a rainbow hooked up. He was in the pool and I was upstream of him in the riffles. Not an ideal position to be in when fighting a fish. I was trying to move to the near side of the pool so that I could get across from him when he broke off. Ugh!
Still standing in the riffles above the pool I noticed a few coming up and eating adults off the surface and just below it. With that I switched rods – setting down my nymphing rod and grabbing my dry fly rod and tied it with a #20 Parachute Adams in the lead followed by a #22 Matt's Midge. I then tied on a #24 Olive Jujubee Midge as a dropper off the end of my Matt’s Midge thinking I’d account for the adults on the surface and the emergers just below it.
The rises were sporadic, and I wasn’t getting any interest as I moved across the riffles – covering the pool below. There was a soft spot on the far side of the pool and even though I didn’t see a fish coming up there it looked really fishy and I casted my dries into it. I couldn’t see my flies among the foam but something didn’t seem right with the way my line was drifting and I set the hook.
Fish on! Yeah baby – this one’s not getting away – I’m on it.
Here's the brownie in all his color.
I was almost to the other side of the riffles when I hooked him up, so it wasn’t that far to wade all the way across and get squared up with the fish as he fought to free himself in the pool. I was now in a good position to fight this bad boy. I led him out of the pool and into the soft water – then he made several more runs back into the pool. After a good fight I had his head up out of the water, but he didn’t seem ready to give up. Still, I had his head out of the water and fish can’t really fight with their head out of the water – so I reached for my net. My net now in hand – I had the fish a few inches from it and tried to lift him toward it – and just before I could get my net underneath him ---- he broke free!
Deep breath – count to ten!
I wanted to fish a bit upstream of the pool before giving up entirely on the run and heading down to Mark’s. Before wading up, I changed back to my nymphing rod – leaving my fly rod streamside. “I won’t need it” – that was my thought as I laid it along the bank. No need to carry it with me.
Got a lot of 14" to 15" rainbows - like this one - in the pockets of the Between the Islands Run.
I explored a few pockets and seams as I waded to the top of the island. No fish. I never fished the other leg of the river that flows river left around the island – and I took a look to see what it was like. There is structure along the bank – downed trees, boulders and such – perfect cover for trout. Especially brownies.
As I began to wade down that side of the river I quickly spooked a fish from under the downed tree at the top of the island. Then I spotted a couple of fish in the slow, clear water. They were in troughs and small pockets. I didn’t want to get too close for fear of spooking them – and the longer casts with drifts over the faster water near me proved very challenging. Then as I inched closer trying to get into a spot where I could high-stick my drift – they bolted.
Moving on I spotted a really nice brownie coming to the surface eating adults. He was near the far side bank in a small pool of slow water with faster water forming a seam between him and me. There was also a bunch of debris – branches, rocks, and a stump – on the upstream side of the small pool. Where’s my dry fly rod? Oops – I left it back on the other side of the island – sure that I wouldn’t need it.
Another look at the brownie as I'm releasing him.
Well, I tried for the brownie with my nymphs – all weight removed. He looked to be about an 18” brown and was obviously experienced and cautious. My attempts with the nymphs were clumsy – and he soon bolted. I hit a few more fishy spots as I waded further downstream until I was finally at the end of the island.
My thought was “Why am I still here”? I had planned to be gone a while ago – getting to Mark’s Run before the storm – but I was still here. My next thought was the brownie.
I waded over and grabbed my dry fly rod – this time taking both with me – as I crossed the island back to where the brownie was - in hopes that he was still there. Once on the other side of the island it took me a bit to get my bearings. As I scanned the bank thinking “Where was that guy” – I saw him rise to take a fly, his whole back out of the water.
A nice 17" rainbow taken on a Parachute Adams in the Between the Islands Run.
Getting my dry flies into the small pool over the faster seam of water wasn’t easy. I got them to land on target – but as soon as my line landed on the faster water it would swing my flies unnaturally through the pool. If I was going to get this bad boy he’d have to hit as soon as my flies landed in the pool. I’ve caught a few trout that way in the past. It’s bang-bang – flies land gently on the water and BANG – fish hits them. But not this time. He wouldn’t take them.
It was now a little before noon - time to move on.
Having made the decision – I walked as quickly as possible to the car. Didn’t have a lot of time.
It’s a pretty quick drive down to Deckers and Mark’s Run from the Bridge Crossing. I made it in about ten minutes – eating half my sandwich as I drove. When I got to Mark’s there was a guy fishing the top-middle of the run and another guy fishing the Rock and Road Run. I got out of the car to explore – looking for the rising fish that I expected.
The storm did not hit yet.
As I peered into the water, the guy in the middle of Mark’s said there was some rising at the bottom of the run and he didn’t mind if I went for them. Dry fly rod in hand – I proceeded to wade into the bottom of Mark’s Run. Not far off shore I spotted some rainbows spawning on a redd. I thought the spawn was over – but not yet. Not on this part of the river.
Rainbows on dries. It was a fun afternoon fishing the pocket water above the lower island.
Once in position I did spot some rising fish. They were actually just dimples on the water – looked like they were eating emergers just before they got to the surface. That was OK by me – I had my Jujubee Midge tied on as a dropper. Maybe they’d hit that.
After a bit I paused to collect myself. Yes there were occasional rising fish – here and there. It wasn’t a bunch of fish rising on a consistent basis. My rule of thumb is that unless I see several fish consistently rising – I stick with nymphing. That is unless I’m targeting a single fish that is consistently rising – like that brownie I went after in the Bridge Crossing Run.
It’s never good to try to force things – so I waded out of the water and got my nymphing rod. Time to move on. I retied my nymph rod leading with a #18 Pheasant Tail and followed it with a #24 Grey Sparkle Wing RS2 and a #22 Black Beauty.
A darker colored rainbow. Got this one in the seam of fast water about mid-river.
Now ready, I set my sights on the Rock and Road Run, and it was now open. As I walked that way I passed the guy who was in the run earlier and he was now at his car tying some flies on his line. I asked him if he was reloading or giving up on the run. He said he was reloading. So I walked down further and crossed the river below the run and headed for the other side of the top island.
Not finding any fish I was planning to work my way down the Between the Islands Run. When I got to the end of the first island I looked up into the Rock and Road Run and no one was there. The guy who said he was reloading was now in Mark’s Run.
“OK – I’m going to go give it a look”. When I got there, I spotted a nice rainbow sitting in a pocket in the slow water below the main pool. He looked to be about 17”/18”. I would have to remove my weight in order to get a good drift in the slow pocket water. After doing so, I casted into the pool above the fish hoping to get my flies to drift in a feeding lane heading directly to him. As my flies were floating toward him – right on target – I was watching him. I wanted to see if he made any movement when they arrived.
Looking downstream at the lower island. (You can see the line of boulders that make up the pocket water - they're just beyond the glossy water on the lower right.)
But before they got there another rainbow hit and took off across the river. Out of the corner of my eye I just saw my indicator moving fast toward the other shore. I raised my rod and was now fighting a smallish rainbow. “Got to get this guy into the net” – that was my thought as I battled this game fish. He finally tired and I led him into my net. Yeah - I finally had one netted! He took my #24 Sparkle Wing RS2.
The big rainbow had bolted from all the excitement and I decided to cast into the fast water just above the pool. I couldn’t see any fish in it – but there may be one. On my second cast – my indicator stopped and I set the hook. For a second or two – nothing. Then a fish bolted taking line out as he did and I found myself fighting a game brownie. He went to the other side of the river and at first I didn’t want to cross and scare off any remaining fish – but after a bit I had to. I didn’t want to lose yet another fish.
I waded across and had the brownie upstream of me. Perfect position – but he didn’t want to come in. Head down fighting to get under the huge boulder that sits in the run. After a bit I got him up near the surface and then he went back down. Then the same sequence a few times until he was tired enough for me to get him in the current and he drifted down into my waiting net. Very nice – a 17”, beautiful brownie - my #18 Pheasant Tail firmly in his lip.
Steady rain and rainbows rising. That was my afternoon fishing the pocket water.
Not long after releasing the brownie – the storm hit. And it was quick. Not big rain drops but a heavy, wind driven, spray. I didn’t have my rainproof jacket on and quickly headed to the car to get it. By the time I got to the car my hands were frozen from the wind and rain, and my light jacket was wet.
I decided to sit in the car for a bit to warm up and dry off – thinking that I may as well eat the rest of my sandwich as I did. Maybe it will let up – or maybe it wouldn’t get any worse. I could still fish in this kind of rain with my rainproof jacket on.
To my amazement – the rain let up.
It was still raining – but it was now just a mist falling. I headed out leaving my dry fly rig in the rod vault. I won’t need it. The wind was still blowing, and I thought it would throw off any hatch and there wouldn’t be any rising fish.
Releasing a rainbow back into the Between the Islands Run.
Wading into the river just below the upper island – I planned to fish the various pools and runs as I made my way down to the top of the lower island. I had no action until I was just above the lower island where there are boulders from the shore to mid-river – then giving way to a swift run down the middle of the river.
That’s where I spotted some fish feeding in the upper column at the line where the boulders stop and the fast current begins. I had added a split shot earlier and took it off again so that my flies would stay up where the fish were. Soon I had a nice 18” rainbow in the net – then a 14” rainbow – then a 17” one. All hitting the Pheasant Tail.
As I scanned the river I could see the fish were now rising to take adults off the surface. It was then that I wished I hadn’t left my dry fly rod in the car. And I was being lazy – so I kept fishing the nymphs thinking that maybe I would get takes just below the surface.
At the end of one of my drifts I held my rod high looking into the pockets trying to decide on where I would cast it. My last two flies where still in the water and as I swung my rod forward to cast – there was a fish on! Jeez – my flies were just sitting stationary in a small pool and that guy came up and ate one of them.
A 17" rainbow. They are challenging to land along this run if they get into the fast water.
I didn’t land that fish – but it was then that I decided to go to dries. Thinking now – “should I walk over to the car and get my dry fly rod – or should I change up my nymph rig here?”. I decided to change up my current rig. I didn’t want to leave my spot.
Again feeling like I only had a short window – I only tied on one fly – a #20 Parachute Adams. They say that you get a better drift with only one fly. I agree with that, but seldom fish with just one. I like to have on a couple because rising fish are picky and with two flies your odds are better. I also like to add a dropper off the last dry – for the same reason.
But not today. Today – time was of the essence. And if the Parachute Adams wasn’t working I could always add another fly.
The Parachute Adams worked.
The fish were rising in the small pockets near the shore – an area of about ten feet by sixty feet. I kept moving from the top to the bottom – then back again – targeting various pockets as I went. And getting nice 14” to 15” rainbows – and one 15” brownie - as I did.
You get so wrapped up while fishing that you lose track of time. You’re in a zone and the only thing on your mind is fishing and nature. That’s the pull for me – and a lot of other fishermen I suspect.
Here's one with the Parachute Adams in his lip.
Anyway, at some point during that time there was a lull and I added a #24 Sparkle Dun to my Parachute Adams. The fish seemed to key on that one and I got most of the rest of my fish on it – but I still landing few more on the Parachute Adams. The biggest issue I had was keeping my dry flies dry. Between the time they were underwater while I fought fish to net and the steady rain that was falling – it was challenging.
A highlight of my time fishing the pocket water was when I was covering a couple of small pools very close to shore. Seams of water formed around the boulders flowing into the pools below bringing emerging insects with them, and I could see a few fish steadily rising to the surface. I was covering a couple of the pools with a single drift and out of nowhere an 18” rainbow came to the surface and casually sipped my Sparkle Dun. It was fun to watch and just as much fun to fight her to my net.
Later, after releasing yet another rainbow – thinking it must be close to 2:30 or 3 o’clock - I was surprised to find it was 4p. Holy Mackerel I was only supposed to fish till about 2p – at the latest. Keeny would be wondering where I am – and dinner would be ready if I left now for the one hour drive home!
The highlight of the afternoon was this 18" female. I watched her casually sip my fly off the surface.
Better hot foot it.
In the past I’ve had memorable spring days here in Deckers in bad weather – raining or spitting snow – or both. Fish rising with the place deserted, or nearly so and I really didn’t want to leave the rising trout – but I had to go.
I had more time on the river than I expected.
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