February 28, 2020
Flows: 165 cfs
Water Temp: DNR
Water clarity: ~6’
Air Temp: 25 @ 8:30a – high 50s to low 60s @ 4p.
Hatches: Sparse BWO – 10:15a to 4p.
Brian and I decided to hit Deckers this Friday. The weather forecast was for temps in the 50s and the flow – although recently dropping – was about 165 cfs, which is a good flow for Deckers and conducive to good fishing. This would be a nice change of pace from the Pueblo Tailwater and it’s a place that I really enjoy. The South Platte river that runs through Deckers is surrounded by low mountainous (referred to as “foothills” around here) and canyon walls. It really feels like you’re out in the wilderness – and you are! From our place in South Denver – our route takes us over a small (for Colorado) mountain pass and there is no cell service once you get about ½ way there. It's not uncommon to see herds of deer and elk, an occasional black bear, wild turkeys, ospreys, and hawks - which adds to the experience.
Brian with a "slabby" 21" female rainbow taken out of the Bridge Hole.
Oh – and the other draw – rainbow and brown trout. Lots of them – and as displayed by the one Brian caught – there are big ones.
We weren’t the only ones drawn to this great fishery – as there were quite a few fishermen on the river. Maybe they were taking a Friday off to make a 3 day weekend – or maybe they were retired – like Brian and I. In any case, this is the only drawback – the crowds.
Our plan was to start the day at “Between the Bridges Run” across from the Deckers resort – and then fish Ray’s Run. After lunch we’d hit Mark’s Run to see if we could get some risers as is typical for that section of the river. And by the way – I wasn’t planning on fishing – but just scouting and helping Brian. More on that later.
We arrived early – 8:30a is early for winter fishing in Deckers – and Between the Bridges Run was open. We continued onto the YMCA Camp road to get a look at Ray’s Run to see if that was open too. Not the case, as there was already one fisherman in it. This is a narrow dirt road, so Brian continued up to the first parking area where we could turn-around easily. This parking area is just past the Bend Hole – which usually holds a good amount trout – and it was open too. So we decided to start there.
Before starting, we seined the river to see what we could find. Surprising all the nymphs that we dredged up were baetis. So Brian set-up a 3 nymph rig with a Pheasant Tail leading followed by a Rainbow Warrior and black Sparkle Wing RS-2. I didn’t see any fish in the hole and Brian had no hits. As he continued to cover the hole – I scouted downstream and spotted a nice rainbow feeding in a pocket about mid-stream. So when Brian was done covering the hole – we went down to see if he could get the rainbow I spotted.
Baetis - dredged up at the Bend Hole.
The south side bank (facing north) was covered with hard packed snow and is steep in this area – and the river is deep on that side, making it hard to cross and get into a good position to cast where the fish was feeding. So we went upstream and crossed the river then walked along the bank downstream to a spot where Brian could cast to the fish and get a good drag free drift. It still wasn’t an easy cast from where Brian was set up, as there are several mid-stream seams created by large boulders submerged in the water. So casting over them – which Brian had to do - creates a challenge to get a drag free drift. Lot’s of upstream mending is required. As this was taking place – a younger fisherman – spotted the same fish from the other side of the river. So the young guy climbs down the snow packed, steep bank and begins casting to the same fish! And I’m pretty sure he had the fish on temporarily – so we moved downstream. Yep – the only drawback is the crowds…..
Below the Bend Hole - with lots of pocket water.
Our destination was Ray’s Run which is about 1/8 of a mile downstream from where we were. When we got there – there was a fisherman at the head of the run. This still left plenty of room downstream from him and we wouldn't be intruding on his space. We set up near the end of the run and spotted about 15 fish feeding in seams from near the bank to about mid-stream. Brian tried his nymph rig – and while he was covering the run – I rigged up a dry/dropper set-up. After not getting any action with the nymphs – Brian switched to the dry/dropper set-up. Still no hits – ugh!! While this was going on, we started to get some pressure from 3 fishermen who were moving upstream. So in order to “protect” our space - I starting fishing the nymph rig – while Brian continued with the dry/dropper. Then we switched rigs and continued to cover and re-cover the run. Neither of us could entice a hit so we decided to break for lunch.
During lunch I decided that I may as well fish. I was doing it down at Ray’s Run and didn’t have any issues, so why not? The only issues I could think of was fighting, netting, and releasing a fish by myself. Hmmm – the only thing left out was casting! Earlier, when we were in Ray’s Run – Brian heard one of the guys say he got a couple fish on a Bling Midge. So as we were eating, Brian tied on one of his small midges that resembled a Bling Midge.
We began the afternoon at the Between the Bridges Run and the Bridge Hole. I scouted the Between the Bridges run and pocket water near the Resort, and even though I didn’t spot any fish – decided to give it a try. Brian continued upstream into the Bridge Hole.
It takes me a little longer to rig up – with the cast on. But I sat down and tied on a #20 Two Bit Hooker (who makes up these names?) followed by a #22 Stalcup Baetis and a #24 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty. As I finished and got up – there was another fisherman 20’ or so downstream from me on the other side of the river. This section of the river is split into two runs by an island – and the section we were on is only about 30 feet wide. So this guy was creeping into my space! Oh well – I started in a small pocket on my side of the stream that I’ve caught a fish in before. After about 5 or 6 casts – I decided that there was no one home and started to move downstream. I only took about 3 steps and spotted a fish no more than 1 ½ feet off the bank just downstream from me. Luckily, I was able to get out of the water where I was standing – and I walked down the bank to get behind the fish. The cast upstream to him would be tricky as there was streamside vegetation hanging over the bank. But on my 1st cast the fish hit and I landed a nice 16” Cutbow! He hit the Stalcup Baetis (this is becoming one of my favorites!) and it took awhile to get it out of the his mouth. By the time I was done – the fisherman across the stream from me was leaving….
16" Cutbow taken out of the Between the Bridges Run.
After checking the area and not spotting any more fish – I decided to go up the Bridge Hole and see how Brian was doing. A few minutes after I got there, Brian hooked up a fish – and it was a nice one!! It took a good 10 minutes of fighting to get the fish in the net and no wonder. It was a 21” female with a wide girth! Slabby is what we call that. Brian was surprised that a fish that big would hit such a small - #24 midge - the one he tied up at lunch. But that’s what she hit.
Another look at the big rainbow - the "catch of the day".
The rest of the day cooled off as far as the fishing was concerned – but I was happy to land a fish on a day that I wasn’t even expecting to fish. And for Brian – he landed the biggest trout ever! So a good day all around.
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