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South Platte Drainage
River Reports
Flows are updated based on CPW previous day report. The weather is real-time by Open Weather. All other data is manually compiled via online services and actual on-site experience.
“You don’t know until you go”
Drainage Update
Tuesday, January 6th, 2026
Happy New Year, everyone. It has been a while since my last update, but as the saying goes, “You don’t know until you go,” and lately, I haven’t done much fishing. Our drought is now over, however. After a fairly mild start to the season, the cold and wintry conditions we’ve been waiting for have finally arrived across the South Platte drainage. We are seeing those overdue winter cycles move in, bringing shelf ice to the banks and that quiet, crisp stillness to the canyons that only January can provide.
The river has settled into its technical winter rhythm. While the snow and freezing temps might deter the fair-weather crowd, for those of us willing to layer up, it means hungry fish and a bit more elbow room on the water. The tailwaters are steady, the midges are moving, and the trout are tucked into their deep winter lies. It’s time to slow down your presentation, thin out your tippet, and embrace the technical beauty of the South Platte in mid-winter.
54°F
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tomorrow
2:00 pm
|
 clear sky
|
50° | 57°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 6 mph | 29 % | 1015 mb |
|
Sun Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
45° | 64°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 8 mph | 41 % | 1016 mb |
|
Mon Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
45° | 68°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 9 mph | 74 % | 1017 mb |
|
Tue Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
 moderate rain
|
39° | 67°°F | 1 mm | 100% | 12 mph | 93 % | 1013 mb |
|
Wed Mar 26
2:00 pm
|
 light rain
|
37° | 60°°F | 1 mm | 100% | 13 mph | 91 % | 1019 mb |
| Hour | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tomorrow
11:00 pm
|
broken clouds
|
50° | 53°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 6 mph | 25 % | 1015 mb |
|
Tomorrow
2:00 am
|
 scattered clouds
|
49° | 51°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 4 mph | 25 % | 1015 mb |
|
Tomorrow
5:00 am
|
 clear sky
|
47° | 47°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 6 mph | 29 % | 1014 mb |
|
Tomorrow
8:00 am
|
clear sky
|
56° | 56°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 5 mph | 27 % | 1015 mb |
|
Tomorrow
11:00 am
|
 scattered clouds
|
66° | 66°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 3 mph | 15 % | 1012 mb |
|
Tomorrow
2:00 pm
|
 overcast clouds
|
65° | 65°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 4 mph | 8 % | 1010 mb |
|
Sun Mar 26
5:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
64° | 64°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 4 mph | 9 % | 1010 mb |
|
Sun Mar 26
8:00 pm
|
overcast clouds
|
59° | 59°°F | 0 mm | 0% | 7 mph | 18 % | 1012 mb |
Bear Creek
Flow (CFS) : 11
51°F
Big Thompson
Flow (CFS) : 13.9
43°F
Cheesman Canyon
Flow (CFS) : 122
47°F
Clear Creek
Flow (CFS) : 37.6
43°F
Dream Stream
Flow (CFS) : 46.4
40°F
Deckers
Flow (CFS) : 128
47°F
Eleven Mile Canyon
Flow (CFS) : 54.7
41°F
South Boulder Creek
Flow (CFS) : 57.1
42°F
Waterton Canyon
Flow (CFS) : 207
48°F
Old Updates (The Archives)
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
Prime time has arrived on the South Platte River! Late July offers excellent fishing conditions. All sections of the river are in wonderful shape. The smaller tributaries have receded significantly since the peak runoff, and the tailwaters have sufficient flow. As we transition from late July into August, terrestrials are key! Hoppers, beetles, and ants are choices for enticing rising fish. Conversely, some areas are experiencing peak summer Trico hatches. This offers a technical dry fly fishing challenge for those seeking it. Fish the tactic of your choice. Expect fish to be distributed throughout the system, taking advantage of small, single-fish lies, undercut banks, and commonly riding the riffles.
Tuesday, June 25th, 2025
Leading into summer, things are looking great along the South Platte River. Some tailwater sections have been kept consistent and low, while others are pushing some water. The more freestone style tributaries of the South Platte have seen their runoff peak and are beginning to slow down. Hot temps in the future and the possibility of afternoon rainstorms will keep things somewhat variable. Right now, it is summer fishing at its finest. Larger bugs are present, including Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, and more. Day by day, terrestrials will become more and more prominent, making dry dropper rigs a pleasure to fish. As the summer creeps up on us, watch the water temps. If you see it hit 60° Farenheight, it might be time to take a nap or have lunch to return when things cool and the bugs are hatching. Avoiding stressing the fish will only create better opportunities in the future. Maybe that big fall streamer eater you are dreaming of. Mornings and evenings are the best times to be on the water right now.
Friday June 6th, 2025
The South Platte River Drainage is currently presenting a diverse range of conditions. It offers challenges and exciting opportunities for anglers. Depending on the specific section you choose to fish, you will encounter either lower, more technical flows where fish can be wary. Alternatively, you may find higher, more robust water influenced by runoff and recent moisture. Warm, sunny days with the customary afternoon thunderstorms have become the norm. This time of year, the bug life is incredibly active, with an onset of caddis in the system accompanied by Pale Morning Duns. For presentations, deep nymphing rigs with small midge, BWO, or caddis pupa patterns remain highly effective, especially in deeper runs and slower seams. When surface activity picks up, a well-placed dry fly such as a Parachute Adams or Sparkle Dun can entice rising fish. For higher water sections, consider adding a slightly heavier attractor nymph like a San Juan Worm or Scud to your rig to help get your flies down. Stealthy approaches and precise drifts are paramount, particularly in clearer, lower flows.
Friday, May 2nd, 2025
Waterways along the South Platte River are just about ready to move. Currently it looks like you can’t go wrong. Our most popular tailwaters are seeing their first mild bump in flows. This may be a great move as we head into the weekend if you are wanting to hit these waters. Who knows what runoff will bring. With that said, snowpack is not looking all that great. The South Platte is on the favorable end with only about 75% of the historic median when compared to the rest of the state. A couple more powder days would be great! If you are heading out, dry droppers rigs are more and more relevant every day. Smaller bugs are still the mainstay but each day will get us closer to summer time terrestrial action.
Wednesday, April 15th, 2025
After a period of water flow reduction across the drainage it looks like water levels are on their way up. The smaller tributaries are starting to turn up. A precursor of what is to come. If you are going to hit these waters (Bear Creek, Clear Creek) keep an eye on the weather and the flows daily. There is some cool weather upcoming. If it stays dry, the waterway should maintain a slow increase. With a good bit of rain they can swell. Now is a good time to hit these sections before/if runoff really whacks them. The tailwaters are back up even if slightly compared to the previous week of lower water. On these sections, things have been great but still fairly technical with clear low water. Hatches right now can be super prolific if you know where and when to look.
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025
April is here, it is a great time to get out on the water. Spring runoff has not yet hit and we are seeing some great bug activity. The weather has been variable, with mixed rain/snow storms throughout the South Platte drainage system. This means variability in the waterways. Some Expect to see the smaller tributaries to have larger imbalances as the weather persists. The tailwaters will remain consistent based on the demand and holding water by the higher mountain reservoirs. This time of year is also an excellent time to hit stillwater. Spinney Mountain Reservoir opening day has been announced for April, 11th. It will be busy but the fishing should also be prime. If you do stick to the rivers, keep your eyes on the flows and weather.
Friday, March 21st, 2025
The end of March is a great time to get out and fish. The water is still pre-runoff, but the bugs and the fish are moving. Blue Wing Olives are HERE in for force, and the Midge activity has stayed strong. Some of our tailwaters on the South Platte drainage have seen a flow reduction. This can turn down the fish, but with the warmer temps and the before-mentioned bugs, I wouldn’t let that scare you. Expect fish to remain suspended early, becoming more active as the day and water warms. Nymphing deep early will be the most effective play. My go-to rig in this situation is to lead with either a worm or an egg, followed by a low water midge or nymph trailed by the emerging imitation of either behind. Keep your eye out for fish higher in the column, taking emerges and moving into the riffles. A light, dry dropper can be a great relief after a long, cold winter of nymphing. Rainbows are feeling hot and heavy. Respect the spawn and target the followers.
Friday, March 15th, 2025
Mid-March means I will be looking closely at snowpack levels throughout our major drainages. The image below shows current levels as of 3/14/2025. For the South Platte. Currently, we are seeing average snowpack levels. While this is good, we can always use more. Even with decent flows through our favorite sections of the Platte, the reservoirs are holding reasonably good levels. From what I can find (data below), Spinney looks less than 50% (not shown on chart), but all other major reservoirs are at 90% or higher as we head into the spring. My theory (without any backing) is that they will continue the flows as they are lower down in the system while filling Spinney with runoff water as things begin to warm. Before you head out, check the flows. Things will be variable as we head towards runoff. If you have been out, you know bug life has been great! There is a plethora of Midges throughout the system, and the BWOs are increasingly active daily. While subsurface is still the main play, on warmer days, fish have begun to spread out. We are seeing Rainbows move onto spawning beads to keep an eye out and avoid them. Check out the Deckers report to see my most recent visit. I have also been out on Bear Creek, Clear Creek, and the Big Thompson in the last month. Check those reports if you are heading in those directions!
Thursday, March 6th, 2025
The flows along the South Platte River and its tributaries have been optimal! Over the last couple of months, I have fished the river from Eleven Mile Canyon to the Big Thompson, only experiencing one tough day on Bear Creek. Check out each specific report below. If you are heading out, be ready for the beginning of our spring bug season. I have seen plenty of Midge activity and the sporadic Blue Wing Olive on the below-reported stretches. While the fish are becoming more active (Mainly during the primary feeding times of the day), they are still primarily in their winter holes. Focus your efforts on the deeper water and the better lays. If you aren’t finding fish, cover the water until you do. Searching patterns such as a Mop fly, Ping Sticker, or Squirmy Worm are great for finding fish. Then, put on a small emerger to get the pickier trout to eat.
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
The weather has been unseasonably warm along the South Platte River. This has people out and fishing. The Tailwaters will be busy, and the other smaller tributaries may see some water opening back up after some proper winter weather. I was out on Bear Creek the other evening, and while most of the river has shelf ice, there are open pockets to fish but the fish are spooky. On the contrary, when fishing Eleven Mile Canyon on Sunday, there was very little ice (higher up), and the fish were very active. Pick your day, as there is a lot of fun to be had on this river right now!
Friday, January 31st, 2025
We have had a string of cold weather and storms. This weekend and into next week look to be a pleasant change. Nighttime temps and short days will keep the conditions “winter-like,” so continue to pick your water wisely and focus on the prime (warmest) parts of the day. The South Platte overall is in good shape for this time of year. A good bit of water is coming from each of the main tailwaters. Cheesman may be the go-to spot for the weekend if you are up for the hike-in!
Friday, January 10th, 2025
Winter solstice hit last month and so did the physical signs of the season. Decent metro storms and consistent mountain storms have made it tough to pick the right time to get out. For me the draw to powder has been too strong and shredding turns has been winning out. If you are in the mood to fish, hit up the tailwaters. They are the main play for this time of year. If you are a regular on the South Platte, maybe consider the lower Arkansas below Pueblo. Not only is it a tailwater fishery, but it also tends to have milder weather when compared to other winter options. Check your flows below and watch the weather. 10am – 2pm will be the best window throughout the day.
Tuesday, November 19th 2024
The weather on the front range has been stable for the last week, with a mild and dry tendency. Overnights have been chilly and fish are moving into slower water holds until (if) the day warms up enough. Look for tiny files to be the mainstay. Leading with an attractor fly is always a good option with one or two small flies dropping behind. We are looking at a slight warm-up as we head into the weekend with what might be fairly stable conditions after that. If you can fish early next week, you should. Different water sheds will see different fish behavior. Expect the smaller water to have more eager fish, while sections like Deckers and Cheesman will be as technical as ever. There is still a lot of open water throughout the South Platte River. Take advantage of the nice weather!
Monday, November 11th, 2024
Last week ended with a bang. A “historic” storm rolled through, dropping over 20″ of snow in the Denver metro area. This storm will have various impacts for the South Platte River and its watershed. The smaller tributaries will be best avoided until they have time to recover. Some of them, with already low water, may have been choked out a little with all the snow. The sun is expected out with mild temps this week. The snow should melt a bit and add water to the systems. The larger tailwaters should be less affected. Keep an eye on flows from the dams, as that will have a major impact on the fishing this time of year. Expect the latter half of the week to fish strong, depending on the section you choose. My pick would be Clear Creek (lower to avoid ski traffic). The added snow should start to melt. As long as the water warms, this should help activate bugs and fish. The 10 am – 2 pm window is now in play, although we may still see fall return before winter takes a permanent hold.