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LOCAL WATER. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.

Deckers Fishing Report

South Platte River · Deckers & Trumbull, Colorado

ON THE WATER

Current fishing report

Report updated

Deckers continues to offer classic late-October tailwater fishing, with clear water and selective trout. Flows stepped up in early October from the low 80s to around 100 cfs; confirm today’s gauge rather than treating that number as current. Small midges and Baetis are the foundation of the food supply. Fish deeper seams and soft edges early, then watch for BWO emergence during the warmer, cloudier part of the day. Subtle rises may indicate trout taking emergers just below the film. Long leaders, accurate depth and a low-profile approach will usually outperform repeated fly changes. Keep rigs free of aquatic vegetation. Brown trout spawning activity makes gravel bars and paired fish off limits.

Fishing tips

Begin with a Black Beauty or Zebra Midge and a Juju Baetis. During a BWO window, switch to an RS2 emerger or Blue Wing Olive dry. Fish quieter edges with 5X–6X as conditions require. Avoid redds and give other anglers space.
Pat Dorsey

FROM OUR HEAD GUIDE

Pat Dorsey's Guide Report

Pat's report revised

Tips & Other Information

Outflows are currently 49 cfs below Cheesman Reservoir. The water is skinny and the fishing is tough.  The greatest challenge is that the weed beds are clogging the substrate, chewing up the little bit of habitat that is left. Cheesman Reservoir is currently at 65% capacity as of this morning.  Anglers should prepare themselves for hatches of midges and Tricos in the morning. The spinner fall is not amounting to much, but the duns are providing some good dry fly action. Mid-day is providing some surface activity with BWO patterns. During the non-hatch periods, target the weed beds with egg patterns and Baetis nymphs in search of some mid-sized colored-up browns.

14-Day Hatch Outlook

Outlook from Pat's report dated October 20, 2026; not a live weather forecast.

Look for hatches of midges, Tricos, caddisflies, pale morning duns, and blue-winged olives.

Effective Patterns

#20-22 Top Secret Midge, #20-22 Manhattan Midge, #20-22 Jujubaetis, #20-22 Top Secret Baetis, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #18 Micro San Juan Worm, #10 Pat's Rubber Legs, #20-22 Red Larva, #20 Mercurry Blood Midge, #20-22 Flashback Mercury Black Beauty, #18-20 Buckskin, #18-20 Sparkle Dun (BWO), #22-24 CDC Biot Trico Comparadun, #18 Sparkle Dun(PMD) #14-16 Elk Hair Caddis, #10 Amy's Ant, #20-24 Griffith Gnat, #18-22 Mole Fly, and #20-22 Parachute Adams.

Looking for flies for this river? Shop BQA's recommended flies ↓

Source: Pat Dorsey Fly Fishing · Read Pat's original report

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

River conditions

Flow readings update separately from the fishing report. Check the reading time shown below.

BUILD YOUR FLY BOX

Recommended flies for Deckers

Selected by the Blue Quill Angler team for fishing Deckers. See the fishing reports above for specific patterns, sizes, and techniques.

PLAN YOUR DAY

Fishing Deckers

The fishery

The South Platte around Deckers and Trumbull offers a mix of riffles, deeper runs, shelves, and pocket water below Cheesman Canyon. Brown and rainbow trout inhabit this heavily fished water, where careful approaches and accurate drifts matter more than frequent fly changes. Nymphing is a dependable starting point; watch for rising fish before switching to dries. Check the current report and flows before choosing where to fish.

Access & parking

Public and private property alternate along the Deckers corridor. Use designated public access points and established parking areas, and check signs before approaching the river. Public access on one bank does not establish access on the opposite bank. Respect fences, gates, driveways, and posted boundaries. Consult the river access map when planning your visit, then follow current signs and closures on arrival.

Seasons & techniques

Midges are an important starting point during colder months, with blue-winged olives offering seasonal opportunities for emergers and dry flies. Warmer months broaden the selection to include caddis and other mayflies. Let observed insects, feeding behavior, water clarity, and flow guide your choices. Adjust depth and weight before repeatedly changing patterns, and use the weekly report for current fly recommendations.

Regulations & river care

Check current Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing regulations for the exact stretch you plan to fish, and follow posted restrictions. We encourage catch and release, careful handling, and keeping fish in the water while unhooking them. Avoid spawning fish and their redds, give other anglers room, and use established paths to protect streambanks. Monitor water temperature during warm weather and stop fishing when conditions place trout under stress.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Location & access

Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Use the marked location to plan your visit. Follow current signs, access boundaries, parking rules, and closures on arrival.

A LOOK AT THE WATER

Along the river

Deckers (5).png__PID:960f83f1-e2db-47ae-987e-b8f3c4441c26
Deckers (4).png__PID:c50f960f-83f1-42db-87ae-187eb8f3c444
Deckers (3).png__PID:626db466-c50f-460f-83f1-e2db07ae187e
Deckers.png__PID:298996eb-8f3f-4c5a-ac5e-3042666fe500

Photos by @ddrapsflyfishing