Deckers Fly Fishing: What hits when the weather turns? See what's on the menu in Deckers

Nestled just an hour from Denver, the Deckers stretch of the South Platte River is a renowned playground for fly fishing enthusiasts. Known for its crystal-clear waters, challenging trout, and stunning scenery, Deckers offers a mix of excitement and tranquility that keeps anglers coming back year-round.

Deckers is in that rare fall groove where everything feels right.
Cool mornings, rising fish by late morning, and the kind of drift that makes you forget about your phone for hours.
The browns are colored up, the rainbows are hungry, and it’s a blue-winged olive kind of season.

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Conditions Summary

Flows are running steady near 100 CFS, and clarity is excellent. Water temps hover in the high 40s, while daytime highs are in the 60s. BWOs are hatching mid-day, and post-spawn browns are feeding again in deeper slots and transition water. The bite is consistent, and the pressure is moderate for mid-October.

• Flow: ~100 CFS (steady)
• Water Temp: 46–50 °F
• Air Temp: 34–65 °F
• Clarity: Very clear
• Pressure: Moderate
• Best Times: 10 AM – 3 PM
• Dry Fly Score: ⭐⭐⭐
• Nymph Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Streamer Score: ⭐⭐⭐

Deckers is in peak form right now. Fish are holding in riffle transitions and feeding on BWOs and midges. Bright mornings favor nymphing, but cloudy afternoons offer a short, excellent dry-fly window.

October Hatch Chart

• Blue Wing Olive (BWO) #20–22, 10 AM–3 PM, fish emergers mid-column or duns on top during cloud cover
• Midges #22–26, all day, zebra or top-secret midge under a small indicator
• Egg Drifts (spawn) all day, drift just downstream of clean gravel in deeper seams

Top 3 Dry Flies for October

• Parachute BWO #20–22 – Great mid-day hatch match
• Parachute Adams #20 – Reliable in mixed conditions
• Griffith’s Gnat #22–24 – Use for subtle surface eats on calm days

Top 3 Nymphs for October

• RS2 (Gray or Olive #20–22) – Go-to BWO emerger pattern
• Zebra Midge (Black #22–24) – Fish deep through slower seams
• WD-40 (Olive #20–22) – Excellent trailer when fish suspend mid-column

Streamer of the Month

Mini Leech #12 (Black or Rust) – Fish it slow and low through deeper canyon runs during low light hours.

Tips for Fishing Deckers

• Fish mid-day for the most consistent action
• Stay off redds — browns are finishing up the spawn
• Use 5X for nymph rigs, 6X for dry flies in the clear water
• Longer leaders (10–12 ft) improve stealth and drift
• Cover water and target shaded pockets late in the day

Access Points

• Deckers Bridge: easy access, high pressure but reliable bite
• Lone Rock: riffle and pocket water, best for nymphing mid-day
• Trumbull: deeper holes, good post-spawn feeding water
• Wigwam Creek confluence: clear water, solid dry-dropper potential

Local Regulations & Notes

• Artificial flies and lures only
• Catch and release sis trongly encouraged during fthe all spawn
• Stay off visible redds and avoid walking across clean gravel

FAQ on Deckers

Q: What’s the best time to fish in October?
A: Late morning to mid-afternoon (10 AM–3 PM).

Q: Are browns still spawning?
A: Most have finished, but some late spawners remain. Fish downstream of redds.

Q: What’s the best rig for this week?
A: RS2 trailing a Zebra Midge on 5X tippet under a small indicator.

Q: Can I fish streamers?
A: Yes, especially late afternoon with small leeches.

Q: Best dry fly pattern right now?
A: Parachute BWO #20 on overcast days.

Q: Is the water clear?
A: Extremely clear with about 3 feet of visibility.

River Whisper | Best Fly Fishing Right Now

Real-time flows and seasonal context pulled straight from the DWR and USGS — so you can fish smarter, not just harder. Updated daily, decoded weekly.