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The Dream Stream is many things: iconic, scenic, technical, and rewarding. But in July? It’s also a carnival of Gore-Tex, telescopic rods, and folks who think the “quiet part of Colorado” comes with Bluetooth speakers.
Welcome to the summer session at Colorado’s most beloved and overrun tailwater. Here’s how to fish it well, keep your sanity intact, and maybe even enjoy the madness.
Listen to the Podcast!
First, Let’s Acknowledge the Chaos
The Dream Stream (South Platte between Spinney and Eleven Mile) draws:
- Hardcore anglers chasing bruiser browns
- Float tubers who wandered downstream from Instagram
- Beginners learning to double haul… in the middle of the run you were targeting
Add summer flows, trico hatches, and wandering antelope and you’ve got a stew of beauty, frustration, and big trout just waiting to break you (or your 6X).
Strategy #1: Fish When Others Don’t
Want solitude on the Dream in July? You’ve got two options:
- Go early – Like “sunrise over South Park” early. You’ll beat the crowds and catch fish sipping tricos before the wind hits.
- Fish late – After 6 PM, the pressure drops and trout slide back into feeding lanes. Bring a headlamp. Stay mobile.
Midday? That’s time for a nap in the car or a tactical drive to Eleven Mile Canyon.
Strategy #2: Walk Like You Mean It
The first half mile from the lot is where dreams die. Big groups. Spooked fish. Foot traffic like a mall on Christmas Eve.
Solution: Walk a mile upstream or downstream. Most anglers won’t. You’ll find:
- Better water
- Calmer fish
- Fewer people trying to show you their double haul in 15 mph wind
Bonus: It’s good for your legs. And your patience.
Strategy #3: Fish Small, Think Light
Big fish don’t mean big flies in summer. In fact, the opposite.
Here’s your mid-summer fly box:
| Type | Pattern | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | Trico Spinner | 22–24 |
| Dry | CDC Caddis | 18–20 |
| Nymph | RS2 (gray, olive) | 20–22 |
| Nymph | Zebra Midge (black, red) | 20–24 |
| Emerger | Barr’s BWO Emerger | 20–22 |
| Terrestrial | Foam Ant or Hopper | 12–16 |
| Streamer | Thin Mint | 10–12 |
Strategy #4: Reset Your Expectations
You are not going to have the Dream Stream to yourself in July. You will see someone post up 20 feet away. You will lose your cool if you let it.
So don’t. Reset your mental drag:
- Enjoy the view. It’s South Park, not I-25.
- Celebrate your skills: casting around other people makes you sharper.
- Say hi. Most folks are just like you-trying to escape the noise.
And if you hook into a 22” cutbow while someone’s dog splashes upstream… now that’s the real flex.
TLDR: Sanity-Saving Dream Stream Hacks
- Go early or go late
- Walk farther than the rest
- Use small, technical flies
- Bring patience, not ego
- Celebrate the chaos-you’re still fishing
