Top 5 Must-Have Flies for Success on the South Platte River

If the Colorado River is the Wild West of fly fishing, then the South Platte is Ivy League—technical, demanding, and full of trout that have seen it all. This river system, stretching from the high country through Cheesman Canyon and into the urban runs of Denver, is home to some of the most educated trout in the state. These fish don’t just eat any old fly—you need precision, patience, and the right patterns to crack the code.

Whether you’re euro nymphing in the Dream Stream, delicately presenting dries in Cheesman, or throwing streamers at hungry browns in Eleven Mile, you better bring your A-game. Let’s break down the five flies you can’t leave home without, plus the top picks for each season and section of the South Platte.

The Big Three: Flies That Work Everywhere

Some flies are legends. These ones flat-out work on the South Platte, no matter the time of year or stretch you’re fishing.

1. RS2 (The Tiny But Deadly Mayfly Imitation)

The RS2 is the thinking man's nymph—small, subtle, and absolutely essential. Whether fish are keying in on BWOs, midges, or just being picky little jerks, the RS2 gets eats. Fish it as a dropper under a dry, deep in a nymph rig, or swung like an emerger—it doesn’t matter, it works.

2. Zebra Midge (The Winter MVP)

South Platte trout see more midges than a ski bum sees overpriced bar tabs. If you’re fishing here, you need a midge pattern that stands out. The Zebra Midge is that fly—its tiny glass bead gives just enough flash to mimic an emerging midge without making fish suspicious. This is your go-to for winter, but honestly, it works all year.

3. Slump Buster (Streamer for When You Need a Big Bite)

Big browns don’t get big eating size 22 midges all day. When the sun gets low and the meat hatch is on, tie on a Slump Buster and send it. Fish it on the strip, dead-drift it along the bank, or swing it through deep runs—just be ready for an aggressive eat.

Best Flies by Section: What Works Where

Dream Stream (Between Spinney and Eleven Mile Reservoirs)

This tailwater is home to some of the biggest fish in the South Platte system—migrating lake-run browns, rainbows, and cutthroats that demand perfection.

• Best Dry Fly: Parachute BWO – These fish eat Blue Wings year-round.
• Best Nymph: Egg Pattern – If the lake-run fish are in, eggs = breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Best Streamer: Thin Mint – Because Dream Stream browns love to ambush baitfish.

Cheesman Canyon

Possibly the most technical trout fishery in Colorado—gin-clear water, spooky fish, and no room for error.

• Best Dry Fly: Griffith’s Gnat – Midge hatches in Cheesman are next level, and this gets eats.
• Best Nymph: Zebra Midge – If you’re fishing Cheesman and not throwing a midge, what are you even doing?
• Best Streamer: Mini Leech – Cheesman browns aren’t dumb, but they will eat a well-presented leech.
  
  
  

Deckers (Below Cheesman Reservoir)

A classic tailwater that fishes well year-round, Deckers is where beginners and experts alike can have a day to remember—or get skunked by fish that have seen it all.

• Best Dry Fly: Parachute Adams – When midges aren’t popping, mayflies are the next go-to.
• Best Nymph: Barr’s Emerger – It’s a BWO tailwater special, and it never stops working.
• Best Streamer: Black Woolly Bugger – Works in dirty water, low light, or when you just want to wake up a lazy brown.

Best Flies by Season: What to Tie on and When

Spring (March – May): When the River Comes Alive

• Top Dry Fly: Blue Winged Olive – Spring BWO hatches are legendary on the Platte.
• Top Nymph: Juju Baetis – A sneaky deadly mayfly imitation.
• Top Streamer: Thin Mint – Works as a leech, works as a baitfish, works period.

Summer (June – August): The Technical Season

• Top Dry Fly: Chubby Chernobyl – When hoppers start plopping, big trout start chomping.
• Top Nymph: Pat’s Rubber Legs – Stoneflies and summer flows go hand in hand.
• Top Streamer: Baby Gongas – Small but trout-killing.

Fall (September – November): The Big Brown Time

• Top Dry Fly: Parachute Adams – Because BWOs are still hatching, and trout love them.
• Top Nymph: Egg Pattern – If you’re not fishing eggs in the fall, you’re missing out.
• Top Streamer: Slump Buster – A serious brown trout trigger in fall’s low light.

Winter (December – February): The Small and Slow Game

• Top Dry Fly: Griffith’s Gnat – If there’s a hatch, it’s probably midges.
• Top Nymph: Mercury Midge – Winter = midges, and midges = trout food.
• Top Streamer: Black Leech – Dead-drift it along the bank, and hold on.

Final Thoughts

The South Platte is not a river for the faint of heart—this is graduate-level trout fishing. You'll be ignored harder than a telemarketer at dinner if you show up with big, sloppy flies and lazy drifts. But if you come prepared, dial in your presentation, and match the hatch, you’ll land some of the most brilliant, most rewarding trout of your life.

So stock your box, tie your knots right, and get out there. Just remember—these fish don’t hand out participation trophies.