Middle Fork South Platte Fly Fishing Report
Middle Fork South Platte at Prince. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 50–200 cfs (FlyGuysNLies). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
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View on Colorado DWR →What's swimming in the Middle Fork South Platte
No CPW fishery survey or body-of-water page exists specifically for the Middle Fork. The nearest CPW page describes Eleven Mile Canyon on the main South Platte, a different segment.
- CPW's nearest body-of-water page (Eleven Mile Canyon, main South Platte) describes Brown Trout, "cutbow" and Rainbow Trout with "one of the only successfully reproducing populations of rainbow trout in the South Platte drainage," general drainage context, not the Middle Fork itself (CPW South Platte River).
- A managed trophy reach runs from the Colo. 9 bridge north of Garo downstream to the South Fork confluence: flies and lures only, trout 12-20 inches must be released, 2-fish bag with only one over 20 inches (CPW special regulations).
- CPW's Fishing Atlas flags the Tomahawk SWA access point as stocked with sub-catchable trout (CPW Fishing Atlas).
- Secondary sources report Brown Trout near Fairplay and downstream, with Brook Trout and some Rainbow Trout near Alma (Angler's Covey; The Catch and The Hatch).
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Middle Fork South Platte
3 hold fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
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Mosquito Creek Brown and brook trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Middle Fork South Platte at Alma. It flows year-round.
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Beaver Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 4.5 miles up the creek · Forest Road 659, open Jun 16 to Dec 31
About it
It joins the Middle Fork South Platte at Fairplay. It flows year-round.
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South Fork South Platte River Brown and rainbow trout
Where to fish
Knight-Imler SWA
CPW access point · Easy access
Badger Basin SWA
CPW access point · Easy access
CPW special rules
From US 285 downstream to Antero Reservoir
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Trout 12–20 inches long must be returned to water immediately.
- Bag and possession limit for trout is 2. Only one may be longer than 20 inches.
From Antero Reservoir downstream in the newly constructed channel to the confluence with the existing channel
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- All trout must be returned to water immediately.
From the lower boundary fence of the Badger Basin State Wildlife Area downstream to the confluence with the Middle Fork of the South Platte
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Trout 12–20 inches long must be returned to water immediately.
- Bag and possession limit for trout is 2. Only one may be longer than 20 inches.
About it
It joins the Middle Fork South Platte about 3 miles E of Hartsel. It flows year-round.
Show 8 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Middle Fork South Platte. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- Moose Creek
- Quartzville Creek
- Sawmill Creek
- Buckskin Creek
- Pennsylvania Creek
- Sacramento Creek
- Crooked Creek
- Trout Creek
Species and special rules are Colorado Parks and Wildlife's. Statewide rules apply everywhere. Before you fish, check land ownership, CPW's current regulations and its temporary closures for drought and low water.
How we pick these
Species are CPW's records from its Fishing Atlas. A creek missing from this list may still hold fish; CPW simply has no record for it. The list runs in the order each one joins the Middle Fork South Platte, from the headwaters down, and "joins" names the nearest town to where it does on the same side of the mountains: a Census place, or a town with its own post office. Flow is how USGS maps each channel, not a live reading.
Special rules are the ones CPW writes for each creek in its Fishing Atlas. Rules CPW writes for the river itself, such as closures around a creek's mouth, are not repeated on the creek, and no directions lead into water CPW closes all year.
A national forest stretch is one that both the Forest Service's and BLM's ownership maps show as national forest for at least half a mile of the creek, with a road on the Forest Service's motor vehicle map within 500 feet; directions go to that road. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to the Middle Fork South Platte
- Fairplay Beach Recreation Area is the in-town anchor -- the Town of Fairplay describes it as "a very popular public fishing area, above and below the Fairplay Beach Recreation Area (reservoir)," with 2006 habitat improvements. CPW's own mapping data separately confirms a stocked Fairplay Kids Pond at the same location -- a different kind of fishing than the river itself (Town of Fairplay).
- Tomahawk SWA, Badger Basin SWA and Alma SWA (CPW, Park County) all require a license or SWA pass 16+. Badger Basin is the strictest: fishing only, no hunting, designated parking areas only, access confined to the fenced/posted easement (CPW Badger Basin SWA).
- Unconfirmed: Alma Riverwalk Trail Head, further upstream in the town of Alma, connects a Main St./Highway 9 parking area to the river corridor -- but the Town of Alma's own page describes it as a trail/open-space purchase and does not explicitly confirm fishing access. Treat it as a river-corridor/trail access point, not a confirmed fishing spot, until that's verified (Town of Alma).
- Gold MedalColo. 9 bridge (4.9 mi north of Garo) to the South Fork confluence -- artificial flies and lures only; trout 12–20 inches must be released immediately; bag/possession 2 trout, only one over 20 inches (CPW special regulations).
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What’s hatching on the Middle Fork South Platte
7 insects, from the published hatch charts of 3 fly shops, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
Hoppers & terrestrialsJul – Aug · hook #6–203 sources
Where these dates come from:
- FlyGuysNLies “Hoppers”: Jul – Aug (months only) · Dave's Hopper #6-12; Chernobyl Ant #8-16
- FlyGuysNLies “Ants / Beetles”: no dates given · Parachute Ant #14-20
- Angler's Covey “Terrestrials (hopper-dropper)”: no dates given · Micro Chubbies #12-16
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jul – Aug · hook #16–222 sources
Where these dates come from:
- FlyGuysNLies “Pale Morning Dun”: Jul – Aug (months only)
- Angler's Covey (Middle Fork of the South Platte) “PMD”: no dates given · Sparkle Dun PMD #16-20; Split Back PMD #18-22
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)No dates published1 source
Where these dates come from:
- FlyGuysNLies “Blue-Winged Olive”: from Jun, no end date given
CaddisNo dates published · hook #8–202 sources
Where these dates come from:
- FlyGuysNLies (South Platte River – Middle Fork) “Caddisfly”: from Jun, no end date given · Elk Hair Caddis #8-18; Caddis Larva #12-18; Missing Link Caddis #14-18
- Angler's Covey “Caddis”: no dates given · Buckskin Caddis #18-20; Barr's Graphic Caddis #14-18
MidgesNo dates published · hook #18–242 sources
Where these dates come from:
- FlyGuysNLies “Midge”: no dates given · Zebra Midge #18-22; Rojo Midge #18-22; Top Secret Midge #20-24
- Angler's Covey “Midge”: no dates given · Bling Midge #20-22; Massacre Midge #20-22
TricosNo dates published · hook #18–241 source
Where these dates come from:
- FlyGuysNLies / Angler's Covey “Trico”: no dates given · Trico Spinner #18-24; Organza Trico Spinner #20-24
Yellow SalliesNo dates published1 source
Where these dates come from:
- Angler's Covey “Yellow Sally”: no dates given
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
9 fly pairings from real fishing reports
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Fly shops on the Middle Fork South Platte
Middle Fork South Platte fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Middle Fork South Platte?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 50–200 cfs on the Middle Fork South Platte (FlyGuysNLies). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the Middle Fork South Platte designated Gold Medal water?
No, the Middle Fork South Platte does not currently carry Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on the Middle Fork South Platte?
TroutTips tracks 9 fly pairings reported specifically on the Middle Fork South Platte, each tied to a season and a real source. See the Fly Pairings section on this page for the full list.
Are there fly shops near the Middle Fork South Platte?
Yes, ArkAnglers (Salida), ArkAnglers (Buena Vista), UpRiver Fly Fishing, Mountain Angler, Ty's Fly N Tackle, Tumbling Trout Fly Shop, South Platte Fly Shop, Angler's Covey guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.