Prolific Caddis Fly Hatch on the South Platte makes for fat trout and happy anglers

 

       On Memorial Day weekend I had the opportunity to fish below Deckers. Leaving a moderate crowd around Deckers, I went downstream below Oxyoke. I found the river to be largely deserted of anglers. A massive Caddis fly hatch was just getting started when I arrived around 11:00 AM and it continued until around 4:30 PM. The bugs came in waves and at times were prolific, and as good as anything I have witnessed on the Arkansas or Roaring Fork. Trout were rising continually for 5 hours and most were not very selective. The Caddis seemed to vary in size from a #16 to #20 and  had black bodies and grayish translucent wings. Effective patterns were the Peacock Caddis, Barr’s Web Wing Caddis and the Puterbaugh Caddis.  It was one of the most memorable days I have had fishing dry flies to rising trout. By the end of the day the trout all had plump little bellies and I was also quite content. You must go!

Jim Cannon