Fly Fishing South Platte River - South Fork Below Antero

Overview

Below Antero Reservoir, the South Fork of the South Platte winds across the open floor of South Park toward its meeting with the Middle Fork near Hartsel. Grass, sagebrush, wind and horizon frame a low-gradient channel of long glides, slow bends and deeper pools. Brown and rainbow trout use the depth and shade along undercut banks and the outside of bends.

Meadow-Water Presentations

Approach matters in the slower water. A trout has time to study the fly, and a wake or shadow can disturb a feeding lane before the cast arrives. Keep a low profile, use a controlled first drift and look for depth beneath an overhung bank or in the slot at the bottom of a pool.

Midges offer cold-season fly choices, and spring baetis provide another small-fly presentation on overcast days. Once the meadow warms, hoppers and ants add options along grassy banks. A searching nymph can cover a deeper lie when surface feeding is quiet, while a streamer offers another approach to the pools.

Reservoir releases influence the water below Antero. Changes in depth and current can shift a feeding lane or expose different bank structure, so study the chosen pool before repeating a familiar presentation. The section’s long glides and meadow bends reward patience and accurate placement.