Fly fishing the South Platte from a Fairplay cabin: a four-day plan

South Park is one of the few places in Colorado where you can fish three legitimately different fisheries in three days without driving more than 30 minutes from your bed. River, big stillwater, and tailwater canyon — all within a tight loop, all holding fish that make people fly out from Texas to chase them.

This isn't a fly-tying article or a guide review. It's how to use four days well if you're staying in or near Fairplay and you've never fished the area before. Most of what I'll mention I learned the hard way over a few seasons.

The three waters, in order

Dream Stream (Tomahawk State Wildlife Area)

The Dream Stream is the stretch of the South Platte between Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir. About three miles of meandering meadow river running through public land. Browns, rainbows, and Snake River cutthroats run up from Elevenmile to spawn in spring and fall, which is why the place gets famous.

Drive from Fairplay: roughly 20 minutes to the upper parking area. It's marked. Sign in at the kiosk if there is one that season.

Wading is the play. Slow water, undercut banks, and fish that have seen every nymph rig ever tied. If you've fished tailwaters in the Roaring Fork drainage, this is harder. The fish here aren't dumb. Long leaders (12 ft minimum), fluorocarbon tippet down to 6X, and small bugs.

Spinney Mountain Reservoir

Stillwater. Fewer people fly fish it than the river, which is wild because the fish are bigger and dumber. Bring an indicator and damselfly nymphs in summer, callibaetis when they're hatching, leeches and buggers any time. Or fish balanced leeches under an indicator like an Idaho local.

Boats and float tubes are allowed and useful but not required. The shoreline at the inlet (where the South Platte enters the lake) is wadeable and productive on calm mornings. Watch the wind. South Park wind is no joke and will ruin a day if you didn't plan around it.

Drive from Fairplay: about 35 minutes. The reservoir typically opens late April and closes in early October. Dates shift, check Colorado Parks and Wildlife before you go.

Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir & tailwater

Below Spinney, the river flows through Elevenmile Reservoir, and below that opens into a beautiful tailwater canyon. The canyon section is the most scenic water in the area — granite walls, pocket water, classic Colorado pretty. Fish are smaller on average than the Dream Stream but a lot more willing.

This is the right place to take someone who's never fly-fished before. Easier fish, prettier water, more eddies to read.

A four-day plan

Day 1 — Elevenmile Canyon

Start here. Easier water lets you shake off travel fatigue and get your altitude legs. Park inside the canyon (small day-use fee), walk down to the river, find a run that looks fishable, and start drifting. Brown stoneflies in March-April, blue-winged olives in spring, PMDs and tricos in summer.

Back at the cabin by mid-afternoon. Eat a real dinner. Sleep early.

Day 2 — Dream Stream

Now you're warmed up. Get to the Dream Stream at first light. If you're there during the spring or fall run, fish heavy — black or olive Pat's Rubber Legs, leech droppers, eggs. Otherwise: small mayflies (RS2s, juju baetis, sparkle wing RS2, sizes 20-22) under an indicator with split shot adjusted for depth.

Walk more than you cast. The fish are spread out. The best run is usually the next one you haven't fished yet.

Day 3 — Spinney

Watch the forecast the day before. If it's windy (anything over 15 mph), trade days with Elevenmile and come back to Spinney later. On a calm morning, Spinney is one of the best stillwater fly fisheries in the lower 48. On a windy day, it's miserable.

Day 4 — back to whichever fished best

Now you know which water suits you. Spend day four there with a refined plan. Most guests double down on the Dream Stream because the fish are big, the water is interesting, and there's enough variety to keep three or four different rigs busy.

Gear notes

• 5-weight does everything. Bring a 6-weight if you're targeting Spinney specifically and want to throw bigger leeches in wind.
• Waders, period. Even in summer, that water is cold.
• Polarized glasses. You'll see twice as many fish.
• Strike indicator pack — Air-Lock or Thingamabobber for nymphing, smaller New Zealand-style strike yarn for slower water.
• Bring net. Tailing big spawners without one is how you hurt fish.
• Bear spray isn't crazy. Sows with cubs cross these meadows.

Flies you actually need

If you can only carry one fly box for this trip:

• RS2s and juju baetis in 20-22, gray and black
• Pat's Rubber Legs (size 8, black and olive) — egg-laying season especially
• Eggs — orange and pink, size 14-16
• Mop flies (cheating, works)
• Damsels and leeches (Spinney)
• Trico spinners for July-August mornings
• Streamers — sex dungeon, sculpzilla — for moody days

The nearest serious fly shops are in Buena Vista (ArkAnglers) and Colorado Springs (Anglers Covey, Charlie's Fly Box). Both worth a stop on the way in if you fish their drive-through. Trouts Fly Fishing in Denver is the standard if you're flying into DIA.

One last thing

The water in South Park warms up fast in summer. By mid-July afternoons, fish in the Dream Stream are stressed. If a thermometer reads above 65°F, stop fishing and find shade. Catch-and-release isn't really release when the fish dies an hour later from heat shock. Morning hours only in heat waves.

Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife (cpw.state.co.us) for current regulations, special closures, and seasonal access dates before any trip. Rules change year to year.