My Fly Rod Quiver — Five Rods, Five Jobs on the South Platte
The five rods I actually fish on the South Platte, what each one is for, which reel lives on it, and the honest case for owning fewer than I do.
The journal · Page 9 of 13
Blog.
River guides, fly selection, and field notes from the South Platte. Written from the water, not a desk.
Page 9
151 posts · page 9 / 13
Olsen's Blowtorch: My Favorite Fly and the Variations I Tie
My favorite fly. Devin Olsen's competition jig with a hot-tag and opalescent rib. Why I tie the Blowtorch in orange and green, and how to fish it tight-line.
The Perdigon: Why the Fastest-Sinking Nymph on the South Platte Works
Spanish competition nymph with a UV resin body that sinks 40% faster than traditional patterns. The anchor fly that gets your rig to depth before the current.
The RS2: Rim Chung's South Platte Emerger That Defined a Tailwater
Rim Chung tied the RS2 in the 1970s for the South Platte. Fifty years later it's still the most-fished emerger on Deckers, the Dream Stream, and Cheesman.
Walt's Worm: The Pennsylvania Nymph That Belongs in Every South Platte Box
Walt Young's 1984 Pennsylvania limestone nymph — buggy hare's ear body, cigar profile — imitates scuds, cased caddis, and crane fly larvae all at once.
The Wooly Bugger: The Most Copied Fly in History and Why It Still Works
Russell Blessing's 1967 Pennsylvania pattern is the most-tied fly in fly fishing. Why the Wooly Bugger still earns its place for fall browns and high water.
A Cigar on the South Platte — The Best Use of the Midday Lull
Between the morning rise and the evening feed, there's a window on the South Platte where the fish go quiet. I stopped fighting it. I bring a cigar.
Caddis Dry Fly Fishing: Tactics for Trout in Late May
Master caddis dry fly fishing for trout in late May. Evening presentations, fly selection, and leader setups that produce when caddis hatches peak nationwide.
Barr's Slumpbuster: The Streamer John Barr Built for Big Browns
John Barr's Slumpbuster is the most versatile streamer in Colorado fly fishing. How to fish it, when it works, and why pine squirrel beats a Woolly Bugger.
Colorado's Worst Snowpack in 40 Years — What It Means for the South Platte
Colorado is sitting at its lowest snowpack on record. For tailwater anglers on the South Platte, here's what's actually changing this season and how to adjust.
Deckers in May: How to Fish the South Platte During Spring Runoff
Tactics, fly selection, and water reading strategies for fishing Deckers on the South Platte River during spring runoff in May.
Diamondback Ideal Nymph Reel Review — Built for the Rod It Ships With
The Diamondback Ideal Nymph Reel is designed specifically for the Gen IV nymph rod. Here's what it does, how it balances the outfit, and why pairing works.