Fly Fishing Guide to the South Platte River by Pat Dorsey

Author:Pat Dorsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780811768177
Publisher: Stackpole Books

To get to the Buffalo Peaks Ranch and Tomahawk State Wildlife Area, take the access road that’s located 7.3 miles from the junction of US 24/CO 9 (which is approximately 9 miles south of the US 285/CO 9 intersection) near the river at Garo. Garo is the historic site where the Ute Indians fought many battles against the Plains Indians. The present highway running through Garo is adjacent to an old stone fort that was the center of many of these momentous battles. Turn right (east) on the private road and proceed to the parking areas.

You have several parking options to choose from—one parking area is located just past the first cattle guard, and another is on the south end of the property next to the bridge. Two other parking areas are located below the second gate en route to the upper end of Santa Maria Ranch. Since motor vehicle access in Tomahawk SWA changes periodically, please pay close attention to the signs on the gates.

You may also reach Tomahawk SWA via another access road. From the US 24/CO 9 junction, drive north for approximately 5 miles and follow the dirt road up and over the hill (which is 11.3 miles from the US 285/CO 9 junction near Fairplay) to the designated parking lot.

Buffalo Peaks Ranch and Tomahawk State Wildlife Area on the Middle Fork of the South Platte offer anglers the opportunity to catch small brown trout using an assortment of tactics, but this high-mountain stream especially caters to the dryfly enthusiast. Between 12 and 15 feet wide in most places, the river is a classic, meandering meadow stream with shelves, gravel bars, undercut banks, riffles, and runs. Long, precise casting and a stealthy approach are mandatory if you plan to hook these astute and discriminating fish.

You can only use artificial flies and lures in these areas. All fish between 12 and 20 inches must be returned to the water immediately. The bag and possession limit is two trout, and only one may be longer than 20 inches. In order to enhance and preserve this fishery, please consider catch-and-release. Fishing is prohibited in Tomahawk SWA from September 1 through January 31. (This is explained in more detail later in the chapter.)

A large chunk of Tomahawk SWA is a series of braided channels, beaver dams, marshes, and bogs lined with dense willows, which makes it extremely challenging to hook and land fish. There are also wide-open spaces that aren’t as intimidating, perfect for the neophyte angler. Most of the fish at Tomahawk SWA are wild browns between 7 and 11 inches, but I’ve seen a few larger resident browns between 14 and 18 inches, which can be fooled with streamers in the early morning and late evening by working the undercut banks hard.

I’ve experienced several large brown trout trying to eat a smaller brown that I’ve fooled on a tiny dry fly—a frightening experience that leaves you shaking your head with a sense of helplessness. Veteran South Platte River guide

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