In this report
294 CFS and Solid Holding Water
At 294 cubic feet per second, Deckers is running right in the sweet zone this week — well within the 150–400 CFS band where this roadside stretch rewards both wading and fish behavior. You’re not fighting high water pushing fish tight to the banks, and you’re not squinting at gin-clear, concentrated trout that spook at a shadow. The current is firm enough to move bugs and hold fish in the moderate riffles and runs along CO-67, but the water stays clear and wadeable. This is a genuinely good week to be here.
Water temperature matters now. June sun on a freestone-tailwater hybrid like Deckers pushes temps into the mid-60s by mid-afternoon, especially on the slower flats and the open stretches with full light exposure. Fish hard early — say 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. — and again in the evening starting around 6 p.m. The middle of the day is not dead (midges and small dries will pull fish), but your best windows are the cooler margins.
Pale Morning Duns Are the Story
June at Deckers is Pale Morning Dun season. Expect the bulk of the hatch to come off between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., though on overcast mornings or when cloud cover arrives, you can see stragglers through 2 p.m. The duns are size #18 — occasionally #16 on the heavier specimens, but #18 is your call. They emerge as the water warms, and the spinners fall in the evening, usually 7 p.m. onward. Fish them with respect. A #18 PMD parachute or thorax pattern will work the dun rise, and a #18 or #20 comparadun is worth a cast if you spot sippers in the slower water.
Caddis are secondary but real. Expect #14 and #16 sedges in the evenings, typically 6 p.m. to dusk. Fish a dry-dropper rig with a #16 tan or olive caddis dry and a #18 caddis pupa underneath if you’re sight-casting. On the water types at Deckers — the open, cobbled runs and the moderate riffles — caddis will draw aggression in the low-light window.
Midges are the backbone all day. A #22 or #24 black zebra midge or RS2 emerger will produce midday when you’re between hatches, and they’re worth fishing even during the PMD emergence as a dropper. Don’t overlook them.
How to Rig for This Flow and Season
The nymph game:
Fish the deeper runs and slots with a two-fly rig. Start with a heavier anchor — a #16 or #18 Barr’s Stimulator, a beadhead Prince, or a #18 Barr’s Ugly Bug — and place a #20 or #22 midge dropper (RS2, Mercury Midge, or Zebra) 18 to 20 inches above it. At 294 CFS, you don’t need a ton of weight. One small split shot pinched 12 inches above the anchor will get you to the bottom of the deeper slots without dragging or snagging constantly. Use a small strike indicator — foam or yarn — set about 1.5 times your water depth (assume 3 to 4 feet in the real structure); a tight-line approach works too if you’re confident with the feel.
Tippet: 4X to the anchor, then 5X (or even 6X) for the dropper. The smaller tippet on the trailer fly reduces micro-drag and gives you the subtle presentation midges demand.
The dry approach:
Fish a #18 PMD parachute in the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. window, especially over the moderate riffles and the shallow-to-moderate runs where you can see rises. A 9-foot leader in 3X or 4X is plenty. If you want to hedge, use a dry-dropper: #18 PMD dry with a #22 midge dropper 18 inches behind. This covers the dun rise and the bugs that are still emerging or stuck in the film.
In the evening caddis window (6 to 8 p.m.), a #16 tan caddis dry will draw strikes in the faster water. Drop a #18 olive or tan caddis pupa 12 inches below if you want to cover both the adults and the emerging nymphs.
Where to Focus Your Time
The open, cobbled riffles — the stretches where the road is closest and the water tumbles over medium-to-large gravel — are your primary target. These water types produce reliably in June because they’re where the PMDs emerge and where caddis are most active. You don’t need to hike; Deckers rewards the angler who uses the roadside access points intelligently.
Fish the deeper slots and soft-water seams between the fast stuff. At this flow and water temperature, trout in the moderate riffles will hold in the slightly slower lanes and behind modest current breaks. Wade deliberately and feel for the depth change; that’s where a nymph rig shines.
The slower, flatter water on the outside of bends — common as the river meanders along CO-67 — is where you’ll sight-cast dries midday. Fish are here but more selective; take your time, use smaller flies, and expect longer drifts.
A Stewardship Note on Crowding and Flow
Weekends at Deckers between June and October are busy. The roadside access and relatively easy wading draw anglers, especially in good conditions like this week. If you’re here on a Saturday or Sunday, arrive early or pick the quieter access points. The water can handle pressure, but don’t camp a single run for hours when others are waiting to fish.
At 294 CFS, the flow is cool enough and the water is oxygenated enough that catch-and-release can be quick and clean. Keep your fish handling brief, especially in the afternoon warmth.
Verify current regulations before you go — the 2-trout-over-16-inches daily bag and flies-and-lures-only rule are in force here, but regulations can shift. Check before you wet a line.