South Platte — Above Spinney

This is the South Platte above Spinney Mountain Reservoir — the quiet meadow water of the Tomahawk and Santa Maria State Wildlife Areas, upstream of the reservoir. It’s a different fishery from its famous “big brother,” the Dream Stream (the Spinney-to-Eleven-Mile reach just below), and it is not the reservoir — for the lake itself, see the Spinney Mountain Reservoir guide.

It’s flies and lures only, and a CPW habitat stamp is required. Overlooked because of the Dream Stream’s reputation, this stretch holds feisty resident browns, rainbows, and brook trout — wary meadow fish that, in summer, will rise to a hopper fished tight to the bank under the right conditions.

Seasons and closures. It fishes best in spring before runoff and again from roughly September through October on terrestrials and the fall bite; summer holds willing resident fish between the runoff and the heat. ⚠️ The Tomahawk/Santa Maria wildlife areas carry seasonal closures for spawning protection, and the dates shift year to year — this is a closure on the stream, not the same thing as Spinney Mountain Reservoir’s winter state-park closure. Check the current CPW State Wildlife Area regulations before you go.

Flies: egg patterns and San Juan Worms around the spring runoff window, RS-2s and Prince Nymphs subsurface, and Elk Hair Caddis, Amy’s Ant, and parachute/streambank hoppers once the terrestrials are on. Resident browns, rainbows, and brook trout.

Access and flows. Off County Road 59 / Spinney Mountain Access Rd above the reservoir (limited restrooms and camping). About 59 miles / ~1.25 hours from Colorado Springs — US-24 west over Wilkerson Pass toward Lake George, then CR 59. The live gauge here is Colorado DWR’s “South Platte above Spinney” (PLASPICO), fed in part by the Middle Fork at Santa Maria/Tomahawk. ⚠️ For 2026, Denver Water has closed Antero Reservoir upstream and is moving its water downstream, so expect managed, variable flows — check the gauge before the drive.