Tailwater · Mixed · Colorado

South Platte — Dream Stream (Spinney to Eleven Mile)

The Dream Stream is the meadow tailwater between Spinney and Eleven Mile that grows big run-up rainbows and browns and draws every angler in the Front Range who's heard about them — which is all of them.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity5812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
17°C
Wind
E 23 km/h
Moderate breeze
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.7 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Colorado licence
  • Gold Medal / special-regulation water in Charlie Meyers SWA — flies/lures and gear rules apply
  • Verify CPW regs and SWA access requirements.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Dream Stream is the meadow tailwater between Spinney and Eleven Mile that grows big run-up rainbows and browns and draws every angler in the Front Range who's heard about them — which is all of them. It's open, clear, technical sight-fishing, and on a good hydrograph it can be extraordinary. It can also be a parking lot. Two honest cautions come with this water: the crowding is real enough that a perfect release doesn't guarantee a good day, and the spring and autumn spawning runs bring out behaviour that's better left alone. Fish the run, not the redds.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 5