Fly fishing report · West

Tarryall Creek

A South Park Tarryall Creek report with DWR/RiverReports flow context, seasonal access rules, meadow-stream tactics, hatches, flies, and careful source notes.

Check flow & weather

Today's river scoreMedium source confidence

Caution

Best option: Float.

A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

Updated Jul 13, 11:17 PM UTCLive sources checked regularly

Recommended approachFloat

Mode scores adjust the river-wide score for the risks of wading, bank fishing, or floating.

Wade19/100

Wading is the most sensitive plan today. Use protected edges only, avoid crossings, and downgrade quickly if clarity or current feels wrong.

Bank / edge36/100

Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.

Float · Best fit45/100

A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

Confirm before you leave

Flow and weather right now.

Use the flow trend to confirm the score before you leave. Weather can change the safest and most productive fishing window.

River strategy

Check the access calendar first.

Tarryall Creek can be a useful South Park trout plan, but access is fragmented and seasonal. Confirm Cline Ranch, State Trust Land, reservoir-area, and posted rules before choosing a beat.

Use RiverReports and Colorado DWR TARTARCO for Tarryall Reservoir-area flow context.
CPW special regulations list seasonal and tackle rules for Cline Ranch SWA water.
The Tarryall Creek State Trust Land page has specific access and foot-travel guidance.
Treat posted signs as the final rule if they differ from old fishing reports.

Why this score moved

FlowUse caution

RiverReports is linked for the flow chart, but this page does not have a structured live flow value the score can read automatically. Treat the rating as conservative and open the chart before committing.

Short-term weatherUse caution

The forecast has storm or heavy-precipitation risk, so timing and access matter more than the score alone.

Best mode nowUse caution

Float: A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

SeasonHelps score

Summer: Caddis, PMDs, tricos, ants, beetles, and small hoppers can be useful in meadow water.

WeatherHelps score

The NWS forecast is about 79F with Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms.

Read the water

What changes the plan.

Tarryall is best when access is open, flows are stable, and wind or storms are manageable. Fish it like a careful meadow creek with undercuts, grass banks, and selective trout.

Low clear meadow flow

Stay off the bank edge, lengthen leaders, and fish small dries or light nymphs.

Stable medium flow

Fish bends, undercuts, riffles, and beaver-influenced water with dry-droppers and nymphs.

High or muddy

Avoid bank damage and unsafe crossings. Wait for clarity rather than forcing the plan.

Warm afternoon

Use a thermometer and shift away from trout if water temperatures become unsafe.

Field plan

Fish it with intention.

Best flows

Use the RiverReports Tarryall chart and Colorado DWR station as a trend check. Stable clear flow is the most useful window; very low warm water, sudden reservoir-related changes, or runoff stain should push you to a different plan.

When to skip

Skip Tarryall when access season, State Trust Land rules, or posted boundaries are unclear, when meadow water is too low and warm for responsible trout handling, or when wind and storms make accurate small-water fishing unrealistic.

Local plan

Start with the specific access type: CPW Tarryall Creek State Trust Land, reservoir-area context, or nearby South Park alternatives. Fish one legal stretch carefully rather than driving from sign to sign looking for unposted water.

Backup water

If Tarryall is too low, windy, crowded, or access-limited, compare Eleven Mile Canyon for a tailwater plan, the Middle Fork of the South Platte for another meadow-stream option, or the main South Platte after checking current rules.

Hatches & flies

Bring a flexible box.

TimingWhat to watchUseful flies

SpringMidges, BWOs, small stonesZebra midge, BWO emerger, pheasant tail, small stonefly nymph

Reviewed pattern · report says “Zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “BWO emerger”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Early summerCaddis, PMDs, yellow salliesElk hair caddis, PMD, yellow sally, hare's ear

Reviewed pattern · report says “Elk hair caddis”Elk Hair CaddisLook for a tented elk- or deer-hair wing, clipped hair head, dubbed body, rib, and hackle palmered along the body. The body color should be labeled because tiers often match different natural caddis colors.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “PMD”Pale Morning Dun PatternsPMD names an insect group, not one fly. Pale nymphs, trailing-shuck emergers, upright or low-riding duns, cripples, and spent-wing spinners stay visibly separate.See family guide + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Late summerTricos, ants, beetles, hoppersTrico spinner, foam ant, beetle, small hopper

Reviewed pattern · report says “Trico spinner”Trico SpinnerThe reviewed dry form is extremely sparse and flat, using a black body or thread head and pale spent wing. A weighted Sunken Trico Spinner is a separate variant.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “foam ant”Ant PatternsAnt patterns can be foam, fur-bodied, winged, or sunken. The narrow waist and paired body lobes matter more than one material recipe.See family guide + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

FallBWOs, midges, terrestrialsBWO dry, zebra midge, parachute Adams, ant

Reviewed family · report says “BWO dry”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide

Reviewed pattern · report says “zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Confirm the exact access property and season before fishing.

Use low profiles and first-cast accuracy around undercuts.

Avoid trampling soft banks and meadow vegetation.

Fish upstream when practical so you do not walk over likely holding water.

Leave gates, parking areas, beats, and posted signs exactly as directed.

Access & responsibility

Know the entry. Know the exit.

Verify current CPW regulations for Cline Ranch, Tarryall Creek STL, Tarryall Reservoir area, and any posted local signs. Seasonal closures and access boundaries are central to this fishery.

Cline Ranch SWA

CPW special-regulation water with seasonal and tackle rules that must be checked before fishing.

Tarryall Creek State Trust Land

CPW-listed State Trust Land access with specific entry and foot-access guidance.

Tarryall Reservoir area

Reservoir and outlet context tied to DWR/RiverReports flow information.

Transparent sources

Check the facts behind the plan.

Last material review: 2026-05-31

flowRiverReports: Tarryall Creek at Tarryall Reservoir flowColorado DWR station: Tarryall Creek below Tarryall Reservoir accessColorado Parks and Wildlife Tarryall Creek State Trust Land regulationColorado Parks and Wildlife rules and regulations regulationColorado fishing special regulations safetyNational Weather Service forecast point near Tarryall Creek

Common questions

Before you leave.

Is Tarryall Creek open all year?+

Not on every access property. Some reaches have seasonal closures or property-specific access rules.

What flow should I check?+

Use RiverReports and Colorado DWR TARTARCO for Reservoir-area flow context, then match conditions to the exact access point.

What flies should I bring?+

Bring small mayflies, midges, caddis, tricos, ants, beetles, small hoppers, light nymphs, and small streamers.

What is the biggest mistake here?+

Assuming every meadow bank is public or open. Verify the access property, season, and posted rules before fishing.