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Apr 20, 2008 9:16 pm US/Mountain
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South Platte River Offers Promising Fishing Season
DECKERS, Colo. (CBS4) ―
The arrival of spring in the Rockies has lured fishermen back to Colorado's water and it seems they are in for a good season, at least if they are fishing in the South Platte River.
Guide Pat Dorsey took Colorado Getaways producer Doug Whitehead along for an afternoon of fishing when there was still a bit of snow on the ground.
"A little snow will never stop a guy this time of year," Dorsey explained. "It's kind of nice to get out and because the South Platte's a tail water, it is fishable 365 days a year."
To prove his point, Dorsey quickly hooked a fish -- a rainbow trout.
"A lot of these fish are starting to get into their spawning colors now," Dorsey said. "April is the true beginning of spring on a trout stream. They're actively feeding and that's really good news for us fly fishermen. So the next four to six weeks are going to be very productive."
This year could be a turning point in the health of the South Platte. Fishermen and wildland officials have been worried about its health since 2002.
That's the year the Hayman Fire poured ash into the river. Several years of drought since the fire made the problem worse because low water flow meant the drainages did not get cleaned out.
But record snowfall this winter could make all the difference.
"This year's going to be an important year for the South Platte corridor because the snowpack is so good. It's way above normal, and since the Hayman Fire, we've really been hoping for some flushing flows. I think this year is going to be the year."
The day Dorsey spent with Whitehead certainly offered plenty of hope. He caught a four-pound Kamloop rainbow.
Dorsey was fishing near Deckers on this particular day.
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