North Fork South Platte: Grant

North Fork South Platte: Grant — Fishing Report for April 27, 2026

Quick Stats

Flow: 123 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Poor | Weather: Snow showers likely, high 42°F

The Bite

Snow is falling at Grant today, and the river is telling a story that matches the sky. At 123 CFS, flows are running roughly three to four times above the typical April range for this stretch — a surprising number given that snowpack across the South Platte basin is sitting at just 16% of normal. That elevated flow likely reflects recent precipitation and lingering melt from what little snowpack remains, but it means the stream is carrying more volume and energy than this steep, boulder-strewn canyon handles gracefully in early spring. Expect off-color, pushy water with limited fishable structure.

Water temps aren't available from this gauge, but with overnight lows in the mid-20s and snow showers persisting through the week, assume the river is running cold — likely in the mid-to-upper 30s°F at best. At those temperatures, trout metabolism slows to a crawl. Fish will be stacked in the deepest, slowest water they can find, barely moving for anything that doesn't drift right into their lane. The brief midday midge window that occasionally opens on warmer April days is unlikely to materialize meaningfully today under snow and cloud cover. Winter stoneflies may be crawling on streamside rocks between showers — worth a look — but don't expect surface activity.

This is a tough day on a tough stretch. That said, if you're already in the canyon or scouting the road for later in the season, a slow, careful presentation in any sheltered plunge pool or eddy behind a large boulder could produce a surprise brown or brook trout.

What to Fish

• Zebra Midge #20-22 — Point fly in any deep, slow pocket. Let it sink fully and crawl along the bottom with minimal movement.
• Mercury Black Beauty #18-20 — Pair as a dropper 12–16" above the Zebra Midge for a double-nymph setup with a small split shot anchoring the rig.
• Pheasant Tail #18-20 — A reliable secondary option if you want to suggest something slightly larger in the deeper pools.
• Black Stonefly Nymph #14-16 — Worth a try near the bottom of plunge pools where stonefly nymphs would naturally tumble.
• Caddis Pupa (green) #14-16 — Early Mother's Day caddis scouts are possible in sheltered water; a pupa fished deep is a low-percentage but interesting option.

Tactics & Rigging

Rig a double-nymph setup with a Black Stonefly Nymph or Mercury Black Beauty on point (weighted anchor), and trail a Zebra Midge #20-22 on 6X fluorocarbon 12–16" behind it. Add enough split shot to get the rig down fast in the current — in cold, high water, depth matters more than almost anything else. Use a strike indicator set deep, and focus your casts on the slowest water you can find: the inside seams of bends, the calm water directly behind large boulders, and the tail ends of any plunge pools where current slackens.

Presentation needs to be slow and drag-free. Let the rig settle, mend aggressively to kill any swing, and watch the indicator for the subtlest hesitation — cold-water takes are barely twitches. Short drifts through the best water are more productive than long casts in this kind of pocket water character.

Access & Logistics

US-285 to Grant is open, but expect snow-covered or icy road conditions this morning given overnight lows in the 20s. The canyon sections of the stream may still have ice in shaded reaches — watch your footing on streamside rocks. Crowds are essentially nonexistent this time of year, which is one of the few advantages of fishing Grant in late April. Verify current regulations with CPW before fishing. Stop by Trouts Fly Fishing or a Front Range shop for flies and current road intel before heading up.

Looking Ahead

Snow showers are in the forecast through at least Wednesday, with overnight lows staying in the mid-20s — don't expect any meaningful warmup or hatch activity this week. With the basin running well below normal on both snowpack and water-year precipitation, flows should drop and clear relatively quickly once this cold snap passes, potentially opening a better fishing window in early-to-mid May ahead of the Mother's Day caddis build.