South Park Fly Fishers

Fly-Fishing on Seven Premier Ranches - No Membership Required!

Day-Use Fishing Leases:

This program was established as a community service by:

Santa Maria Ranch - Click for more info

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Several historic ranches have been secured for limited public fly-fishing through our program. These are working cattle ranches and we must respect the wishes of each owner to ensure their continued availability (see "Rules" on this page). Please review the program rules and reservation proceedure before booking one or more of our leases. If these rules and proceedures are NOT acceptable, there are many other public fishing options available at no charge in the South Park area.

GENERAL POLICIES

A number of general policies MUST be observed on all properties: There are no refunds and switching properties/dates is not permitted after a property is reserved (the property you reserve is yours for the day whether you decide to fish it or not). Check-in time is 8:00 AM or later to obtain a parking pass on the day reserved and all anglers must be off our properties BEFORE dark (before headlights are required to drive). Any vehicle found on our leases without a valid parking pass will be reported to the County Sheriff and may be towed at the owner's expense. Park only in designated areas which are well-signed on each property. All ranch gates must remain closed and locked. Lease boundaries are well-marked along each stream and crossing such boundaries may constitute trespassing. Pets, smoking and building fires are prohibited on all program properties. Fishing is by fly rod and artificial flies only; all fish must be returned immediately to the stream unharmed. Other rules established for each lease should also be reviewed and observed.

RESERVATIONS AND PROGRAM CONTACT

The proceedure for making a reservation on each our fishing leases is described under "Reservations" in the upper right column of this page. For first time users, please read the information below before proceeding. If you have questions about our properties or how the program works, please email us at gnichols@parkco.us, or contact the program manager at (719)748-1494.

selecting a property

Start by looking at our detailed description of each property lease to determine which stream(s) look appealing. Then look at the reservation calendar to see if that property is available on a preferred date. Be flexible and have an alternate property or date in mind - typically more options are available on weekdays. Each lease is different from the others with regard to stream size, length of stream, habitat structure, and fish holding capacity. Consequently, some leases are limited to two rods per day while others allow up to four anglers per day. Larger groups (up to 6) can reserve both Upper and Lower Allen Creek Ranch on the same day. Since these are adjacent leases, anglers can split into two groups of 2-3 anglers, then each group can switch leases after lunch.

who we are

Established in 2002 by the Park County Tourism Office and local ranchers, the South Park Fly Fishers program re-establishes fishing opportunities that existed here in the 1960s. The goal of this not-for-profit program is to maintain high quality habitat and fishing experiences over time. Over the years we have secured fly-fishing leases on eight different ranches and invested over $8 million in conservation easements and habitat improvements on the properties we lease. The majority of each rod fee goes directly to the participating rancher. The balance is used to closely manage each property contained in the program. Established in 2008, Tarryall Mountain Farms is now using one of our property leases (Lower Allen Creek Ranch) to grow fresh produce and serve as a farmer's market during summer (see www.tarryallmountainfarms.org).

about the area (Map)

South Park, Colorado is known internationally for its productive trout waters. Over 50 miles of public streams are designated as Gold Medal trout water by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. These streams possess the highest quality aquatic habitat and offer the greatest potential for angling success in Colorado. At the same time they are some of the most highly publicized and heavily fished streams in the state. Many other waters in South Park are equally productive but have never been open to the public. Several of these properties are now available for a daily fee through the South Park Fly Fishers program.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

South Park Fly Fishers is an integral part of Park County's larger Heritage Area Program. Thanks to the efforts of many partners, we have secured conservation easements on 30,000 acres of agricultural land, restored 13 miles of stream and riparian habitat, and preserved numerous historic sites and structures. In addition to miles of private trout streams, our property leases also protect critical wildlife habitat and several historic ranch structures and equipment. As of this year, conservation easements and/or stream habitat restoration have been completed on all of our fishing properties. For more information about Park County's heritage resources, please visit www.parkcountyheritage.com.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

There are NO facilities or services available on any of our fishing leases (ranches). The nearest toilets, drinking water, restaurants, and other services are literally miles away. Since most anglers (ourselves included) don't take two hours out of their day to eat, drink and go to the bathroom, you should plan ahead before driving to the selected property. PLEASE do not urinate or deficate near ranch structures or within 30 feet of the stream. The nearest services and facilities are described under each property page. In addtion, there is a link to area lodging on the right-hand column of this page.

CHANGING CONDITIONS

Please come prepared for intense sun, heavy rain, snow showers, strong winds, cold temperatures, high water, and thunderstorms that develop quickly throughout the summer. Every year livestock are killed by lightning in South Park. Since humans with fly rods are taller than cows, we urge you to watch the weather and head for your car if a thunderstorm is approaching.

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