“If we lose a part of a bug population below Four Mile Creek from a big washout, it will be just a matter of time before the bugs from upstream re-colonize that area,” he said.

That nursing bed was untouched by the fire, and it will help out the ecosystem in the future.

What this all means to fisherman is that the foundation of the river that we once called home is sturdy and structurally sound, providing the base for what will once again become a substantial and consistent fishery.

HEALTHY FISH
With a healthy river come healthy fish, and the Platte is beginning to once again claim its place among Colorado’s top rivers.

The fish are healthy, active and the numbers are increasing, according to local guides.

“We continue to land some nice fish between 16 and 22 inches in the general Deckers area,” said Dorsey.

“Above the Deckers Bridge and into the Canyon has proven to be a consistent area to have successful days, and that’s good to see again.”

Brennan said the river now offers “top quality” fishing: “Depending on the conditions on any given day, the fishing can be great all the way down to the old hotel.

“The farther away from the dam you go, the smaller the fish will get, but there are plenty of them. Up near the dam, we are finding fish well above the 20-inch mark.”

The river has certainly gone through a transformation, however. It may never be exactly as it once was. But this is fishing, and stories of how the river “used to be” and how it fished “before the fire” are requisite talking points for any conversation pertaining to notable fisheries around the country.

SEEING BROWN According to Dorsey, some of the changes anglers will encounter will come in the form of the species tugging on the end of their line.

“The fishery has changed, from the standpoint that there are more brown trout now, and they can be a little tougher to catch. They have really taken to the river now, and depending on what section you’re in, the ratio of browns to rainbows can be 60 to 40.”

Dorsey also suggests mixing up your approach when fishing the “new” Platte.

“You really have to fish around the logs, rocks and other structure in the river,” he said. “The browns are just in different places, compared to the rainbows which tended to hang out and feed in the riffles.”