Santa Maria Ranch

This private 2,800-acre ranch takes just over two hours to reach from Denver. Here, you’ll find a picturesque and unspoiled section of the South Platte River’s Middle Fork. In 2006, extensive stream restoration work resulted in a wide variety of new fish structures along with erosion control measures. This means you’ll have no problem finding fish. In fact, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has said this section of stream holds “more trout biomass per mile of stream than any other river in Colorado.”

 

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FLY FISHING ON SANTA MARIA RANCH

There are 2 sections to this incredible property. The lower section of stream below the bridge meanders downstream through a peaceful hay meadow and includes fish structures at regular intervals. Above the bridge, our middle section provides a delightful combination of long runs and small pockets with a handful of deep pools mixed in where larger brown, rainbow, and cutbow trout like to hang out. Just a little further up river, you’ll find the water gently meandering with fast riffles and large, deep pools.

When you visit our Santa Maria Fly Fishing Ranch in Park County, Colorado, you’ll want to pack for a day away from it all. Things like drinking water and flush toilets are found a few miles down the road in the town of Hartsel, CO. There is, however, an outhouse on the ranch that’s available to anglers.

A mouse eating brown trout from a very small creek in South Park Colorado.
Brown trout from Santa Maria Ranch on the Middle Fork of the South Platte.
Mayfly hatch on the Middle Fork of the South Platte.
Brown Trout from Santa Maria Ranch in South Park Colorado.
Father and son private water guided fly fishing trip in Colorado.
Giant brown trout from the upper South Platte
Upper South Platte big brown trout

CURRENT RIVER CONDITIONS