Gold Medal and Wild Trout Fishing at Hartsel Springs Ranch
The fishing at Hartsel Springs Ranch is nothing short of
"world class". The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has classified all waters within our ranch as Gold Medal and Wild Trout Waters. This is the very highest level of classification of fishing available and by definition is reserved for only those waters where there is a greater chance of landing a trophy trout.
The state of Colorado is blessed with over 9,000 miles of rivers and creeks; however, only 167.8 of these miles are considered “Gold Medal” Water. The Colorado Wildlife Commission has designated these stretches of water as offering the greatest potential for trophy trout fishing (official criteria for Gold Medal Water is 12 trout per acre over 14 inches, or 60 lbs. of trout per surface acre). Hartsel Springs Ranch has approximately 4% (6.5 miles) of the Gold Medal Water in Colorado flowing through its property on the Middle Fork of the South Platte River.
The Wild Trout designation is also of particular importance. The DOW does not stock these waters allowing fishermen a chance to test their angling skills against wild trout.
The Middle Fork, and the South Fork all converge on Hartsel Springs Ranch to form one of the most famous trout fishing rivers in the world, the mighty South Platte. Any accomplished fly fishermen will most certainly be familiar with the legendary stretches of the South Platte. Portions of this river hold over 500 pounds of trout per surface acre making the South Platte one of the most productive trout fisheries in the world.
The 3.8 mile section of river between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile Reservoirs is known as the “Dream Stream” because of not only top fishing, but easily accessible and fishable waters. Further downstream the South Platte rolls through Cheeseman Canyon where large trout are in abundance. In the midst of Cheeseman Canyon is the most prestigious fly fishing club in the world, the Wigwam Club. Membership is limited to a lucky 50 members who are privileged to fish approximately 1.5 miles of this stream.
With exception of the Wigwam Club, the famous sections of the South Platte river are open to the public. An unfortunate consequence of these public stretches is that fishing pressure can be tremendous. It is well known that fishing the public stretches of water require great skill and patience because the trout are deemed educated and will quickly know if a fly or lure is not real if the angler is not exact in his or her presentation.
But away from the crowds and on the very same river lies the fishing paradise of Hartsel Springs Ranch. Imagine a picturesque mountain stream meandering through beautiful meadows where
buffalo still roam, Colorado’s highest peaks in the horizon and an abundance of trophy trout lurking in the clear mountain river. This is Hartsel Springs Ranch where it is not uncommon to have miles of river to yourself.
If you would like to experience world class fishing in a private and stunning environment, there are very few places in the world and certainly none within Colorado that can offer the abundance and quality of wild trout fishing that is available on our property. Read our Fishing Guide for more information on fishing our rivers.
