Where to Go South Platte River – Cheesman Canyon
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Fall Hours: 9am TO 6am DAILY
Report Date: 11/15/2024
FYI- Denver Water will be lowering the flows out of Cheesman to 50 cfs. from November 12th-15th. CPW will then conduct their fish samplings in the area.
Current Conditions:
The flows out of Cheesman have been rather low the last few days. The flows were lowered for CPW's fish survey. The survey should be ending today and we should see the flows come back up a bit. These lower flows have increased the technical element of the river and anglers should be bringing their A Game. These flows will start to consolidate the fish more. There is a lot of moss/grass in the river. We have also seen a good number of actively spawning fish here. If you see fish spawning, PLEASE leave them alone. The dry fly fishing has been good, especially later in the mornings and afternoons. The crowds have been pretty thick. Remember that the farther you hike up the canyon, the less people you will see. Hatch specific and smaller patterns have been best recently.
Cheesman reservoir is currently 85% full
Hatches:
As usual for this time of year, Midges, a few Tricos, and BWO's are the staples. Focus on the above in all life stages. The fish have been keying in particular bugs so make sure you pay close attention to what bugs are hatching.
Tactics:
With the lower flows, anglers will need to pay attention to everything right now. Using big indicators with bad presentation could be a recipe for disaster. Focus not only on what patterns you are fishing, but how you are fishing them. Good dead drifts right on top of the fish will be key. 5x and 6x are also a good idea. The dry fly fishing should get really good with the lower flows. A well presented midge or baetis will also take a good number of fish. The hatches are pretty diverse, so pay close attention to the bugs that are in the air.
Tips:
The crowds have still been rather thick in the canyon and will likely stay busy- especially on the weekends.
Weather:
Short Term- We have seen some very quiet weather this last week. Temps are right around seasonal averages and we have seen a good amount of sunshine. This weekend will be a little cooler with high temps in the 40's, but we should see a good amount of sun. Winds could get dicey, so keep an eye out for that. Around next Tuesday, (11/19) a disturbance will be moving through the area. Its still a bit too far out to tell what the impact will be around here. We could see some cold conditions with a chance of snow. We will be keeping our eye on that.
Long Term- As we look past this weekend and into next week, longer range forecasts are pointing at a sustained dry period for the west. As with any long range forecast, they need to be taken with a grain of salt and can change very fast. But most weather models are starting to agree on this so we have more confidence this will happen. We will see temps in the upper 50's and even 60's as we go through next week and it will be absolutely beautiful.
These early season storms have been great for our snowpack and we wont lose much of it with colder temps and low sun angle. As of today, 11/15/24, the South Platte basin is at 117% of average snowpack for this time of the year.
This is an area we offer guided fly fishing trips. We are one of two outfitters permitted to operate in Cheesman. There is not better way to learn an area like Cheesman Canyon than hiring one of our Orvis endorsed professional guides!
RECOMMENDED PATTERNS
For a custom fly assortment for this location, click here!
Our Top 6 Nymphs for Today:
- Sunny side up eggs, all colors, sizes 14-18
- Rojo midge, red, sizes 20-22
- Bling midge, sizes 20-24
- Stalcups baetis, olive and brown, size 22
- Barrs emerger, sizes 20-22
- Black Beauty, sizes 20-24
Our Top Dry Flies for Today:
- Mole Fly, brown. Size 22
- Vis a dun, black, size 20
- Parachute adams, sizes 20-24
- Iwane dun, BWO, sizes 20-22
- Sparkle dun bwo, olive, size 20
Our Top Streamer Patterns for Today:
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- Wooly Buggers, black, green, brown, Natural. Sizes 12-8
- Baby Gonga, brown, grey. Size 6
- Mini dungeon, white, size 8
Standard nymph rig set up for the South Platte:
Screenshot the diagram above to reference while you're out on the water!
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR "WHERE TO GO" PAGE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON OTHER AREAS!
Cheesman Canyon is one of the most technical and rewarding tailwater fisheries in Colorado. A half-hour hike from Gill trailhead through some hilly terrain gets you to the base of the canyon where the trail splits into a high road and low road. This stretch of the river is catch and release only and is known for holding large rainbows. Almost the entire length of the river that runs through this gorgeous boulder-filled canyon is loaded with deep pocket water and fast runs that provide different challenges depending on where the fish are located. Most of the time the fish are hanging close to undercut boulders and other structure.
Before going to Cheesman, load your box with these patterns: Cheesman Emergers #22-24, Amy's Ants #10-14, hoppers #8-10, Murphy's Bubbleback Midge #20-24, Blindside Midges #20-22, Dorsey's Top Secret and Medallion Midges #22-24, Stonefly nymphs #14-18, Caddis larva #16-20, Tan and orange scuds #14-18, Sparkle Wing RS-2's #18-22, BWO Barr's Emergers #20-22, Copper Johns, Black Beauty #22-24, and Stalcups baetis #20-22.
This is an area we specialize in and are permitted to guide in, so give us a shout if you have any questions or if you're interested in working with one of our Orvis- Endorsed guides to conquer Cheesman.
My favorite stretch of the South Platte. What can I say: technical, challenging, humbling, and rewarding. It is often said that if you can catch fish in Cheesman Canyon, you can catch fish anywhere.
Jon Easdon, Guide and Director of Services
Accessibility: There is a 1.5 mile trail from the parking lot on Co 126 to the river. At the river the trail splits into a high and a low section that runs approximately 5 miles upstream from the Wigwam Club (posted) to Cheesman Dam.
Elevation: 6,600 ft
Distance: 42.5 miles from Colorado Springs / 55 minutes .
Season: Fishable all year depending on flows
Fish species: Brown, Rainbow, Cutthroat and Cutbow trout
Fishing Regulations: Catch and release, flies and lures only
Techniques & Tips: Fishing is technical and calls for 9-12 foot leaders and fine tippets - 5X to 6X
Camping: Not in the canyon, though there is camping nearby at Lone Pine and Wigwam Campgrounds on Co 126.
Kids: Yes, but parts of the trail going down to the river can be very steep.
Additional Information: Cheesman Canyon can be crowded, especially in the summer. The further upstream you walk, the fewer crowds you will encounter.
South Platte River – Cheesman Canyon.
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Directions - 42.8 miles - 55 Minutes
- From Angler's Covey head west on US 24 W/Cimarron St, go 16.7 miles
- Turn right at CO-67 towards Deckers, go 23.1 miles
- Slight left at the town of Deckers and CoRd 126, go 3.0 miles
- Parking area is on the left