Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Report Date: 11/7/2026

Conditions:

Outflows out of Cheesman Reservoir are holding at 51 CFS following deliberate adjustments to conserve water. The water is gin-clear throughout the canyon, leaving pools and pocket water very shallow. Water temperatures start near freezing in the mid-30s before warming into the lower 40s during the afternoon. Resident trout are tightly concentrated in the deepest granite-bound pools, main trough guts, and slow eddy seams where depth provides security from overhead predators.

Guide Report:

TJ Spader -10/25/2026

The fishing was technical and tough. We didn’t get much of a hatch at all. There were a few midges buzzing around, but nothing rising. #24-26 thread midges put a few fish on the end of our line. The fish were also willing to chase streamers!

Joshua Heney - 10/24/2026

Very tough flows are low, and hardly found any fish at all. Somehow still managed a few in the net!

Weather:

Short-term

The short-term outlook features crisp, cold canyon mornings with sub-freezing starts before direct sun warms ambient air into the upper 40s and 50s. Light winds will build to 5 to 12 mph by early afternoon, creating a light surface chop across open pools. The morning lock-jaw is noticeable due to cold water, but conditions pick up considerably once direct sunlight hits the river corridor around mid-morning.

Long-term

As fall transitions deeper toward winter, the canyon will encounter consistent overnight freezes dropping into the teens. Early morning shelf ice will begin creeping out from shady bank margins and quiet granite eddies. Bottom-release flows out of the dam will buffer the river against extreme freezes, maintaining water temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s and preserving a predictable 3- to 4-hour midday feeding window.

Hatches:

Hatch activity is sparse, though light midges emerge during the warmest midday hours, particularly in shaded, glassy pools. Minor Blue-Winged Olive emergence occurs sporadically on overcast or windless afternoons. Overall, subsurface midge larvae and tiny pale-olive pupae make up the primary daily food source for resident trout.

Tactics:

Low flows and extreme clarity call for delicate, technical presentations. Anglers should use long leaders tapered down to 6X or 7X fluorocarbon paired with subtle yarn or micro-indicators to land softly on flat water. Sight-fishing is key: carefully spot holding trout in deep pools, micro-adjust your indicator and weight, and achieve flawless, drag-free dead-drifts directly along the riverbed at eye level.

Tips:

This is an area where we offer guided fly fishing trips. We are one of two outfitters permitted to operate in Cheesman. There is no better way to learn an area like Cheesman Canyon than hiring one of our Orvis-endorsed professional guides!