Cheesman Canyon
14 Day Forecast: Look for good hatches of midges and sporadic blue-winged olives
Effective Patterns: #20-22 Jujubaetis, #18-20 Top Secret Baetis, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 Zebra Midge, #22-24 Bling Midge, #18-20 Pale Olive Midge Larva, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20 Sparkle Dun, #18 Mole Fly, #20 Parachute BWO, #20 Hi-Vis Baetis,#20-22 Parachute Adams, #22 Pat's Midge, #24 Hi-Vis Baetis, and #22 Hi Vis Griffith Gnat.
Measurements
Stream Conditions & Tips from Pat Dorsey for Fly Fishing Cheesman Canyon in Colorado
The picturesque boulder-filled Cheesman Canyon portion of the South Platte River is considered by many one of the most pristine fisheries in the world. This area, often times simply referred to, as “the Canyon” is an experience you’ll never forget. It’s the perfect scenario, magnificent beauty in combination with great fly fishing.
The South Platte River carves its way through a granite canyon lined with ponderosa pines, willows, fallen tree trunks, and various other assorted ground foliages. Boulders as big as Volkswagens Beetles create structure for the super-selective trout residing in the river. Mule Deer, Black Bear, Raccoons, Mountain Lyons, and Bald Eagles all add to the experience. Anglers can expect to catch mostly large rainbows supplemented with a few nice brown trout. The aforementioned “canyon” is as technical as they get, and if you can catch trout here, you can catch them anywhere in the world. This three-mile section is primarily a nymphing fishery requiring tiny midge and mayfly imitations with fine 5 and 6X tippets. Ideal flows for Cheesman Canyon are between 250 and 400 cfs. The regulations are flies and lures only. All fish must be returned to the water immediately.
Cheesman Canyon is one of the best tailwaters in the country. There's a common belief among "canyon regulars" that if you can catch fish on the South Platte River, you can fool fish anywhere in the world. There's no substitution for good technique in Cheesman Canyon.
Tips & Other Information:
Outflows are currently normal for this time of year. Cheesman Reservoir is at 89% capacity which is good news considering our snowpack is 100%. I would expect the outflows to remain about the same for a while as Denver Water needs to fill the lake. Fishing is not easy right now, but anglers willing to work hard are catching some nice rainbows and browns. Plan for a good midge hatch in the morning, followed by a mid-day lull, then some sporadic blue-winged olives in the afternoon. Size 22-24 Mercury Midges, Black Beauties, and Top Secret Midges have been the flies of choice lately for the midge-bite. Top Secret Baetis, and Chocolate Foam Wing Emergers are a good choice when you start to see some Baetis moving. If you are fortunate enough to find a few risers, it’s hard to go wrong with a Sparkle Dun, Para BWO, Hi-Vis Baetis, Mole Fly, Blue Quill, Blue Dun, or Para Adams in sizes 18-20. Revised 4/11/25