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Fishing Reports
Cheesman canyon, South Platte R.
April 24, 2006
Posted by Tom Henshaw
Monument, CO
Email: tomh@denergysolutions.com
Current Report
I fished the canyon 23 April
2006. Arrived at the Gill
trailhead about 11 am, was
on the water fishing about
1230. The weather was warm
(70's) with gusty winds in
advance of a cold front.
Several anglers on the way
out said fishing was slow.
I knew better(and those who
stayed to fish too)that
tactics and patience was
going to reward the fly
fisher today. I spied
several rainbow exhibiting
spawning behavior on my way
in. I fished the river
between cows crossing and
rainbow pool. This was my
first time in since the
fire. I was amazed how much
the river's apprearance has
changed. As most everyone
knows the river has filled
with sand/sediment. But
until you see it first hand,
one does not have an
appreciation for the
extent. Amazingly, I could
stand in river places where
I never could before.
Despite the changes, the
river and its occupants
apprear to be doing well.
Mergansers, drakes and
ouzels are still populating
the river. I tied up and
fished Dorsey's #22 mercury
black beauty with some added
flash, a # 20 sparkle RS2
(Churhill's) and a #22 red
annelid. All but the
annelid produced. Did not
experiment with other
flies. The flow rate was
~120 cfs. The water was
clear, and I estimate the
water temperature in the low
40's per this time of the
year. It was pretty bright
so one could see trout
readily, but they were
spooky. Not much in the way
surface feeding, all down
below, had to get the fly
right to them. I sight-
fished using a 4 Wt rod, 9
ft leader, fluorocarbon 7X
tippet, a two fly
arrangement with top and
bottom weight to give proper
depth (which varied
throughout day). I landed
nine salmos (5 rainbow, 4
brown and three more slipped
the fly) with sizes in the
15 - 22 inch class ( my
first three were at or
topping 20 inches!). All
trout seemed quite healthy,
no scars, no fungus, well
fed, and full of fight.
When the cold front arrived,
the fishing naturally became
challenging, but the trout
were still on the bite so I
hung with it until about 6pm
before hoofing it back to
the trailhead. I wonder how
much the water will heat up
this summer with the
sediment. A good flushing
by the Water Board should
help.
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