Colorado Fishing Reports ยท South Platte Basin
Cheesman Canyon is the South Platte at its most technical: a granite canyon below Cheesman Reservoir with gin-clear water and some of the largest wild trout on the Front Range. You reach it on foot via the Gill Trail, and the hike keeps the crowds lighter than at Deckers.
Looking for the latest Cheesman Canyon river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the South Platte River in Cheesman Canyon.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Cheesman Canyon fishing report
Updated November 6, 2026.
Releases from Cheesman have dropped back to about 51 cfs after the recent 90 to 120 cfs pushes. That puts the canyon in low, ultra-clear winter shape, with fish tight to deep plunge pools, slow tailouts and shaded slots.
Water starts the day in the upper 30s and only reaches the mid 40s by midday, so do not expect much before the sun clears the canyon rim, around 10:30. Late October fishing was tough and technical, with few rising fish. Tiny thread midges in sizes 24 to 26 still produced, and some fish chased streamers.
Stay well back from the bank and keep your shadow off the water. Use 11 to 13 ft leaders to 6X or 7X fluorocarbon, a small yarn or putty indicator and tiny split shot or a tungsten bead.
Browns are finishing their spawn on the shallow gravel. Give redds plenty of room.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Cheesman Canyon, bring: Black Beauty #22-24, Blindside Midge #20-22, RS2 Emerger #20-22, Sparkle Wing RS-2 #20-22, JuJu Baetis #20-22, Restless Stone #14-18, Cased Caddis #16-20, Kaufmann's Scud #14-18, Copper John #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20, Bionic Ant #14 (summer), Charlie Boy Hopper #10-12 (summer).
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Cheesman Canyon river details
| Access | Hike in from the Gill Trailhead on County Road 126. It is about 1.5 miles to the river, and the trail then follows the canyon upstream toward Cheesman Dam. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 6,700 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 55 miles, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes from our Centennial shop via US-285 and CR-126 |
| Season | Fishable all year, depending on releases from Cheesman Reservoir |
| Fish | Brown, rainbow, cutthroat and cutbow trout, including some very large rainbows |
| Regulations | Catch and release, artificial flies and lures only (Gold Medal Water). A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 to 13 ft leaders, 6X to 7X fluorocarbon tippet |
| Camping | No camping in the canyon. Pike National Forest campgrounds are nearby off CR-126. |
| Kids | Older kids who hike well. The trail is rocky and steep in places, and the hike out is uphill. |
| Good to know | Fish hold tight to boulders, undercuts and deep pocket water. Weekends and summer are crowded; the farther upstream you walk, the more room you will have. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Low, cold and slow. Midge larvae and pupae are the menu, and the best fishing is from late morning to mid-afternoon.
Spring
Dam-controlled flows keep the canyon fishable through runoff. Baetis, stoneflies and worms in deeper seams.
Summer
Caddis, PMDs and tricos give dry fly chances, but the clear water demands light tippet and careful wading.
Fall
BWOs and spawning browns. Streamers can move big fish, and anglers should avoid fish on redds.
How to get there
Park at the Gill Trailhead and hike in to the river. The trail is rocky and steep in places, so carry water and wear good boots.