Cheesman-4/15

[cotter]

I was able to get out to Cheesman today. The bump in flows definitely has the fish a little more active and not as spooky. I witnessed one of the thickest midge hatches I've ever seen this morning but rarely did I see a fish actually rise.

I was fishing the usual Cheesman rig: small size 20-22 midge and baetis nymphs, 6x fluoro, and split shot. I got into a bunch sight fishing early in the morning. After that, the fishing started to slow down, which seems to always be the case at Cheesman around mid-day.

In the afternoon, a very insignificant BWO hatch occurred. I also hooked the largest fish I've ever seen in Cheesman, and lost it. A little while later, I was able to sight the fish again and land it. It was just pure luck that I had a second shot at that fish. I also lost a bunch of other nice ones. I guess this one giant makes up for all the other fish I lost. Overall, the fishing was great.

 

[GrtLksMarlin]

Impressive! Thanks for sharing your day of fishing.

B.E.F.

 

[waterfordcreek]

VERY nice.........

 

[4peace1piece]

Heck yeah, I bet you felt two inches taller on the walk back to the car. So many days end with the story of losing the big one, its nice to know someone out there won one day.

 

[Lsuhunter]

That's a nice fat fish. I have definitely learned that the further you are willing to hike in, the bigger they get. I caught a monster rainbow a few months back in cheesman but he didn't have a belly that big.

Congrats and thanks for sharing.

 

[vbgooroo]

This is great! I was just coming on here to see if anyone had been up in the Deckers area as I am heading there on Sunday...snow, rain or shine! Nice group of fish you caught there.

 

[bassguitarplayer]

NICE!!! I gotta make the trek up there soon. I love Cheesman.

 

[mcnerney]

Wow, that was an awesome day on the South Platte, congrats!

 

[CutThroat Leaders]

Very nice… Great read and wonderful images. Gotta love hooking up with a fish that you previously lost… Good Feelings abound.

 

[speedylights]

Dang dude! You hooked up some hogs. I think I need some lessons on Cheesman fishing tactics. That place has skunked me a few times.

 

[cotter]

Dang dude! You hooked up some hogs. I think I need some lessons on Cheesman fishing tactics. That place has skunked me a few times.

Thanks.

It's definitely a place that requires some time and effort. Those fish are well educated. Sight fishing and getting a perfect drift are paramount. Fish small nymphs and a bit of weight. As long as you're doing that, you should catch fish.

It may just be a string of bad luck, you never know.

 

[big_dog1996]

Oh my! Those are some monstrous rainbows!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[cpowell]

Very nice fish for anywhere, especially Cheese. Great job Cotter.

 

[triggw]

Nice. Thanks.

Was there a couple of weeks ago for the first time in a few years. Didn't do nearly as well, but got one really nice rainbow. Good to see there are still some big fish there. I also caught a sucker. And I saw some real pig suckers laying around the bottom. I used to fish Cheesman quite a bit, but now don't get there very often. I don't remember seeing a lot of suckers in the past. Is the sucker population booming?

 

[dryfly307]

Sweet fish and what a gorgeous stream. You Greenies sure do have some pretty rivers!

 

[cotter]

Nice. Thanks.

Was there a couple of weeks ago for the first time in a few years. Didn't do nearly as well, but got one really nice rainbow. Good to see there are still some big fish there. I also caught a sucker. And I saw some real pig suckers laying around the bottom. I used to fish Cheesman quite a bit, but now don't get there very often. I don't remember seeing a lot of suckers in the past. Is the sucker population booming?

I know Eleven Mile Canyon has plenty of suckers, but I haven't seen many in Cheesman. I'm sure they're still there, but they don't seem to be a problem.

 

[triggw]

Sweet fish and what a gorgeous stream. You Greenies sure do have some pretty rivers!

The canyon is awesome. I love fishing there just for that reason. But we probably don't get enough wind down there to suit you:wink: