Pat Dorsey’s Fishing Report: Cheesman Canyon – South Platte

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.

SPRING HATCHES – SUGGESTED NYMPHS AND STREAMERS

Midges: #20-22 Black Fly Larvae, #20-22 Manhattan Midges, #20-22 Mercury Midge, #22-26 Top Secret Midge, #20-24 Medallion Midges, #20-22 Mercury Blood Midge, #20-22 Mercury Flashback Black Beauty, #20-22 Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty, #20-22 Minute Midge, #20-22 Periwinkle, #20-22 Pearl Jam, #20-22 Brassie, #20-22 Buckskin, and #20-22 Chironoflash.

Blue Winged Olives: #20-22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS 2, #20- 22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Jujubaetis, and #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emergers

Caddis: #16-18 Buckskin, #18 Graphic Caddis, #14-18 Bead Head Breadcrust, #16 Mercury Cased Caddis, and #16-18 Tungsten Bead Mercury Cased Caddis

Streamers: #6 Lunch Money, #10 Olive Crystal Bugger, #10 White Crystal Bugger, #10 Pine Squirrel Leech, #6-10 olive, black, rust, and gray Meat Whistle, and #6-8 olive and rust Slumpbuster

SPRING HATCHES – RECOMMEDED DRY FLIES

Midges: #22-26 Parachute Adams, #22-24 Griffith Gnat, #20-24 Matt’s Midge, and #20-24 Hi Vis Griffith Gnat

Blue Winged Olives: #22-24 Parachute Adams, #22-24 Barr’s Visa Dun, #20-24 Blue Dun, #20-24 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun, #20-24 Cannon’s Snowshoe Dun, and #20-24 Hi Vis Baetis

Caddisflies: #16-18 Elk Hair Caddis, #14-18 Puterbaugh Caddis, and #14-18 Goddard Caddis