Cheeseman Canyon, Colorado

[jschmidt]

Hey gang! back on the trout trail last weekend.
Cheeseman Canyon is a very tough tailwater on the South Platte river in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. but also very beautiful!

The low down:always crystal clear water and smart big boy trout.
It was the first time I took my father there, and all he kept saying was how cool it was to watch dozens of 12"-20" trout just swimming around like it was no big deal.

and now the pics...

map of the canyon

dads first trout of the year.

Crawdad pattern strikes again. a very pissed off 18 brownie

 

[Radtexan]

Sweet,,,,,,,,,,sure miss Colo...

Grandparents lived outside Durango when I was younger...Spent lots of time from there to Hermosa,Silverton,Purgatory,and Delores areas...Beautiful country !!

 

[LedHed]

What a fishing trip!!!

 

[SaltyBuckster]

I spent long summer weekends fishing the Delores River.Beautifull fish and pics.

 

[Ron Don]

Wow that is an awesome place!

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Very nice brownie. The crawdad strikes again.

 

[redman]

Father and son fishing trip cool. Looks like you both had a great time. I really like to eat trout. I am about 200 miles from the nearest trout waters so will have to stick with crappie. Do catch a few for the Redman the next time you make a trip to the trout stream. I know that I will enjoy it.

Redman

 

[Fatman]

Glad you got to spend the time with your Dad and those brownies are a beautiful fish!!!!!!!

 

[bombora]

Sweet report JS. That looks magical country. Hey I got a onnection, one of my best mates is married to a girl from a big cattle property near Durango. They live in Syney now but spent a few years living there too. My mate, a city bloke like me, loved it. Laughed at his pics on a horse with a big cowboy hat on!!!

 

[StumpHunter]

Very nice plcs. Congrats to both of you on some nice looking trout.

 

[jschmidt]

thanks all!

 

[Hawnjigs]

Great start - gonna be a really fun season with your new jigs! Are you favoring a certain size jig? What kind of rod-reel-line were you using? Using a float?

I've never been, is this section the Cheeseman Res or 11 Mile tailwater and is it officially designated "Gold Medal" ?

Also, the sign says "Cheesman" ?

 

[jschmidt]

on the rivers I have been hitting the 1/16 oz has been the ticket so far.
The Crawdad I have been tying up in olive was key for this trip. Side effect of this pattern, when moving fast, the zonker strips come together to form a tail, and the maribou tied in around jighead fans out to a very broad head.... what bait fish has a broadhead and long lean tail?? Sculpin!

rod: (wife would kill me...) 2 weeks ago I purchased a Phenix Iron Feather 722-2, no I didn't spend the $420 they are retailing for. I have been watching the forums for someone selling theirs. Found one, never used, for $280. how do I describe it... combine the bottom 3/4 of a Light/ML bass rod, with the tip of a superfine perch ice rod. it casts 1/32 well... but I think 1/16 is really the sweet spot.

reel: Plfueger Patriarch 9525. awesome reel.

line: 4 lb nanofil, I am giving nano a 2nd chance, I really disliked the issues with knots, but since I use a fluro leader 99% of the time, I wanted to try again. Uni to Uni with a little uv knot sense zero issues. but I am noticing line twist, not the kind that causes major birds nests, but the 3 feet from the leader twist up pretty good. I do really like nano in sub 35 degree weather, no iced up guides, ever. As spring come I will probably head back to Sufix 832, but we will see.

It is below Cheeseman Res. and yes it is an offcially gold medal water.