River at a glance
Technical tailwater fishing in a dramatic granite canyon
- Primary reach
- Cheesman Dam to the canyon exit above Deckers
- Fish it
- Wade; hike-in access
- Character
- Technical canyon tailwater
Live river information
Current conditions & hatch forecast
Recent discharge information from the South Platte below Brush Creek near Trumbull gauge, followed by the current seasonal hatch forecast.
Gauge readings are provisional and may change. Always confirm current conditions and use sound judgment before wading or floating.
Plan your day
South Platte River — Cheesman Canyon guide
Cheesman Canyon is the South Platte tailwater between Cheesman Dam and Deckers. Denver Water describes a six-mile canyon reach and identifies the first three miles below the dam as Gold Medal, catch-and-release water.
This is rugged, hike-in wade water reached from designated trailheads and parking areas rather than casual roadside access. Study the official access map, stay within signed public boundaries, and plan for a substantial walk, uneven terrain, and flows that can make crossings unsafe.
IdentaFly's chart provides the seasonal hatch selection tied to this saved South Platte location. Local Cheesman reports consistently emphasize midges and blue-winged olives, with pale morning duns and caddis contributing seasonally. Releases and weather move the timing, so observed insects and the live gauge should guide the day's plan.
Cheesman's clear, heavily fished water rewards patient sight-fishing, long leaders, fine tippet, and exact depth control. Start with a restrained nymph rig, adjust weight until the flies reach the feeding lane without dragging bottom, and change to emergers or dries only when the fish show you that opportunity.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved Cheesman Canyon location, the South Platte below Brush Creek near Trumbull gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here.
The Upper Arkansas location in IdentaFly is centered below Granite and above Buena Vista, where a high-country freestone river shifts from open valley water into faster pocket water and canyon structure. Colorado Parks and Wildlife describes the 32-mile Leadville-to-Buena Vista corridor as having 24 river-access sites.
This reach can be fished on foot from signed public sites, but floating requires careful planning. Below Granite the river enters Pine Creek and the Numbers, where CPW identifies technically challenging Class III-V water and a Class V-VI rapid. Wade anglers should verify public boundaries; boaters should match the section and current flow to their experience.
IdentaFly's saved hatch categories for this location include caddis, midges, mayflies, stoneflies, and tricos. Use the live chart below for current timing rather than relying on a fixed calendar.
The Arkansas rewards fishing the pocket water, shoreline seams, and velocity shelters created by its varied rock structure. Nymph or dry-dropper rigs help reach feeding lanes; reduce weight and shift to a dry when fish begin working near the surface. In clear, lower flows, a quiet approach and a good first drift matter.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved Arkansas River location, the Arkansas River below Granite gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here. Seasonal gauge: USGS reported discharge from April 1 through September 30 in 2026; readings may be unavailable outside the annual reporting season.
The Fraser is a smaller mountain river that runs through Winter Park, Fraser, and Tabernash before joining the Colorado near Granby. The IdentaFly location and gauge are at Tabernash, a useful reference for the water leading toward the Fraser Canyon.
Access is mixed with private property, so fish only signed public water and confirm boundaries before leaving a road or trail. This is primarily compact wade-fishing water, with access requiring careful attention to posted public boundaries.
Blue-winged olives, caddis, and occasional terrestrial activity contribute seasonally, while the embedded IdentaFly chart supplies the hatch selection for this exact saved location. Because the Fraser is small and can run low, check both flow and temperature before fishing.
Approach quietly and concentrate on riffles, pocket water, smooth glides, and shaded banks. A light nymph or dry-dropper setup covers changing currents efficiently; when fish rise consistently, simplify to a single dry and protect the first presentation.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved Fraser River location, the Fraser River at Tabernash gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here.
Cheesman Canyon is the South Platte tailwater between Cheesman Dam and Deckers. Denver Water describes a six-mile canyon reach and identifies the first three miles below the dam as Gold Medal, catch-and-release water.
This is rugged, hike-in wade water reached from designated trailheads and parking areas rather than casual roadside access. Study the official access map, stay within signed public boundaries, and plan for a substantial walk, uneven terrain, and flows that can make crossings unsafe.
IdentaFly's chart provides the seasonal hatch selection tied to this saved South Platte location. Local Cheesman reports consistently emphasize midges and blue-winged olives, with pale morning duns and caddis contributing seasonally. Releases and weather move the timing, so observed insects and the live gauge should guide the day's plan.
Cheesman's clear, heavily fished water rewards patient sight-fishing, long leaders, fine tippet, and exact depth control. Start with a restrained nymph rig, adjust weight until the flies reach the feeding lane without dragging bottom, and change to emergers or dries only when the fish show you that opportunity.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved Cheesman Canyon location, the South Platte below Brush Creek near Trumbull gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here.
The South Platte leaves Cheesman Canyon at Deckers and then bends north toward the North Fork confluence. It is classic Front Range tailwater fishing: clear water, defined riffles and pools, and trout that see a great deal of angling pressure.
Denver Water reports roughly 14 miles of public access between Deckers and the confluence, interspersed with private property. Use the official access map, park only in designated areas, and respect side-of-river restrictions and posted boundaries.
The IdentaFly chart is the seasonal hatch reference for this saved Deckers location. Local reports regularly track midges and blue-winged olives, followed by pale morning duns, caddis, and tricos during their respective windows. Conditions can change quickly with reservoir releases and runoff from the burn scar.
Long leaders, fine tippet, and accurate depth are more important here than an oversized fly box. Nymph the deeper slots and seams when fish are not rising, lighten the rig as flows fall, and move to emergers or dries when feeding shifts toward the surface. Stealth matters in low, clear water.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved Deckers location, the South Platte below Brush Creek near Trumbull gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here.
Below Green Mountain Reservoir, the Blue River drops through a steep, remote canyon for roughly 15 miles before meeting the Colorado. Cold releases, boulder pockets, and deep slots give this reach a very different character from the urban tailwater through Silverthorne.
Access is the defining limitation. Wading is limited immediately below the dam, and the lower canyon is expert raft water requiring a competent oarsman. Private frontage and limited exits make it essential to confirm legal entry and take-out points, current releases, and boating hazards before committing.
The embedded IdentaFly chart supplies the hatch forecast for this exact lower-Blue location. Midges and blue-winged olives matter in colder periods, with caddis, stoneflies, and drakes becoming important seasonally. Dam releases can change both safe access and insect activity quickly.
On foot, work the reachable pockets and deep seams methodically with enough weight to reach the lane while preserving a natural drift. At suitable flows, experienced float anglers use streamers and larger nymphs to cover banks and structure. This is not a reach to improvise a float or trespass around an obstacle.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved lower Blue River location, the Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here.
Gray Reef is the broad North Platte tailwater below Gray Reef Dam near Alcova, Wyoming. Long runs, shelves, and deep channels make it primarily a float fishery, with public wading concentrated at designated access areas.
Much of the river corridor crosses private land, so plan legal launches, take-outs, and wade areas in advance. Wyoming Game and Fish describes Lusby as one designated access with parking, a ramp, and nearly 2.1 miles of fishing access. Review the agency's current Gray Reef regulations and seasonal closures before every trip.
The IdentaFly chart below is tied to the North Platte gauge below Gray Reef Reservoir and provides the seasonal hatch forecast. Local reports consistently treat this as a midge- and scud-oriented tailwater, with blue-winged olives and other seasonal insects creating additional opportunities as conditions change.
Nymphing is the dependable starting point: adjust weight and leader length for each shelf, run, and channel rather than fishing one depth all day. Streamers help cover banks and deeper structure from a boat, while rising fish call for a slower, selective dry-fly approach.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved Gray Reef location, the North Platte River below Gray Reef Reservoir gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here.
The Catamount reach is the Colorado River between the Two Bridges area and Catamount Bridge, where canyon water opens into a broader valley of sagebrush hills, red-rock bluffs, deep runs, and softer seams. It is a long, varied reach best covered by boat.
Two Bridges and Catamount provide the practical put-in and take-out for this day float. The BLM Catamount site has a concrete ramp, limited parking, campsites, and vault toilets; parking can fill during the May-September high-use period. Much of the riverbank is private, so stay with established public sites.
IdentaFly's saved Catamount categories include caddis, midges, mayflies, stoneflies, and tricos. Caddis, mayflies, and yellow sallies become important through the warmer months. Use the live widget and gauge below because runoff, tributary input, and summer temperatures can change the reach quickly.
Nymphing is the consistent starting point for deep runs and mid-river shelves, while streamers efficiently cover banks and structure from a moving boat. When insects and rising fish become obvious, slow down in riffles and eddies and switch to the corresponding emerger or dry.
Below you will find current river information and a seasonal hatch forecast as provided by IdentaFly.
IdentaFly supplies the saved Catamount location, the Colorado River at Catamount Bridge gauge, and the seasonal hatch chart shown here.