May 14, 2018 Decker’s & Cheesman Canyon Fishing Report

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Hello Folks,

     The fishing on the South Platte River has been nothing short of fantastic! I’ve spent the last 30 days fishing for anywhere between two and ten hours each day! Most of the time I’ve spent has been in the Canyon, but I’m also fishing “Hole in the Wall” in Trumbull, along with the area by the Lone Rock Campground, in Decker’s.  For the last three weeks, flows have remained around 70 cfs, both in Decker’s, and the Canyon. Clarity has been good to excellent, with the occasional heavy moss days, primarily after a rain shower. As far as the spawning activity of the Rainbow trout, its’ been pretty consistent both in the lower portion of the Canyon, along with the shallower beds between the Decker’s bridge, and Ray’s Run. If you see fish paired up, or fish that are actively spawning on the Redds, please stay clear and give these fish room to do their thing! Mornings on the river have been full of early adult midge activity, usually present by about 8am, as the sun makes its way over the ridge, warming the water and  generating some early morning rising fish. Still, as temping as it may appear, most of the morning activity in the canyon has been subsurface. We are starting to see a decline in the BWO’S, with the emergence of the caddis! In a pinch the other afternoon, as I was running short on RS-2’s, I used my nippers and actually cut down a couple of elk hair caddis, making them look like a slightly bulkier RS-2! To my surprise, the fish couldn’t resist my new breed of bug! As an indicator bug, I’ve been switching back and forth between a tan and red San Juan Worm, and a Pat’s Rubber Legs, black. Mostly working these bugs in the deeper, faster runs and riffles, I’ve had good success both in the Canyon, and the Decker’s/Trumbull sections of the river. When it comes to my lead bug, I’ve had all kinds of success with everything from the Chocolate Thunder, Purple Juju, Burgundy WD-40, Grey and Black RS-2, Top Secret Midge, Olive Juju, Prince Nymph, Chartreuse Copper John, and Barr’s Emerger. Sizes on these are between 20-24.  The evenings have been full of surprises! One day we’ve got a Blue Wing Olive hatch, the next day nothing! Then, like this afternoon, the caddis were coming off like mad, as the rain drops were falling! Either way, you’re bound to have a great time if you make your way to Decker’s, or the Cheesman Canyon. That’s all for now folks! Keep checking back for more updates, and be sure to visit my livedeckerscolorado.com Facebook page, for daily updates on fishing and weather conditions here in World Famous Cheesman Canyon, and the rest of the South Platte River Valley. Hope to see you on the river soon!