Wild Browns & Rainbows At Cheesman Canyon | Tenkara Fishing In Colorado

Late April, 2024. This was my first non-Winter outing to the famed Cheesman Canyon in Colorado, known for its colorful, wild, and notoriously difficult to catch rainbows and browns. It was a test, victory, and defeat:) Amazing day!
Setup & Gear:
Rod: DRAGONTail HELLbender (dragontailtenkara.com/collect...)
Line - 10 ft 3.5 level line
Tippet - 5x nylon, 5x and 6x fluorocarbon
Flies
- 2.8mm pink bead Hare's Ear nymph on a size 16 barbless jig hook
- Size 20 emergers - brown, black, and red
Net - www.amazon.com/dp/B075TW123K/...

[@tokyoboi07]

Nice job man!!!! Great content. I fish a Anglo&Co wasabi 40 all year round at deckers and cheesman. I found the #1 setback is line management when you go longer for deep pools and netting. Im lucky enough to call my buddy over to help me net. Im running a tapered tenkara line with Cortland 5x floro.
Nice content and great to see more tenkara content in tecnical rivers.

[@zisontheriver]

Nice! Glad you enjoyed it:) I should’ve shortened the line when I added the extra tippet for the dry fly. I really don’t like handlining:)

[@michaelsmith7193]

I’d say you had a very nice outing on some notoriously difficult waters! Well done - and what gorgeous fish!

[@tenkaraintheiowadriftless]

That location is gorgeous…and the wild trout even more so. Looks like you had a great day. Thanks for sharing your trip!

[@leemowers9395]

That final lunge for the fish reminds me of a move I would make when I am getting tired. time for a break or exit the stream. Fun Video, thanks for sharing.

[@zisontheriver]

Yep, that was my exit sign:)

[@jamesedwardson605]

Nice... keep up the good work...

[@stevey4192]

Nice video. You might want to get a new net man.

[@zisontheriver]

Thanks! I don’t know… I really like this net. I think if I adjusted my line length after I added the extra tippet to the dry fly, I would’ve been in a much better position. There will be a rematch soon:)

[@alexgiovinazzo6511]

Nice fishing at a tough spot. Almost every time I handline a fish I lose it so I feel your pain.

[@zisontheriver]

Glad I’m not the only one:)

[@lolwutyoutube7561]

Well done in a difficult tailwater. What cfs was that?

[@zisontheriver]

Thanks! I think around 70.

[@andrewmaunders5207]

and that my friends, is why I DONT FISH WITH A TENKARA!!@!
the moment you grab 5x with your hands, the fish is gonna win....its the tip of the rod that keeps big fish on, not the line...grab that line
fish wins.
Still fun {frustrating, I wanted to see that fish} to watch.😝😝😝
I want my reel for those waters !!!!
😁

[@zisontheriver]

Yep, agree:). I knew I might be doomed when I grabbed the line. And I did wish I had my regular fly rod at that moment:) But hiking and picking apart the water with a Tenkara rod is so much fun! I’m stubborn and I’ll be back there for a Tenkara rematch with the rainbows:)

[@andrewmaunders5207]

I will admit to enjoying Tenkara on occasion...
up close and personal with those approaches...
keep posting my man, still lotta fun to watch!

[@user-ju8yo7rt2w]

When I was really young I used to get a stick and string and fish but then I grew up and learned how to fish and got a rod and reel this style of fishing is worthless you can't sneak up on fish you're not going to land a giant what's the point

[@zisontheriver]

I enjoy it, thanks for watching.