Elevenmile Canyon
14 Day Forecast: Look for hatches of midges, yellow sallies, PMD's, Tricos, and caddis
Effective Patterns: #14-16 Orange and Olive UV Scud, #14 San Juan Worm, #20-22 Jujubaetis, #20-22 Top Secret Baetis, #20-22 Chocolate Foam Wing Emerger, #20-22 Mercury Blood Midge, #20 Mercury Midge, #20 Buckskin, #16 Elk Hair Caddis, #20-24 Parachute Adams, #20 Mathew's Sparkle Dun, #20 Parachute Blue-Winged Olive, #20 High Vis Baetis, #20-22 Pat's Midge, and #22 Griffith Gnats.
Measurements
Elevenmile Canyon Stream & Fly Fishing Conditions on the South Platte River in Colorado
The South Platte River below Elevenmile Reservoir is absolutely beautiful. The South Platte River tumbles and twists through a majestic canyon as it carves its way downstream to the small community of Lake George. Parts of the scenic canyon remind you of the fabled Cheesman stretch while others look much like the renowned Deckers area. Elevenmile Canyon is a great winter and early spring fishery with tremendous opportunity to consistently hook nice fish. The river is loaded with Rainbows and Cut-bows with the occasional brown trout.
The average fish ranges between 12 and 17 inches and are strong as an ox. Occasionally you will hook fish between 17 and 24 inches in the upper reaches below the dam. The river is comprised of riffles, runs, shelves, gravel bars, and nice pocket water. The scenery is fabulous with logjams, huge granite boulders, fallen trees, waterfalls, and bald eagles soaring above the canyon’s lip. The ideal flow for Elevenmile Canyon is between 150 and 250 cfs. The best fishing is in the upper two miles. The aforementioned two-mile stretch is flies and lures only. This section is catch and release and all fish must be returned to the water immediately. Pinch down your barbs and protect this incredible resource.
Eleven Mile Canyon is known for its superb dry fly fishing. The Trico hatch is one of many that anglers should concentrate their efforts on. Mark Adams photo
Tips & Other Information:
Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir is at 102% capacity. The South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon is shaping up nicely and currently fishing very well. Infows from Spinney Mountain Reservoir have shrunk a good bit (160 cfs), so look for the outflows below Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir to recede in the days to come. Anglers should plan on seeing hatches of yellow sallies, caddis, PMD’s, and Tricos. It’s a special time of year in the “canyon” with all hatches taking place. I hope you can get out and enjoy some good dry fly fishing now that the river has lower a bit. Revised 7/25/24