South Platte River Eleven Mile Canyon OCT 15, 2023

General Information:

The Eleven Mile Canyon stretch of the South Platte River flows out of Eleven Mile Reservoir before flowing through the town of Lake George, Colorado. It’s a very picturesque canyon with a lot of fishing pressure in the gold medal stretch. There seems to be a countless number of trout here where the average size is 12-14” with trout into the mid 20s but rare.

As fall continues, focus on the smaller, darker Psuedo Baetis and the midge life cycle. Scuds are always prevalent along with micro worms and leeches; they will produce year around when flows bump higher than their current short-term recent average flows.

Flows: 41 CFS Colorado Department of Natural Resources 11 Mile Canyon Water Gauge

Weather: 54 for the high Lake George Weather

Hatches: Psuedo Baetis, Midges, Micro Worms, Leeches and Scuds

Methods: Earlier in the morning before the water warms target the softer water below riffles and pocket water. Try dry dropper rigs if shallower or indicator rigs if deeper. As you get closer to the riffles and pocket water euro nymphing will be the most productive. Mid-day once the water temp rises adequately and the mayflies and midges start moving start targeting light riffles and pocket water. Trout will move into these lies as mayfly and midges get more active and start hatching.

Flies: Mayflies size 16-20, Midges size 18-26, Scuds size 16-18

RS2 Gray Foam Wing RS2 - Chocolate Foam Wing RS2 - Black Brown Quill Perdigons Mini Mayer’s Leech Barbless Duracell Sexy Walt’s Worm

Bucky's Klinkhammer - Baetis Carlson's Purple Haze Mayfly Emerger Brown Squrimie Wormies Zebra Midges