South Platte River Eleven Mile Canyon NOV 3, 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.

Fishing Today:

With the increase in air and water temperatures after last week’s cold snap fishing has turned on. Fish are still a little weary as the flows are lower than typical in the fall, but with the consistent flows the trout have settled into their new routines at this water level. Focus on the smaller, darker Psuedo Baetis and midges using dry dropper rigs to get stand off and as the water heats up switch to a Euro / tight line rig in the relatively faster water as the bug activity starts to bring the fish into the riffles and pocket water. A lighter colored scud pattern like a Sexy Walt’s Worm will serve you well as an attractor followed by an RS-2, Perdigon, or Zebra Midge. See more info about patterns below.

Flows: 57 CFS Colorado Department of Natural Resources 11 Mile Canyon Water Gauge

Weather: 60 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