Where to Go Elevenmile Reservoir

Open 9 am to 6 pm Daily

Report Date: 10/1/2026

North Shore boat ramp is now open for the season from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset daily.

Witchers Cove boat ramp is open on WEEKENDS ONLY from 6 am to 4 pm until September 6th

Current Conditions

Elevenmile Reservoir is transitioning smoothly into its fall cooling pattern, with surface water temperatures dropping into the high 50s. Water clarity remains exceptionally high, though late-season aquatic weed beds are starting to break down along the shallow margins. With thermal stratification dissolved, rainbow trout, cutthroats, and large brown trout have moved out of deep summer thermoclines to cruise shallow shelf transitions, weed edges, and rocky points. Northern pike remain aggressive along dying weed lines, while kokanee salmon are in the early stages of beginning their annual run.

Weather:

Short Term -

Expect a brief early-fall unsettled window over the next 3 to 4 days, with highs ranging from the mid-50s to upper 60s. Light scattered rain showers and overcast conditions will clear out heading into the weekend, yielding to sunny skies. Overnight temperatures will drop into the mid-to-upper 30s, accompanied by typical open-basin winds ranging from 8 to 15 mph with occasional higher afternoon gusts.

Long Term - 

Long-range high-country weather forecasts over the next 10 to 14 days indicate a stable, mild autumn trend with daily highs consistently reaching the low-to-mid 60s. Nighttime lows will reliably hover near or slightly above freezing in the 30 to 35°F range, steadily cooling surface waters further. Periodic passing cloud fronts will provide excellent low-light windows that keep cruising trout feeding in the top 5 to 10 feet of the water column throughout the day.

Tactics:

For shore and shallow-water anglers targeting trout, rig a 9- to 12-foot leader tapered to 5x or 6x fluorocarbon under a small indicator, suspending a micro-midge pupa, Baetis emerger, or small UV scud 3 to 8 feet down off weed lines and drop-offs. Stripping or slow-trolling streamer patterns—such as thin mints, olive/black Woolly Buggers, or autumn-splendor Leeches—on an intermediate sinking line is highly effective along windward points. If targeting northern pike, step up to a wire or heavy 30lb fluorocarbon shock tippet paired with large streamer patterns (white/red, chartreuse, or perch-colored) or large swimbaits along shallow weed boundaries.

Hatches:

Midges (#20–#24) remain the primary year-round insect food source, with heavy morning and late-afternoon hatches drawing feeding trout to calm bay surfaces. Midday hours bring steady fall Baetis/BWO (#18–#22) emergence, particularly during cloudy, humid windows. Subsurface, trout and northern pike are actively preying on freshwater scuds, damselfly nymphs, crayfish, and small baitfish (like fathead minnows and young-of-the-year suckers) along the primary weed edges.

Tips:

Keep an eye on the wind direction—windward shorelines and points push nutrient-rich surface water and drifting insects toward the banks, bringing cruiser trout and hunting pike right into casting range. When shore-fishing, stay back a few feet from the water's edge before making your first few casts, as cruising fall trout often circle very close to bankside drop-offs in the early morning hours.