Where to Go South Platte River – Elevenmile Canyon
Current Reports
FALL HOURS: 9am TO 6pm DAILY
Pikes Peak Trout Unlimited has installed water temperature sensors in 11 mile canyon. Check out the water temps HERE
Report Date: 4/8/2025
Current Conditions:
The canyon has been fishing pretty good recently. The flows are still low but holding pretty steady at 89 cfs. The flows in the canyon will closely match those flows on the Dream stream...Something to take note of. We likely wont see any increases until downstream water demand increases. The crowds are increasing a bit more but for the most part there has been a good amount of water per angler. As we usually see in the spring, most of the fish have moved off of their redds and are feeding pretty heavy. There are redds everywhere, so be sure to tread lightly! The clarity is excellent and we are seeing some great sightfishing opportunities right now.
While most people go clear up by the dam to fish, there are some great places lower in the canyon right now.
Hatches:
Its one of our favorite times of the year! We are starting to see some BWO's and its a sign of whats to come. The midge hatches are still going strong but the addition of the mayflies always makes things a little more interesting. We have started to see some intense BWO hatches in the afternoons. The bugs are pretty big as well, so be sure to have a wide variety of sizes.
Tactics:
Nymphing will still be the most effective, but we are seeing some great dry fly fishing for BWO's. Focus on dry fly fishing during the pronounced hatches. As the bugs start to emerge the fish will be consuming them at a high rate. Watch the surface closely and switch over to dries as necessary.
Weather:
Short Term- We are having some very nice weather up this way this week. Temps will be in the 60's through the week. Wednesday will be fairly windy so keep that in mind. As we head into the weekend we will see the warmest temps of the year. High temps will be in the upper 60's. Sunday will be nice but we will see some intense winds return. In all, its absolutely beautiful right now!!
Long Term- Long range forecasts are not in agreement on anything right now. As we go into next week we will have the possibility of a front moving through the area. Right now it does not look to impact this are a whole lot besides lowering the temps about 10 degrees. Some forecast are pointing at some changes around the 20th, but we will have to wait and see. We have had a pretty warm and dry end of winter/beginning on spring. Luckily things arent warming up too fast yet. Lets hope that remains the case as we roll through April and into May.
In the South Platte basin, we have seen some regular storms at higher elevations over the last couple of weeks. This has kept the overall snowpack fairly stable. As of today, the South Platte basin is looking good at 102% of average snowpack. We still have about 2 weeks until we hit the normal median peak, so lets hope we can keep adding to that in the coming weeks.
Tips:
With the warming temperatures the fish are starting to occupy more traditional feeding lanes. Fish will move into riffles and seams during the thick of the hatches. Covering ground is a great plan right now. Fishing is still on the techy side of things, but the fish are feeding a lot more now.
This is an area we offer guided walk/wade trips, and we are one of the only outfitters permitted to do so in 11 mile canyon, please give us a call if you are interested! (We are currently only offering full day trips here)
RECOMMENDED PATTERNS
For a custom fly assortment for this location, click here!
Our Top 6 Nymphs for Today:
- Sunny side up eggs, orange, sizes 16-18
- RS2, grey & olive, Sizes 18-22
- Blindside midge, purple. sizes 20
- No Mercy midge, brown, sizes 20-22
- Barrs emerger, size 22
- Pheasant tail, sizes 18-22
Our Top Dry Flies for Today:
- Mole fly, natural, sizes 20-24
- Parachute Adams, natural, sizes 20-24
- Neils BWO. size 20
Our Top Streamer Patterns for Today:
- Baby Gonga, Grey, size 6
- Slumpbuster, Natural, size 4-6
- Wooly buggers, brown, sizes 6-8
Standard nymph rig set up for the South Platte:
Screenshot the diagram above to reference while you're out on the water!
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR "WHERE TO GO" PAGE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON OTHER AREAS!
Elevenmile Canyon is our local gem. Any seasoned angler will agree that the South Platte River in Elevenmile Canyon is the place to go for unparalleled beauty. Elevenmile Canyon is also the place to go if you just want to catch a fish. Per mile this stretch of river seems to consistently hold more fish than any other river within an hour's drive from Colorado Springs. It is the place to go where you stand the best chance to get into one of the various beautiful species of trout that call the South Platte River home.
If you needing some extra help, Angler's Covey is the only full service fly shop with a permit to guide in Elevenmile Canyon and our Orvis-Endorsed guide would be happy to set up a trip for you.
Elevenmile Canyon is also a great winter fishing destination because it is a tailwater. A tailwater fishery is where a river comes out below a dam; consequently, during the winter months the water temps are just warm enough to stay relatively ice-free all year. If you can find a spot in the upper stretch of the canyon where the winter sun hits the water, you can find feeding fish. This time of year can be the most productive for solitude-seeking anglers who aren't afraid of using light tippets and very small flies.
This is an area we specialize in and are permitted to guide, so give us a shout if you have any questions or if you are interested in allowing one of our Orvis-Endorsed guides show you how best to conquer South Platte River – Elevenmile Canyon.
Interested in Booking a Trip?
Directions - 37.1 miles - 46 Minutes
- Head west on US-24 W/Cimarron St/Midland Expy toward S 21st St go 36.3 miles.
- Turn left in Lake George on Co Rd 96, go 1.1 mile, follow river into canyon