Where to Go South Platte River – Elevenmile Canyon

SPRING 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: 5/10/2026

Current Conditions: 

The current flows in the canyon are 266 cfs. and the fish are LOVING it! The draining of Antero is in full force and the canyon is benefitting from the transfer of all of this water. This is really great for the canyon as the flows havent gotten about 150 cfs in almost 2 years now! This will do a nice "scrubbing" in the canyon and clean things up. Because of this, it would be wise to add some larger food sources into the mix. Leaches, scuds, cranefly larva, and worms are all a really good idea right now. Add these to the usual menu and you should have good success. We expect these increased flows to last until about the first week of June.

Hatches: 

There are still a good number of midges in the system and the BWO's are in full force. This has made for some really good rotating hatches each day. The larger flows will tamper the dry fly activity for a short time, but things should ramp up again soon. Caddis are also becoming active subsurface.

Tactics: 

 These flows open up the entire river and the whole stretch is going to fish well. Its always a good idea to cover ground up here.

Weather:

Short Term-  There will be a pretty good stretch of really nice weather coming up. Today will be the coolest with temps in the 60's. As we roll into next week, we will see temps akin to summer time highs. Expect sunny and sometimes windy conditions with highs in the 70's! Around mid week we will see some slight precipitation chances come back into the picture. This last week has been nice and cool, and we even saw some decent precipitation in the area. While it wasnt really enough to turn things completely around, it was extremely helpful. In all, this coming week is going to be absolutely gorgeous!

Long Term-  Next weekend, things will remain nice with temps in the upper 60's/ low 70's. Precipitation chances will increase as we get into the following week. Right now, its too far off to tell, but all signs are pointing at some extended wet and cool weather. Longer range weather forecasts are showing a wet pattern for the state. This would be the ideal scenario after a dry winter. One thing to note about that.. There has been a lot of talk about our lackluster winter. While that was the case, we are in decent shape for water in our local basins. No doubt we will see water restriction, etc. but the fishing will remain very good clear throughout the season and into fall. One thing we learn living here is that things can change very fast. And a spring and summer with normal or even slightly below normal rainfall, will keep us in good shape this year.

Tips: 

Add some larger food sources into the mix with the increased flows.

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:

• San Juan worm, brown or red, sizes 14-16
• Philly cheese crane, size 10
• Stalcups baetis, olive, sizes 20-22
• Slim Shady, olive sizes 20-22
• Barrs emerger, BWO, size 20

Our Top Dry Flies for Today:

• Griffiths gnat, sizes 20-26
• Parachute Adams, natural, sizes 20-26
• Mole fly, olive or brown, sizes 22-24
• Neil's BWO, size 20
• Iwane dun BWO- sizes 20-22

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!