Where to Go South Platte River – Elevenmile Canyon
Current Reports
SUMMER HOURS 6am to 6pm Daily
Pikes Peak Trout Unlimited has installed water temperature sensors in 11 mile canyon. Check out the water temps HERE
Report Date: 6/14/2026
Current Conditions:
The draining of Antero is now complete and the flows have come down quite a bit. Current flows this morning are at 103 cfs. and low for this time of the year. Who knows where these flows will settle for the summer, but we are not expecting that they will be much higher than the current flows. While the flows are on the low, the fishing has been great. Its an absolute bug factory up here right now and water temps are still supporting fishing throughout the day. The dry fly fishing has picked up and its a great time to target the hatch specific bugs in their adult stages, or even throw a dry/dropper or hopper/dropper rig. Sight fishing is the name of the game right now and its also a great time to cover water. Water temps are warming up but still below 60 degrees.
Hatches:
There is a ton of bug activity happening up here right now. Midges, BWO's, some tricos, some PMD's, and caddis are all making an appearance. The angler will want to pay close attention to the hatches and switch accordingly. It can be a lot more difficult when there is this much bug activity as the fish will get very picky on what they eat.
Tactics:
The canyon has been extremely busy, especially at the top end of the canyon. Try fishing the "baitwater" sections for a little more solitude. Nymphing will always be effective but we are now in a great dry fly window. Its a good idea to have both a dry fly and nymph rod set up so you can grab any opportunity you see on the water.
Weather:
Short Term- Today will cool off a bit and be absolutely beautiful. We could see an afternoon thunderstorm here today, so keep an eye out for that. Any storm should be brief and things should clear up fast. We will dry out and warm up next week. Temps could get close to record highs on Wednesday and we will see temps in the mid 80's! Precipitation chances are non existent during this time. Heading towards the end of week, precipitation chances will increase again. We have decent chances of rain from Friday through the weekend, and into next week. Temps will remain warm though. In all, this coming week looks like a great time to head out to the water.
Long Term- With the increased precipitation chances next week, it looks like we may start to see some consistent afternoon rain coinciding with the summer monsoon season. Temps will also be nice and in the 70's. Longer range forecasts have been hinting at this for a little while now, and this looks like the set up to that. We desperately need to get some consistent rainfall as our snowpack statewide is already gone. This is about 3 weeks earlier than normal, and expected after our low snow year. Each year when this happens, our fire danger increases.
Tips:
Keep a close eye on water temps up here. The lower flows will certainly make the temps warmer. We will be seeing lethal water temps up here pretty soon. Please stop fishing if you see water temps reach 68 degrees or more.
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:
- RS2, grey and black, sizes 20-22
- Sparkle pupa, tan, size 16
- Stalcups baetis, olive, sizes 20-22
- Graphic caddis, ten, sizes 16-18
- Barrs emerger, BWO, size 20
Our Top Dry Flies for Today:
- Parachute Adams, natural, sizes 20-26
- Mole fly, olive or brown, sizes 20-22
- Neil's BWO, size 20
- Elk Hair Caddis, ten, size 16
- 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!
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