Colorado Fishing Reports ยท South Platte Basin
Below Eleven Mile Reservoir the South Platte runs through a granite canyon with a road beside the river, cold tailwater flows and plenty of wild browns and rainbows. It is one of the most scenic and most consistent sections of the river.
Looking for the latest Eleven Mile Canyon river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Eleven Mile Canyon fishing report
Updated November 6, 2026.
Releases below the dam are holding in the low to mid 80s cfs, a very good fall level that lets fish spread out along the main seams and foam lines. The water is clear.
The daily menu is small midges, fall Baetis nymphs and loose eggs from the end of the brown trout spawn. Overcast afternoons bring sparse BWOs to the pool tails. The best fishing is from about 11 am to 3 pm. In mid-October, fish were eating dries, tricos and a size 18 elk hair caddis, with a Rainbow Warrior working below.
Keep a low profile and do not wade into holding water. Use 10 to 12 ft leaders to 5X or 6X and small yarn indicators with light weight to get into the deep slots.
Spawning is wrapping up. Stay off shallow gravel bars and tailouts.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Eleven Mile Canyon, bring: Black Beauty #20-24, Zebra Midge #20-24, Rainbow Warrior #18-22, Flashback Pheasant Tail #18-22, RS2 Emerger #20-22, Squirmy Wormie, Parachute Adams #20-24, Trico Spinner #20-24 (late summer), Elk Hair Caddis #16-18, Stubby Ant #16, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Eleven Mile Canyon river details
| Access | Roadside. A gravel road runs up the canyon from Lake George with many pull-offs. Day-use fee area. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 8,000 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 100 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes from our Centennial shop via I-25 and US-24 |
| Season | Fishable all year; the road can be icy in winter. |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout, with some cutthroats |
| Regulations | Artificial flies and lures only with special bag limits on parts of the canyon. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 10 to 12 ft leaders, 5X to 6X tippet |
| Camping | Forest Service campgrounds in the canyon (fee, seasonal) |
| Kids | Yes. Roadside access and a scenic canyon. |
| Good to know | Expect a day-use fee. The best fishing is usually 11 am to 3 pm in the cold months. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Midges in the slow pools during the warmest hours of the day.
Spring
Baetis and stonefly nymphs with steady, dam-controlled flows.
Summer
Caddis, PMDs and tricos bring strong dry fly fishing, best early and late.
Fall
Pre-spawn browns on streamers and eggs, plus BWOs on cloudy days.
How to get there
The canyon road (Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area, fee area) follows the river with many pull-offs.