Fly Fishing South Platte River - Eleven Mile Canyon

Overview

The South Platte below Eleven Mile Reservoir flows through a granite canyon of plunge pools, riffles and boulder pockets. Brown and rainbow trout inhabit this tailwater, where clear runs and several competing currents make drift control important. Canyon walls and pine-covered slopes give the river its distinctive setting.

Reading Granite Pools

Watch the seam beside a boulder and the transition from a riffle into deeper water. A nymph rig can cover the main run, while a short high-stick presentation may suit a sheltered pocket. Adjust weight and leader length to the particular depth.

Reservoir releases change the water around ledges and bars. Assess current, footing and bank conditions at the chosen location before selecting a position. A quiet-looking surface can sit over a deeper channel or concentrated flow.

Tailwater Fly Choices

Midge, blue-winged olive, caddis, pale morning dun and trico patterns offer a varied box. Watch for visible insects or feeding fish before choosing a dry. Smaller emergers and nymphs can cover the same lane below the surface when a fish is feeding without rising.

Scuds and attractor nymphs offer additional searching choices in deeper pools. A soft hackle can present a fly across a controlled seam. The canyon rewards attention to each run’s shape and the drift it allows.

Access

During a campground stay, use your assigned parking apron at Spillway Campground and fish the adjoining South Platte within the campground area. This is campsite-based access near the upper end of the canyon. See the campground’s river setting and parking facilities.