Nov 18, 2020
Dream Stream / 11 Mile Canyon
Dream Stream
Flows: 120 cfs @ 9:30 – rising to 146 @ 11:30 cfs
Water Temp: 47F @ 9a.
Water clarity: 3’ then deteriorating
Air Temp: 25 @ 8:45a
Hatches: BWOs 10a
Top producers: Gray RS2.
11 Mile Canyon
Flows: 117 cfs @ 11:30 – and rising at about 2p
Water Temp: DNM
Water clarity: 3’ then deteriorating
Air Temp: Mid 50s in the afternoon
Hatches: BWOs 11a to3p
Flies: #20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #24 Gray RS2, #20 Barr Emerger BWO, #24 Chocolate Thunder, #22 Black RS2.
Top producers: Black RS2, Chocolate Thunder, Pheasant Tail
As we discussed where to go fishing this week, it was hard to pass up what may be the last chance to fish the Dream Stream before winter sets in. Last week we had a cold front and this week they’re predicting historical high temperatures. Kind of crazy – buts it’s Colorado. The weather can change on a dime here.
Looking across 11 Mile Reservoir on the way to the Dream Stream.
The Kokanee (which is a landlocked salmon) and lake run brownies (big ones) were reported to still be in the South Platte River at Charlie Meyers Wildlife Area – AKA the Dream Stream. That and the favorable weather forecast for the high country sealed the deal. We couldn’t pass up the chance to get up there and try to land one or both of these species.
I ran into a herd of Antelope on the high plains outside of 11 Mile State Park.
The flows out of Spinney Mountain Reservoir were bumped a bit a few days ago - but were holding steady since - so all looked good. When I met Brian at about 8:30a he had already landed a 12” brownie. Yes things were looking good.
Brian's 1st catch of the day at the Dream Stream.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
But things changed pretty quickly. As we worked our way upstream the water started to turn murky, then had a bunch of debris floating in it too. What the heck? The Aurora Water Authority just increased the flows out of Spinney. We had to clean our flies on every cast and before long the water was a milk chocolate brown.
A westerly view from the river. (Notice the spillway in the middle of the picture.)
It was about 10:30a by then and we had made it up to the S Curve Run when Brian suggested to pick up our gear and drive down to 11 Mile Canyon. 11 Mile Canyon is below the 11 Mile Reservoir and Dam so maybe the Denver Water Authority (they control the water level there) was holding the flows steady. Even though the flows out of 11 Mile Reservoir usually match those out of Spinney, it was worth a try. There wasn’t going to be much action – if any – on the Dream Stream today.
Another view over the high plains at the Charlie Meyer Wildlife Area - AKA the Dream Stream.
So we packed up and drove to 11 Mile. It’s about a 45 minute drive – which takes you around 11 Mile Reservoir to it’s outlet in 11 Mile Canyon. So we arrived there a little after 11a. And we had clear water!
We started at the Lower Road Hole and began to work our way upstream. The river is always changing – and at low flows it’s a much different river. The holes and runs that used to hold bunches of fish were now empty. So we had to find small pockets that might hold only one fish each.
The scenery is a different kind of beautiful in the canyon.
I found one of them in a pocket just above the island. One of the things you always do, is figure out how your going to fight and land a fish after you hook them up in any particular spot. This pocket was small with fast water flowing on my side of a huge boulder and a little slower water on the other side of it. The tail out of the pocket ended abruptly leading into more fast water and there were boulders all along the river downstream from me. So if I hooked up a fish in this pocket – I would have to keep him there until I could net him.
But as soon as I set the hook – the fish immediately swam downstream into the fast water and broke off. Like it or not, it’s part of fishing. You can’t land every one of them, even though you want to. Especially considering that in low, clear water you have to use very small flies in the size 22 to 26 range. My target flies on this hookup were both #24s – which are very small - and I’m pretty certain that the fish took one of them. So on to the next one.
As we worked our way upstream we learned that the Beaver Run is in a canyon shadow from at least 11a on - most likely though, it’s in that shadow all day long during this time of year. And it’s much colder in the shadow – my guess is it’s at least 10 degrees colder! And it’s harder to see into the darker water, but we gave it a try. There was nothing going on there though – and we broke for lunch.
After lunch we decided to hit the Upper Road Hole – if it was open - then work our way up to the Dam Hole. The Upper Road Hole is one of Brian’s favorites. And no wonder – he always seems to catch fish there. And today was no exception.
A view from the top of the Upper Road Hole.
As he began to work the run – I walked upstream to the bend at the top of the run. There are boulders there that form a deep pool and smaller pockets too. Soon after I got to the deep pool – Brian had a nice 19” rainbow on . As he was netting it – I landed a fingerling. I might have been a little envious! Not really. I was actually happy for Brian.
Brian's 1st one in 11 Mile Canyon.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
I kept working the upper part of that section of the river then back down again, while Brian worked the hole he was in. It paid off for him as he landed another 15” rainbow. Brian was generous enough to let me fish the hole as he was working on releasing the fish. Then when he was done I offered to give it back – but he refused and said he wanted to let fish another spot.
A 15" rainbow netted by Brian in the Upper Road Hole.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
So I fished it and covered the hole with no takers – then moved downstream to the lower part of the run. It didn’t feel right taking his spot anyway. As I moved out, Brian moved back into the hole – and landed another fish - a 12" rainbow! It was his day.
Another one taken by Brian out of the Upper Road Hole.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
I walked back upstream to see if I could spot any fish. I didn’t see any and was just getting ready to leave for a run downstream when I spotted some orange fins out of the corner of my eye. It was a nice cutthroat. This section of the river holds Snake River Cutthroats. They are prized for their vivid coloration and the brightly colored slash under their chin. So I quickly reconsidered and decided to stay and try to catch him.
This was taken after I released him. You can see the orange fins that caught my eye.
He was feeding in front of a boulder and behind a large clump of kelp making the cast difficult. If I casted to far upstream, my flies would get caught up in the kelp. To far downstream and I could spook the fish. I gave it several tries then decided to change my last fly. The one I had on – a Barr Emerger – was a size 22 and I wanted something smaller. So I replaced it with a #24 Chocolate Thunder.
I still couldn’t get the fish to take – so I moved into the river and tried casts from the other side. Again, after several casts I he didn’t take. Moving back to the other side – I was contemplating moving on. Then I thought maybe add some weight and try again. So I did. And after about 3 casts – I had him on – finally!
A 16" brightly colored Snake River Cutthroat.
After hooking him up, the fish went into the kelp that was in front of him and got some caught up on my line. The kelp weighed it down and I was afraid that one of my trailing flies would get snagged on him. If this was to happen, it would make it hard to get his head up which is key to landing fish. So I tried to get him in as quickly as possible and was happy when I netted him.
Notice the orange "cut" under his jaw.
As I waded back down to catch up with Brian, I notice that the water was turning a murky brown. Oh no – not again. Yep – the Denver Water Department opened the valves and began to increase the flows. We weren’t too far downstream from the dam – and the water rose very quickly. And just as quickly, it turned brown. Dang it!
They say it takes the fish a few hours or so – maybe as much a four hours – to acclimate when the flows are substantially increased. And I don’t know how long it will take for the water to clear up. But neither of us fished that much after. It kind of took the wind out of our sails. We hunted here and pecked there – but it was half-hearted attempts - at least on my part. Brian did spot some fish rising at the end of the Dam Hole and tried for them with some dry flies. But the rises were sporadic and he didn’t get any of them to take.
So we ended the day a little early. It wasn’t the most productive day – but it wasn’t all for not either. We found some clear water to fish and enjoyed a beautiful day in the high country. And Brian landed a handful of fish and I caught a cut.
We’ll be back soon.
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