April 5, 2021 – 11 Mile Canyon
Flows: 55 cfs.
Water Temp: 40F @ 8:30a
Water clarity: Crystal clear
Air Temp: 32 @ 8:30a, 66 @ 4p.
Hatches: Midge – 9a to early-afternoon. BWO – 1p to 2:30p.
Flies: #18 Red Copper John, #22 Flashback Black Beauty, #22 Purple Rojo Midge, #20 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #22 Chocolate Thunder, #22 Black Flashback RS2, #22 Olive JuJubee Midge, #22 Purple JuJu Beatis, #22 Cripple, #18 & 22 Improved Sparkle Dun, #14 Rd Impaler, #20 Top Secret, #22 Bubbletop Purple Midge, #20 Red Disco Midge
Top producers: Black Beauty, RS2, JuJu Beatis, #18 Sparkle Dun, Impaler, Bubbletop Midge, Disco Midge.
Pikes Peak. 11 Mile Canyon is west of the Pikes Peak wilderness area.
Brian and I did something that we hadn’t done in a little over a year. We shared a ride. We both had our vaccinations – both 1st and 2nd – so we felt we were good to go. It felt good to be able to do that – but also a little strange believe it or not. Just not used to being in a car with someone other than Keeny.
The drive is a little over 1 ½ hours from my place to near the dam in 11 Mile Canyon and we were able to catch up on our plan for the day and the trip we’re making to Wyoming next week. There was still some snow in the higher elevations adding to the scenery along the way.
1st fish of the day for me. A 15" rainbow taken below the Upper Road Hole.
The flows have been low all winter in the entire South Platte River drainage due to the draught that we had last year. Cheesman reservoir is still only about 65% full and they’re trying to get it full or near full, so the flows out of Cheesman are being held back. Above it – where we were fishing – run off hasn’t started yet and even though 11 Mile Reservoir is about 95% full they’re still holding the flows out of it to below historic levels.
My 2nd fish of the day - a cutbow taken in the same hole on a Flashback Black Beauty.
Our plan was to start at the Upper Road Hole and work our way downstream to the Lower Road Hole. It’s a distance of about ½ mile along the road. It’s longer if you walk the river as it bends and curves it’s way as it flows downstream. And there are a lot of nice holes, riffles, pools and pockets along the way.
Brian is a lot quicker when it comes to gearing up and he was ready to hit the water before me. So he headed up to the Upper Road Hole as I finished getting ready. Once I was done – I walked up along the road to meet him. Once you get about half way there from where we were parked – the river meets the road – and you can see into the river from there. I kept a close eye on it as I walked along to see if I could spot any fish. And I was glad that I was able to see some fish feeding in a couple of the holes. I stopped to get a landmark so that I could be sure to get to the right place later.
Brian's 1st fish of the day. An 18" rainbow.
When I met Brian in the Upper Road Hole – the place that we normally fish was too shallow to hold fish. While Brian worked a riffle leading into hole – I crossed the river and waded down to the first hole below me where I had spotted the fish. I was still not totally geared up – as I had to tie on some flies. As I did Brain moved down and worked the run.
Now totally ready – I moved downstream to the second hole where I spotted some fish as I was walking up. With the low flows I decided to lead with a #18 Red Copper John. It’s a heavy fly that is tied with lead wraps and I wanted to use it as my weight. I then tied on a Flashback Black Beauty and a Red Rojo Midge. I also decided to use 5x tippet. Even with the low flows and crystal clear water.
An adult midge - pumped from one of our 1st fish.
The setup worked perfectly. I remembered that the fish were close to the other side of the river and were feeding between a large submerged boulder and the bank. So that’s what I targeted and on my second cast I had a fish on! Beautiful! But I managed to get a little careless and he got off right at the net. Dang it – he was a nice rainbow in the 17”+ range. He took the Rojo Midge.
Then after another cast or two into the same spot I had on another fish. I landed that one – a 15” rainbow. Just a quickly I had on another fish and landed a 17” cutbow. Wow – what a start! After releasing that one – I suggested to Brian to give it a try. I pointed out the boulder and told him to cast just beyond it. As he was working the run – I cleaned up my flies – then walked over to see how things were going.
A cutbow caught by Brian.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
No sooner does Brian say “I think you caught all the fish in this hole” – he hooks up and lands an 18” rainbow. Yes it was a great start to the day! As Brian continued to work that spot – I moved up to the hole just above him. Even though I couldn’t spot any fish from my vantage point - I new fish lying in the tailout of a faster seam. So that’s where I concentrated my efforts.
It took some time but I finally had a fish on – just barley. In fact I didn’t even detect a hit. I simply was raising my rod to begin another cast and a fish was on. With the very soft hook set – if you could even call it that – the fish was able to spit the fly pretty quickly. But I was able to get a good look at him as he came to the surface – it was a bigger, in the 20” range – rainbow. Boy I wanted another chance at that one!
An adult midge - caught this one live on the river.
After a bit things kinda dried up. Brian was first to move on – and I followed about 30 minutes later. I didn’t know it a the time but there were fishermen all along the river just below us. So I walked down to the run between the fallen trees. This is a spot I fished the last time – and had some success. Just as last time – there were several fish feeding in the deeper pool just below the first fallen tree and the trough just downstream from it. But they were not easily fooled. And they were just a spooky as last time. After spending some time there and not getting any fish – I finally said the hell with it – and walked down to meet up with Brian.
I found him in an area that is called The Shoots. It’s a run just upstream from the bridge and it has four large tunnels made out of corrugated steel that feed the water under the bridge. That’s why they call it The Shoots.
And just as I got there the wind began to blow. No it began to howl!
Another cutbow caught by Brian.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
The 11 Mile Reservoir is located on a high plain. From where the dam drops water into the canyon west to the Buffalo Peaks – a distance of about 40 miles – there is nothing but a high barren plain. No trees to block any wind – just rolling terrain. So when the wind begins to blow – nothing stops it and it sometimes howls into 11 Mile Canyon. The dam rises about 50 feet above the river bed in the canyon and you would think that the wind would blow over the canyon. But the canyon seems to act like a wind tunnel. At times it was blowing so hard I had to take a step back just to brace myself.
It also contributed to a couple of nasty granny knots. My knots weren’t caused by poor casting technique – they happened when I had my line out of the water and was either cleaning or inspecting my flies. At one time the wind ripped my indicator around and the next think I knew – I had a knot so bad I had to take all my flies off and retie them. Once I was done – I got up and before I could get my line back in the water – I had another huge knot. Are you kidding me. I was more than a little pissed.
This rainbow took a #22 Black Flashback RS2 in The Shoots.
Even with the howling wind – we were able to land several fish in The Shoots. The trick was to keep the cast short and if possible downstream.
Brian was able to land a fish before I caught up with him and he pointed out a seam where they were lying. I could also spot a fish or two just upstream from him in a couple of deep pools that are created by lines of large boulders. But I couldn’t get any to take.
So I moved down below Brian – about 10’ above the tunnels – and there I could spot about 15 or so fish lined up in the run feeding. Getting into position so that I could cast my line and get my flies in the right spot was not easy with the way the wind was blowing - but not impossible either. It took some time and several cast – but when I hit it right - it was like early in the morning. I was able to get fish on pretty regularly. By then I had changed my flies to mayfly pupae and they were hitting a #22 Black Flashback RS2. Meanwhile Brian was landing his fair share too. With the success that we were having it was hard to leave that spot.
A nice rainbow landed by Brian.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
But as it got time for lunch – a late one at that – we gave it up and walked to the car to eat. After lunch our plan was to move downstream toward the Lower Road Hole. Our thinking was the river bent southward and then was shielded by the canyon wall – so maybe it wouldn't be so windy there.
Once I was done though, I had a change of heart and wanted to try The Shoots again. So I hit that spot and Brian moved downstream. I was able to land another fish in the Shoots – then just like that - the fish weren’t interested anymore.
Looking upstream from the Beaver Run.
So again I picked up and headed downstream to meet up with Brian. I found him in the Beaver Run. This is a long run with troughs and braids that usually hold fish. Brian had already landed another rainbow – this time on a dry. After our last trip, he had tied up a Sparkle Dun and true to form – it did the trick for him. That fly is a killer!
And our plan had worked as far as getting shelter from the wind. It was much more calmer downstream from the bridge. Made casting much easier - and we were able to get our flies were they were intended without too much trouble.
A rainbow taken in The Shoots.
I wasn’t having any action though and decided to head further downstream. I found a nice pool that was holding a couple of fish. The pool was fed by two fast shoots – one on either side of it and had slow water in the middle. I tried several different casts trying to get my flies into their feeding lanes – but it wasn’t working. So I moved up a bit to fish some slack water just before where the shoots drained into the pool. I’ve caught fish in that type of water many times before – so it caught my eye.
As I was getting into position – I was thinking of my plan to fight and land a fish – if I was able to get one on. I was thinking that he would probably run down the far shoot and into the pool – which would make it very difficult on me to navigate. Best case was for me to keep him above it and try to land him in the slack water.
18" cutbow taken on a #22 Purple Juju Beatis.
After only about 3 casts – I had one hooked up. I was both surprised and happy that he didn’t go into the shoot. He actually stayed in the slack water and even made a run towards me. Wow that helped a lot as I was able to fight him to the net. It was a 18” cutbow. Beautiful fish.
After that I moved downstream a bit further. At the same time Brian came down to meet up with me and began to fish the deep pool that I had left a little earlier. He too didn’t have any luck. While he was fishing that – I was moving back upstream towards him. I spotted a few fish along the way - but couldn’t get them to hit before I spooked them.
Looking downstream towards the Lower Road Hole.
Eventually Brian and I changed places and I was now fishing upstream from him. I could see him as he worked the runs below me – and he was in one of the spots where I had seen a few fish earlier – but a little further in toward the middle of the river. And I watched as he netted a couple of fish. Nice work!
Last one of the day for Brian.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
After he released his last fish we decided to call it a day. We had quite a few fish in the net and it was a lot of fun - despite being blown away earlier in the wind tunnel.
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