Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir in Park County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir sits within Park County in Colorado. It stands 8,576 feet above sea level. This is big water, about 4.9 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Of the waters listed here in Park County, this is the largest. Head to Cripple Creek, 22 miles away, for anything you forgot. Woodland Park follows at 25 miles, then Cascade-Chipita Park at 28 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir

  109 ft is what our records show. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Species logged across Park County include brown trout, rainbow trout and longnose sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 61°F and January about 17°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The ground here is public, which usually keeps access simple. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Wagon Tongue Reservoir sits 6.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir locally before you travel.