Eleven Mile Canyon - Fishing in the SNOW! - McFly Angler Episode 43

[@jacobmayoral7614]

Glad you shared this. The canyon can be a B or your best friend.

[@McFlyAngler]

Lol for sure

[@jaywilliams8882]

I have a secret spot just north of where you were in this video. Literally was there a month before you. Boy was it frozen water! I had good luck with black zebra midges and my all time back up stoneflies.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, it’s a good place, going back next week for round 2... lol

[@RocknMesa]

Great content. Absolutely beautiful location. I grew up fishing that canyon and 11 mile reservoir. My grandparents had a cabin 1 mile from the water. Not exactly a low pressure location but a certified gem. Better luck next time

[@McFlyAngler]

No not a low pressure place. I saw like 15 people on a day that was less than ideal. Very busy river, but yes, very pretty!

[@chewybear1528]

If you go back during the summer there are some lakes and creeks around the Mt. Elbert base in the San Isabel National Forest that are full of brown, cutthroat, rainbow, and brook trout. A simple euro nymphing setup and a single or double fly rig are deadly for all sizes of trout there

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah I plan on hitting up the place another time in the spring or summer

[@MountainStateAngler]

Question on that, are these easy hikes or punishing or so so...

[@McFlyAngler]

Not bad at all. At least where I went.

[@bustedbait5912]

11 Mile looks really beautiful. I will have to go check it out on my next trip to Colorado.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, its pretty for sure!

[@davids11131113]

It’s nice but gets very crowded though so try weekdays and winter, in summer you likely won’t be able to fish at all.

[@j.k.hobbyist9736]

Wow looks like an amazing trip! Keep that line tight and you’ll have the euro nymphing down in no time! Thanks for sharing as always buddy! Oh yah you could connect your net to the back of the neck strap if you have the bag like mine. Just figured I’d toss that in there for yah!

[@McFlyAngler]

You will have to show me this when you come to the shop tomorrow man.

[@j.k.hobbyist9736]

McFly Angler for sure just let me know when every you are scheduled next. Excited to see that review!

[@j.k.hobbyist9736]

Ever***

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah sorry! I wish I could have gone in today, just I can barely move from this surgery. Been a rough day. LOL

[@j.k.hobbyist9736]

Get to feeling better buddy!

[@nyemike]

Been fishing the canyon for 35 years. Crazy how time flies. I know all those spots well and where the fish are. TINY midge nymphs - size 22 or smaller are best in winter. That hole where you first used a streamer can be great if you get it to yourself, which is rare. People camp on it. Don’t discount the non fly-only water downstream. Especially when the weather warms up a little. Some great fishing down low too. Most of the time I leave the top sections to the crowds.

[@McFlyAngler]

Good thinking, I plan on going back, so next time i will check all that out. I did fish a tiny midge, just with a large attractor. Was that not right? I think my midge was size 22-24 or something like that, but the attractors were larger.

[@nyemike]

You had the right setup. I like brown midges with small foam wing. Also try a San Juan worm or two bit hooker as attractor.

[@McFlyAngler]

Cool thanks

[@Kjack2023]

You had as much luck as me in that canyon! It is beautiful there! Hope you get some next time!

[@McFlyAngler]

It is beautiful for sure! Hopefully it will be better next.

[@highaf_fishingtv420]

Hope you give it a go again. The fishing is really good now. stoneflies, rainbow warriors and red midges, emergers are really good. A buddy and I had a 50-60 fish day 17" average last week

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh I plan on it! Just have to figure out the schedule so I can take some time off... haha

[@garybon.]

Nice video. Just picked up the summit sling myself last weekend. Look forward to the review

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah man! Its a good little pack. Just can't figure out where to put the net, and have a tether, and not get tangled while spinning the bag around to my chest. If you figure it out, let me know! HAHA Other than that, its perfect.

[@PiscatorFlies]

That looks like a great spot to fish. A little bit of hard luck on the catches, but a really scenic piece of water. I hope you back there sometime.

[@McFlyAngler]

I will be heading back as soon as I can, I am really wanting to fish it again, hopefully with better luck.

[@aaronarms5982]

Yeah I went to my local Bass Pro Shops looking for that fish pond bag you got. And all they had was the fishpond vest which is looking pretty nice and the little packs a various types. However I did find an Allan chest packed it was missing stuff and got a discounted rate so I'm going to try it

[@McFlyAngler]

Nice! Yeah Allen is good. I had an Allen waste bag that wasn’t too bad for the price. A zipper broke after a year though, but I use my stuff a lot! I think my Allen bag was like $25 so i wasn’t too upset! Haha. I think for the money they are great!

[@jessicabloomfield6934]

what test lb of braid was being used,on the stellas

[@McFlyAngler]

Braid?

[@RGJR02]

Cheesman canyon also. I like using a euro nymph rod also. Nice tip and u have that extra length.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah I wanna hit up Cheesman for sure! And I love the Euro rod, however nothing was helping my luck this day! HAHA

[@bobbertheclown2907]

i was starting to this you never had a bad day. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[@McFlyAngler]

I always have bad days. Haha. Lol. But in reality, are they really actually bad? I mean I’m fishing... haha

[@Trav1ar]

One of my favorite places to fish. If I lived in Colorado I'd be there every weekend. The main hole I fish is just on the other side of the bridge from where you started at. My brother and I crushed 17 fish in two days just this last December.

[@McFlyAngler]

Wow, yeah I was going to fish up that way, but there were like 4 people all in that spot, I just didnt want to crowd anyone. I will have to check it out next time I go.

[@taliesinangling3564]

Sometimes when I’m fishing eggs, It makes a big difference when I switch to an Antron egg versus the simpler ones. Thats something that helped me when I was flyfishing in a stream here in Minnesota.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, its a better egg for sure, I didnt have any with me though unfortunately.

[@McFlyAngler]

Antron is awesome stuff for flytying!

[@MountainStateAngler]

I was wondering when you were going to go to the Mecca Of fly fishing that is 11 Mile Canyon. Go there during the run off you’ll catch a ton of biggens.

[@McFlyAngler]

I plan on going back for sure

[@MountainStateAngler]

McFly Angler sounds great! Maybe we can meet up sometime. I’m going this Sunday to film an espisode out there hopefully.

[@MountainStateAngler]

Just got home and watched the whole episode. I have fished that river 3 times in the last month and can say eggs didn’t get me a single fish, sounds like the fly shop guy just assumed. I did however catch fish non stop on rainbow warriors, zebra midges and pats rubber leg. Speaking of zebra midges I still need to buy the 20pack you’re selling. On my hook sets I always point the rod straight up at that river and I lose so many still but catch more so than loose. Another great episode i really enjoyed watching. :)

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah I used pats rubber legs and zebra midges as well later in the day and had good luck. Well the 12 packs of midges are still available. No one bought any yet for some reason. So I still have all sizes from 20-30...

[@allenjone]

When are you coming back to Gunnison? The fishing’s pretty good these days! 😁

[@McFlyAngler]

I wish I could right now. Going in for surgery tomorrow, so not for a few weeks after that at least. I do have a full time job besides this channel, and my wife also has a full time job, and we have 2 young kids. So its just tough to get away for a few days. But hopefully some time this spring/summer.

[@allenjone]

McFly Angler Oh I hope everything goes well with the surgery. Yeah that’s okay, I have a full time job and I’m a full time dad also but the wife lets me go fishing whenever I can. I’m gonna take you to my spot, will be great for a video as you will be catching fish with almost every cast, trout ranging 14-22 inches and fat ones too! I think this will go on until the ice melts and we won’t be able to get to the exact hole. But the fish are crazy with egg patterns and midges these days! Well hopefully you’ll get the time soon! Thanks for the videos!

[@McFlyAngler]

Sergery didnt go well. But im doing ok.

[@allenjone]

McFly Angler I wish for your speedy recovery!

[@RGJR02]

It’s tough river to fish

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah thats what I am hearing. I will be more prepared next time.

[@radsoup89]

Great Video!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks!

[@bradleytristan2610]

It’s so difficult when you see fish and your hooking fish but can’t land it but hey that’s fly fishing

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes it is! LOL

[@aaronarms5982]

I don't know what do you figure out the issue of where to put your net yet or not but I strap mine on the front by my shoulder strap pouch where you hold your float and stuff and throw it over my shoulder so it's behind me

[@McFlyAngler]

Nice! Yeah thats a good option. I actually figured it out though! I was swinging the bag over my head, and it needs to swing under my shoulder. So, I did finally figure it out. It works perfect now! :)

[@vicenteherrera2751]

Man beautiful scenery

[@McFlyAngler]

It was beautiful for sure!

[@stewoutdoors3020]

Great video ! However it's he hard for this Florida native to relate. Looks like beautiful terrain.

[@McFlyAngler]

I totally get it. I started fly fishing in Corpus Christy TX for Redfish. It was a completely new world when I came out this way.

[@RGJR02]

Great video

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks!

[@dantheman7624]

Nice river.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! Yeah, its beautiful for sure! I can't wait to go fish it again!

[@juanbirumbrales8318]

hermoso lugar pura vida amigo

[@McFlyAngler]

It is pretty there huh? I wanna stay there forever! LOL

[@americanfisherman9781]

Enjoyed the video, great narration too!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you

[@travis9217]

Can you do more live commentary

[@McFlyAngler]

Like talking to the camera? Lol. Not really, it’s only me out there guys, and my cameras are waterproof which means that they have a casing on the camera that makes for muffled audio. I won’t risk loosing another camera for live audio you know?

[@lsk821]

Great video keep up the good work.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you!

[@Coastalfishes]

For some reason the trout here go completely inactive here all winter any go in like a hibernative state

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah? Well good to hear it wasnt just me. HAHA

[@MountainStateAngler]

Seen a guy catch a 24 incher.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, there are good fish down there, and they will bite in the winter. However, this day seemed tough for me. Probably my own mistakes.

[@davethomasthedreamteam9418]

Thats just not true. I fish this mamajama all winter long. I have had some rough days, but I have also had some AMAZING winter days. the best day I ever had there it was 15 degrees out and snowing. They turn into total size queens when they're cold, but figure out the size and color and you can do really well down there.

[@jamesolsen6837]

McFly, you did well finding one of our gems here in Colorado. Fishing the South Platte in the canyon is a joy most of the year but man is it cold in January and February. Come back in the spring and fall and I think you will be rewarded. The fly shop didn't steer you completely wrong but you were a few miles away from the upper section (keep driving till you can't anymore) and the trick is to go small and light size 22 or 24 midges and baetis patterns and 6x tippet. Much the same as on the San Juan. Been enjoying your stuff for awhile now. A buddy has his own thing going with some very informative videos like yours for fly fishing Colorado and has two videos on the same spot you were in. Check out Subtletakes on youtube. kzbin.info

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh no they didnt steer me wrong at all. They did a great job! I just didnt. LOL