Eleven-Mile Reservoir is home to real lunkers

I don’t know of many lakes or reservoirs in the state besides Eleven-Mile Reservoir where you can consistently catch trout ranging from 2 to 5 pounds and where fish over 10 pounds are not just a dream. Rainbow, brown, cutbow, Snake River cutthroat, and northern pike make up the bulk of this cold-water fishery south of Lake George in Colorado’s South Park.Another species that once thrived here and was prized as table fare is the kokanee salmon. However, these once abundant tackle-busters are rarely being caught these days. Apparently, an infestation of gill lice has sent their numbers plummeting like a bad day on Wall Street.Eleven-Mile Reservoir trout grow rapidly from the day they are stocked because of the ideal lake conditions and natural food supply. However, finding and then catching fish in this 3,400-acre reservoir is not always easy, and success rates will vary depending upon techniques, feeding patterns and weather conditions. Knowledge of the lake and the most productive methods can be the difference between a good day on the water or a great day on the water.Trolling at various depths with typical trout lures and baits is one of the more popular methods, allowing anglers to reach areas of the lake only accessible by boat. Float tubes, wading and casting the shallow coves or just setting up a chair along the shoreline and waiting for a prowling fish to take the bait are other options that can produce big trout.One of the most productive methods I use is to work a fly, such as a large woolly bugger, over weed beds in six to 10 feet of water. There is nothing like the feel of a powerful fish on the end of your line as it makes a hard run for deep water, sending your drag into overtime. It’s the moment of truth that will push adrenaline levels off the charts.If trout are not active in the shallows, they can often be found in deeper water. My largest fish this season was a 27-inch rainbow taken in 20 feet of water by bouncing a Texas rigged woolly bugger just off the bottom with light spinning tackle and 6-pound mono. This technique works well when surface conditions are fairly calm, but when the notorious winds of South Park come a-blowing, heavier lures are needed to maintain contact with the bottom. Whatever method you use, the key is to have plenty of patience and a line in the water when the bite turns on …

Tony Lane, the former police chief of Castle Rock, is an avid outdoorsman and wildlife photographer.