Fishing Report Courtesy Of Duranglers Guide Spencer Schreiber       

Conditions on the Animas River are more favorable for fishing than they normally are through the cold month of January.  It is definitely winter in the Durango area, but we are not seeing the really cold nights that can turn the river into something more like a frozen margarita.  That’s right, no spoon needed, water temps have been a balmy thirty-seven to thirty-eight degrees.  The midge hatch has been impressive, flows are solid and the water clarity has been just right.  Like leading a duck, not too far ahead and not too far behind, but just right.

I have been streamer fishing and it’s been pretty productive.  And when I say streamer fishing I don’t mean fishing a sinking line and slowly raking the bottom for a lazy grab.  When I say streamer fishing, I mean actively moving the fly, often shallow enough to be visible, and watching respectable browns and rainbows attack the fly two and sometimes even three times.  Considering the cold water temps the aggressive behavior of the fish has been a bit of a surprise, but I’ll take it.

I have not been nymphing, but during last nights big game I got a report from a trusted source.  Crazy Mike (he is crazy, I swear, but crazy in a good way and he’s one of the best anglers and tiers I know) put the bobber to work a couple times last week with good results.  If I recall correctly (PBR can make things fuzzy), an egg and a bead head something fished patiently in the right water was the ticket.  

Bottom line, fishing on the Animas is good right now no matter how you like to skin the cat.  But right now, means right now.  Conditions will soon change and the “Animal” will start pitching curves before you can tie that loop knot.

Spencer

                                                                    THANK YOU

Duranglers would like to offer a special thanks and wishes for tight lines to everyone who shopped and fished with us through 2011. Have a great 2012!

With the storms going north and south of Durango, the Animas continues to offer easy access and decent fishing weather permitting for a local fishing fix.  And, the San Juan Quality Water below Navajo Dam is still fishing well.  The recent work to improve habitat in the braids area has been an unqualified success with a significant increase in holding areas for anglers to spread out. As usual, midges are the bugs of choice along with the red analid.  Winter is a great time to fish wooly buggers and leeches, either black or olive.  As usual, check in with us for the latest in what’s happening on the Juan.

Fly tying lessons are starting this month. The first session is Jan. 12,13, 17 & 19. The class is a full eight hours of lessons for $100 and we furnish everything! These cold winter nights are great for cranking out your flies for the upcoming season. Come in or give us a call to sign up. Class size is limited to 6.

 Need to get away from the cold for a fishing fix?  We still have a few spots on the Andros, Bahamas bonefishing trip.  This was a great trip in 2011 and should be equally good this year. 

We continue to have men’s and women’s clothing on sale as well as a selection of wading boots and men’s and women’s waders.  In addition, the Sage Xi2 and Scott S3S saltwater fly rods are on sale along with selected Sage and Lamson fly reels.

The San Juan River continues to fish excellent with flows at 500 CFS and we see no reason for that to change between now and June 6.  Here is Duranglers guide Corky and angler Brad Orr from last week.

Below is an announcement from the Bureau of Reclamation that flows will be increasing in early June.

On the days the river is increasing in flow conditions will be difficult with lots of floating debris.  Most anglers assume high water means bad fishing but that is not necessarily true.  The San Juan can fish very well at 5000 cfs but it is a much different river than at 500 cfs.   Also expect good fishing as the river falls.

Please contact us for more specific information on what to expect.

The Bureau of Reclamation has finalized this year’s scheduled spring peak release from Navajo Reservoir.  Reclamation will begin to increase the release on Monday, June 6, 2011 at 1:00 AM, reaching 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Thursday, June 9th at approximately 3:00 PM.  The release will stay at 5,000 cfs for seven days.  On Wednesday, June 15th at approximately 7:00 AM, the release will begin to decrease, reaching 500 cfs on Friday, June 17th at approximately 10:00 PM, where it will remain until further notice.

Adjustments may be made to the release if significant precipitation occurs during the scheduled release period.

Duranglers co-owner Tom Knopick just got back from his 2^nd annual hosted trip to Andros South (April 23-30, 2011).  The trip was great and a good time was had by all.

Success on the Bonefish flats has lots to do with weather conditions and with sunny skies you just get more shots.  On the second day of the trip Tom and Jordan were fishing with Andros South Guide Ellie.   Ellie is a great guide with awesome eyes and great communication skills.  Tom was on deck getting only few shots with cloudy skies and not hooking up.  It was decided to switch anglers hoping it might change their luck so Jordan was up.

After only 10 minutes Ellie Polled the skiff around a small Mangrove Island in the lee side of the wind.  The water went to glass, the sun came out and right on cue a school of Bones appeared 25 feet in front of the boat.  Jordan’s first cast missed the school to the left and the 2^nd cast missed to the right but the school just kept slowly cruising.  The next cast was long and right through the center of the fish but they did not spook just parted then came back together.  Once back together the school did an about-face and swam right over the fly, two strips and fish one!

Andros is without question one of the great Bonefish destination on the planet and Tom will be hosting a trip again next year.  The dates will be April 21-28, 2012.  Join us for a trip of a lifetime!

Duranglers guide Spencer Schreiber hard at work on the San Juan River below Navajo Dam this past Sunday, April 17.  A very nice double as the river continues to fish very well!  Another day at the offcie.

Lately the Animas is looking very good and has yielded some decent Blue Winged Olive hatches and fish looking up.  Look for this trend to continue until we get weather that brings us moisture or the runoff begins.  At that point it will be Streamer time.  With a foot or two of visibility, we should see some success with black buggers, dark streamer patterns and big nymphs.  Look for those days following a cooling trend that results in a moderation of flows and somewhat clearing water.  Remember the new Colorado License year starts April 1 and runs through March 31, 2012.

If you fish the San Juan remember that the new license year also starts April 1.  Stop by here before you head to the San Juan and pick up your license, flies, tippet and anything else you might need for your day on the water. There have been good BWO hatches, so now is a great time to go.  Due to the expected in-flows into Navajo reservoir look for flows on the San Juan to continue at 500cfs until we get a spring flush of 5000cfs starting in mid/late May.  Of course, this could change so check in with us periodically for flow updates.

Glenn Tinnin, certified FFF Fly Casting Instructor and veteran guide, is holding the first of several fly fishing clinics on Saturday, April 23, from 10am to 3pm.  Cost is $100 per person. These clinics are excellent for the beginner to intermediate fly fisher.  They cover everything from choosing equipment to catching fish.  There are spots available so come in and sign up.  If unable to make this class, Glenn has clinics scheduled for May 21 (10-3) and June 11 (10-3).

New Sage, Simms, Fishpond and others product are coming in daily so stop in and check out the latest gear.  Tight lines from the guys and gals at Duranglers.

The Piedra River is one of our faverite waters in the Durango area and has everything a trout stream should have.  It has a very healthy population of  Trout (Rainbows & Browns), riffles, pools, long glides, small fish, big fish, remote canyons as well as good road access.   Recently the Colorado Division of Wildlife announced new fishing regulations for the Piedra River that will take effect April 1, 2011.

From the Piedra River bridge on USFS road 631 (Piedra Road) downstream to the lower boundary of the Tres Piedra Ranch (1.5 miles above US HWY 160)

1)  Artificial flies and lures only.

2)  Trout must be returned to water immediately.

This is great news and we are excited about this wonderful resource.  As is always the case, change does not come easy and  is usually driven by one dedicated passionate person.  In the case of the Piedra River, this person is John Richey a local angler and Five Rivers Trout Unlimited member.  Thank you John!

Our local Trout Unlimited Chapter’s spring fundraising banquet will be held on April 2nd at Fort Lewis college. Tickets are $40/person or $75/couple, and include dinner. We have tickets for sale here at Duranglers. There will be many fabulous auction items including some great trips.  They will auction off trips on the San Juan, Animas, a float trip on the Gunnison, several creek trips, and that just lists a few of them! Other items are rods, various gear, lots of items for women that don’t have anyhting to do with fishing, and even a custom made fly-tying desk!

We feel it is very import to support Trout Unlimited and hope you can make the Durango event and if not please support your local Chapter!

Tight Lines

Charlie from Charlie’s Fly Box is on of the best fly tier’s we have ever seen and we are excited to have him coming to Durango.  As part for our Fly Fishing Festival you can watch and learn from Charlie at the Strater Hotel in the Pullman room on Saturday, April 2, 10:30 am.   Wether you tie a ton or have never wrapped fur and feather on a hook, it will be a great show.  Hope to see you there!