Durango Area Fly Fishing Chart

Body of Water Fish Species Aquatic Food Sources Best Patterns Sub-surface Best Patterns Surface Best Months Public Access Other Info
Animas River Brown Rainbow  Caddis, Sculpins, Midges, Mayflies Prince, Caddis Larva, Muddler/Sculpin Parachute Adams, Hoppers, Elk Hair Caddis Feb-April July-Nov 32nd St South thru Durango & upstream fm Rockwood Fly & lure Lightner Ck to Rivera Bridge, 2 fish 16″ min, Gold Medal
Cascade Creek Brown Rainbow Brook Caddis Mayfly Western Coachman, Hares Ear, Copper John Humpy, Irresistable, Trude, Parachute Adams Late June-Oct Entire Creek Lots of fish – mostly small.  Dries great all summer 
Electra Lake Rainbow Brook Cutthroat Midge Shrimp Other fish Bucktail Streamers, Wooly Buggers, Damsel Nymph Midges, Damsel fly May-Sept $8/day charge Very good lake
Emerald Lake Cut-bow Shrimp Damsel flies Scuds, Streamers Midges, Damsel fly July-Sept Entire Lake Fly & Lure only. 2 fish over 14″ or less
Florida River Brown Rainbow Brook Caddis Mayfly Stonefly Copper John, Hares Ear, Peeking Caddis, 20 Incher Yellow Sally, Elk Hair Caddis, Royal Wulff, Hoppers June-Oct San Juan Nat’l Forest upstream of Transfer Park Rugged canyon – no trails above Transfer Park
Haviland Lake Rainbow Damsel Flies Midges Crayfish Wooly Buggers, Breadcrust Renegade, Damsel fly April-Sept Entire Lake Rainbows stocked each year. Easy Access
Hermosa Creek Brook Rainbow Cutthroat Caddis Mayfly Beadhead Prince, Caddis Larva, Pheasant Tail H & L Variant, Stimulator, Lime Trude Late June-Oct Upstream from Hermosa on San Juan National Forest Lots of fish-mostly small  Dries great all summer
Junction Creek Brown Rainbow Brook Caddis Mayfly Caddis larva, A.P. Beaver Humpy, Yel. Stone Dry, Stimulator Mid June – Oct San Juan National Forest upstream from Durango Fun little stream – fish small- Colorado Trail Access
La Plata River Brown Rainbow Brook Caddis Mayfly Prince, Pheasant Tail, Cased Caddis Adams, Peacock Caddis, Small Hoppers Late June-Oct Upstream from Mayday San Juan National Forest Blow out in Spring, but many small fish summer and fall
Lemon Reservoir Brown Rainbow Kokanee Salmon Midges Other fish Wooly Bugger Streamers Midges, Mosquitos, Hoppers May-Oct Entire Lake Inlet of Lemon good in late Summer – A few large Browns
Lightner Creek Brown Rainbow Caddis  Mayfly Caddis Larva, Muddler Wulffs, Irresistable April-May July-Sept Along Hwy 160 Browns run up Lightner in early spring
Lime Creek Brown Rainbow Brook Caddis Mayfly Stones Beadheads, Caddis Larva,  Renegade, Trude, Humpy, Parachute Adams Late June-Oct Entire Creek Many fish-mostly 12″ and less.  Great dries all summer
Los Pinos River Brown Rainbow Brook Cutthroat Caddis Mayfly Terrestrials Zug Bug, Hares Ear, Prince, Pheasant Tail Goddard Caddis, Hoppers, Stimulators, Trude Late June-Oct Weminuche Wilderness Fly & lure only-2 fish limit upstream from Weminuche boundary
Piedra River Brown Rainbow Stonefly Caddis Mayfly 20 Incher, Yel. Stone Nymph, Prince Yel. Stone Dry, Sofa Pillow, Hoppers Late June-Oct Upstream fm Hwy 160 on San Juan National Forest Fly & lure catch & release lower CG to Piedra bridge – Huge Stonefly pop.
Vallecito Creek Rainbow Brook Mayfly,  Midge, Caddis Hares Ear, Midge Pupa, Pheasant Tail, Copper John Parachute Adams, Midge, Stimulators Late June-Sept Upstream fm Vallecito campground on San Juan National Forest Crystal clear, fly & lure only-2 fish limit upstream from Weminuche boundary
Vallecito Reservoir Rainbow Kokanee Salmon PikeSmallmouth Other fish, Midges Wooly Bugger, Streamers Parachute Adams April-Oct Entire lake Past state records for Brown & Pike
Dolores above McPhee Res. Rainbow Brown Caddis Mayfly Stonefly AP Black, Caddis Larva, Prince Trude, Royal Wulff, Peacock Caddis, Hopper’s Late June-Oct San Juan National Forest A mix of private & Forest Service lands
Dolores below McPhee Res. Rainbow Brown  Midges Mayfly Terrestrials Midge Pupa, BWO, Flashback, PMD-Nymph Adult Midges, Comparadun, Hoppers June-Nov McPhee Dam Downstream 12 miles fly & lure catch & release Bradfield Bridge to McPhee Dam
San Juan In Colorado Rainbow Brown Caddis Mayfly Stonefly Caddis Larva, Beadhead Prince, Wooly Bugger Elk Hair Caddis, Madam-X, Parachute Adams Late June-Oct Pagosa Springs &Up-stream of Pagosa on San Juan National Forest  2 fish limit thru Pagosa Springs
San Juan – New Mexico below Navajo Dam Rainbow Brown Midges Small Mayfly Midge Pupa, WD-40, Analids RS2 Midge Adult, Comparadun, Sparkle Dun All Year From Navajo Dam to HWY 173 bridge Special trout waters flies & lures catch & release from Dam downstream 3 3/4