Animas Lunch Report – 5/15/15 – Engler
Mark Engler is probably a better fly fisherman than you. I am sorry to tell you this, but it’s true. Not only that, but he is probably better at a lot of things than you. I mean no offense, but it is the way of things. I include myself in this statement. Mark Engler knows how to catch fish with a fly rod.
Mark is quite possibly the most seasoned Duranglers guide. With decades of guiding clients in Colorado and New Mexico for trout, Mark is also the only licensed captain on staff who is certified to take trips to chase pike and smallmouth on our local reservoirs. He practically invented the idea of fly fishing for pike here in Durango when NO ONE else was doing it.
Not only that, but Mark is also a duck hunting guide throughout the fall, winter, and early spring. Heck, I bet you didn’t know that Mark used to build fly reels. Yep, Engler Reels; fully machined out of his garage. The ability to build reels came from his engineering background…which also explains why he can fix most anything. Mark is the one we call when we have car, boat, or trailer problems.
Oh yeah, and if you are a fly angler in Colorado, then you probably have used the WD-40 emerger. Mark invented that fly.
Truth be told, Mark is a Guide’s guide. If you have ever fished with him, no doubt you learned more in one day than you had any other day on the water. Maybe you read about him in The Drake too…
Tom – Right now, catching fish is not about the flows, but about the color and clarity of the water. While the Animas may be off color, it is not fully blown out and may clear up some today and tomorrow. Dark nymphs will catch fish.
Andy – Looks like the flows are pretty close to flat lining right now, which means that the Animas is still a little high and off color at 1300+ cfs…but it may be fishing well with streamers and dark nymphs. It is going to be raining and possibly snowing today and tomorrow (thank goodness) so it could be a cold one. If you opt to get out on the water instead of mole-holing this weekend, just remember that cold and overcast days make for some pretty good streamer fishing for trout and pike. Not to mention it could make for a good BWO hatch on the San Juan River as well as our local rivers. Bundle up and get out there this weekend.
