Streamer Season – Duranglers April Fly Fishing Report

Streamer Season – Duranglers April Fly Fishing Report

Let the tug on a streamer be the sirens call of the river for you this April.  River flows this time of year are rising and our rivers can be off color.  While we will not see full blown runoff for another month, these off color waters of April can discourage anglers from setting out in search of fish.  Do not be disheartened, some of the biggest fish will be caught this month by adventurous anglers who hunt the hunters.

If you are seeing dirty waters on our local rivers such as the Animas, Upper San Juan, Rio Grande, or Piedra…throw a big dark streamer.  Monster brown trout are known to use this off color water for their advantage to ambush prey.  There is also no better way to cover water with streamers than from a drift boat or raft.  With this higher water, float season has officially begun for us, and we will be rowing and hucking meat.

If you are into vicious fish that like to ambush streamers, pike also do the same thing.  All our local pike fisheries are clear and ice free right now and the fishing is getting better by the day.  While streamer fishing may not be a numbers game (depends on the day), it is great way to hook into the biggest predators on most waters.

The San Juan River Quality Waters also continues to produce great fishing with midges and baetis.  There are also a lot of fish moving to egg patterns as it is spring; and spring is spawn time for rainbow trout.  (Just remember to leave actively spawning fish alone).  This can be a good time of year for the streamer junkie on the lower San Juan as well.  If you are one who likes to get away from the crowds and off the beaten path, then you should consider our lower San Juan River float trips.  There is nothing like having the water to yourself, casting streamers for hungry brown trout, surrounded by high desert beauty.

Insects and Natural Food Sources

If you have any questions on a specific river; please call the shop for more info.  970-385-4081

• · San Juan River, New Mexico – Midges, annelids, aquatic worms, scuds, Leeches, BWO’s, baitfish.
• · Animas – Caddis nymphs, Midges, Sculpins, Aquatic Worms, Blue Winged Olives, Stonefly Nymphs, baitfish.
• · Upper San Juan – Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Aquatic Worms, stonefly nymphs, baitfish, Mayfly and Caddis Nymphs.
• · Rio Grande – Blue Winged Olives, Stonefly nymphs, Midges, Sculpins and Baitfish, Mayfly and Caddis Nymphs.
• · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Blue Winged Olives, Stonefly nymphs, Caddis nymphs, Midges, Mayfly Nymphs, baitfish.
• · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Blue Winged Olives, baitfish, Midges, Aquatic Worms, leeches.
• · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir – Stonefly Nymphs, Mayfly and Caddis Nymphs, Streamers, Midges.
• · Dolores River (Below Dam) –  Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Mayfly Nymphs, Sculpins and Baitfish.
• · High Country Lakes and Streams –  Terrestrials, baitfish, Blue Winged Olives
• · Local lakes – Baitfish, Crayfish, Midges and Chronomids, Leeches, Mayfly Nymphs, Dragonfly Nymphs, Damselfly Nymphs.

Recommended Fly Patterns

San Juan River:

• · Midges: Size 20-28 – Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac, Mole Fly, WD-40, Jujubee Midge, Midge Clusters, Duranglers Adult Midge, Griffith’s Gnat, Mole Fly
• · Baetis: Size 20-26 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, Brown Baetis Nymph, BWO Film Critic.
• · Annelids:  Red Sparkle Worm, Red and Orange annelids, Squirmy Wormy, Chamos Leech, SJ Worm in Red, Brown, Pink, and Orange
• · Trout Egg Patterns: Size 12-16 – Pink, Yellow, Peach, Cream
• · Scuds: Ray Charles, Grey Flashback Scud, Olive Flashback Scud
• · Leeches and Streamers: Size 8-14 – Olive, Blood Leech, and Black Simi- Seal Leeches, Bunny Leeches, Buggers, Goat Leech, Cheech Leech

 Animas, Piedra, Upper San Juan, and SW CO rivers:

• · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 6-16 –  20 Incher, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone, Dirty Bird
• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddistrophic Pupa, , Hares Ear, Cased Caddis, Bubbleback Caddis, GTI Caddis
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Rubberlegs Hare’s Ear, Copper John, Rainbow Warrior, Pycho Prince
• · Baetis Nymphs: Size 18-22 – Juju Baetis, Money Shot Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Baetis Dries: Size 18-22 BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, BWO Foam Emerger, BWO Comparadun
• · Midge Nymphs: Size 18-22: Jujubee Midge, Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac Pupa, Zebra Midge
• · Midge Dries: Griffith Gnat, Stuck in the Shuck Midge, Mole Fly, Duranglers Adult Midge
• · Sculpin Patterns – Black and olive Sculpzilla, Circus Peanut, Wool Sculpin, The One Sculpin, Near Nuff Sculpin
• · Streamers – Black and Olive Krystal Buggers, Josh’s Ziwi, Circus Peanut, Cheech Leech, Double Gonga, Meat Whistle.

Rio Grande:

• · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 2-14 –  Hairy Stone, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone, Prince Nymph.
• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddisstrophic Pupa, Cased Caddis, GTI Caddis
• · Baetis Nymphs: Size 18-22 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Baetis Dries: Size 18-22 BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, BWO Foam Emerger, BWO Comparadun
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Red and black Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear
• · Midge Nymphs: Size 18-22: Jujubee Midge, Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac Pupa
• · Midge Dries: Griffith Gnat, Stuck in the Shuck Midge, Mole Fly, Duranglers Adult Midge
• · Streamers – Krystal Buggers, Sculpzilla, Circus Peanut, The One Sculpin, Meat Whistle, Cheech Leech, Josh’s Ziwi

Lower Dolores:

• · Baetis Nymphs: Size 18-22 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Baetis Dries: Size 18-22 BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, BWO Foam Emerger, BWO Comparadun
• · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40, Griffith Gnat, Biot Midge Dry, Adult Midge
• · Streamers: Simi Seal Leeches, Buggers, Snot Rocket

 Lakes

• · Trout – Sowbugs, Leech patterns, chronomids, small baitfish and streamers, Simi Seal Leeches.  Barry’s Carp Bitters

High Country:

Our high country is thawing out.  Attractor dry droppers are going to be the ticket right now, but make sure you get that dropper to where the fish are. Or you could just plan for this summer by checking out our guide to fly fishing the high country.