The Cusp of Summer – Duranglers May Fly Fishing Report

The Cusp of Summer – Duranglers May Fly Fishing Report

 

It is almost here, we can feel it in the air: summer.  Warm days, late nights, dry flies, and trout galore.  We are pretty excited to say the least.  We have seen a lot of great weather the past month (snow) so we are looking at a fairly fantastic water year.  Currently sitting at 92% of average snow pack, we also a few more rain storms (and possible snow storms in the high country) on the forecast.  May is known by many as a month of high water, but don’t fret; there are plenty of fishing options for May in the Durango area.

First, it should be noted that runoff coincides with pike season.  When those warm temps hit, the snow starts melting…but our reservoirs warm up.  When those stillwater temps reach 45 degrees, its gametime for pike.  With all the weather we had in April; our pike season has only really begun in the past week or so.  Pike on the fly is an extremely exciting endeavor, and one that should not be missed by any hardcore fly angler.

While many of our local rivers such as the Animas, upper San Juan, upper Dolores, and Piedra are feeling the effects of snow melt; this just means float season has begun.  Don’t be afraid of high and discolored water, a few cooler days can pause the snowmelt and bring about great fishing with big nymphs and streamers along the bank edges.

And if the high water of our freestones is just too much to handle, we still have the San Juan, Dolores, and Pine tailwaters that fish good through runoff.  Even though water may bump up, discoloration should be kept to a minimum.  With higher flows on tailwaters, trout tend to gorge themselves on all the food that is knocked loose.  This is especially true on the San Juan River.  After a few days of high flows on the Juan, the trout will become accustomed to the big CFS and fishing will ignite with annelids, worms, leeches, and midges.  Look for the big flows to start in the later part of the month, and they will last for about 3 weeks at 5000 cfs.  This is a fantastic time to float the San Juan and catch a ton of fish.  Not to mention that we have not seen flushing flows on the Juan in a few years.  These flows are fantastic for the resource as a whole and will ensure a great fishery for the rest of the year.

No matter where you fish this May make you stop in the shop or give us a call for any up to date information.

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, Stonefly Dries, Caddis nymphs, Mayfly Nymphs, baitfish.
• · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Blue Winged Olives, baitfish, Caddis, 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, PMDS, Hoppers, 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
• · Stonefly Dries: Chubby Chernoyble, Clarks Stonefly, Fluttering Stone, Golden El Camino
• · 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.