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
