River Conditions in January For the Animas River; the month of January usually is just marginal…however, thanks to the warmer days we have been having lately, it may shape up to be a bit better than that. We have had a few weeks of temps reaching up to the 40s, so get out if you…
Fishing Conditions in December Winter is coming…and for us it is already here. Snow has been flying and the temps have been dropping. The holiday season is in full swing and it is a great time to get out on the water. Now granted, fishing access is limited this time of year; but due to…
River Conditions in November “Remember, remember the fish of November…” Frosty autumn mornings; with each day giving way to the starkness of winter. Positioned center stream, casting at nothing in particular with only your deeper contemplations do keep you company. This is November. Even if the fishing has not slowed down, it feels right to…
Every year, first weekend of October, I take a trip. The purpose of this trip has always been to meet up with close friends from the front range and fish as much as we can for as long as we can. The meet up point is always in Colorado, but it changes every year. This…
River Conditions in October October is here, and for us it is a time to slow down. A time to take inventory from the past busy season. A time to catch our breath, maybe even head to far away waters for a chance at some steel. October is a good time to be in Durango,…
Well we’ve sure gotten what we wished for (and then some) in terms of rain! But that’s a good thing… Fall should be great. Lets all pray for good bugs! The Animas is at 1,130cfs, as I type, and dropping into premo streamer conditions. Get out your 6 and 7 weights, heavy tippet, and big…
Across the West, the color purple has certainly been the popular tendency of many fly anglers. Dries, Nymphs, Streamers, you name it. Some say the colors on the spectrum around bluish/purple are the last to lose their color at depth. Some say it’s just something new the fish haven’t seen. Some say it’s just a…
River Conditions in September What does September mean to you? Cooling temps? Falling leaves? Football? Here in Durango it is what we know as a shoulder season. A shoulder between the height of summer and winter. Between the best summer dry fly fishing and powder skiing. A time of year where our tourism drops off…
River Conditions in August August, the final month of summer break before it’s back to school, falling leaves, and brisk weather…but lets not get ahead of ourselves, let’s discuss the fishing here in the southwest part of the state right now! It may be good to think of August as the culmination of the first 2/3rds…
Had the opportunity to head out for 2 days with the fine fellows over at Trout Bout. Through a steep hike, chubby chernobyls in box, Sage Circa in hand, cutties in wait, and clouds full of rain; a friendship was formed. These photos depict the beauty of America’s wildlands as well as something else just as rare…
“These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.” -Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting What is it that you could possibly be sorry for after? Well for one, thinking that the dog days of summer, low water, and high nineties heat…
River Conditions in June If ever there was a time to be fishing in or around Durango; June is it. Temps are rising, run off is subsiding, water clarity improving, float season in full effect, major hatches popping, and the fish are ready to eat! Some would even argue that June is the best month for fly…
River Conditions in May Spring is here, and what a short one it will be. Here in Southwest Colorado, it tends to go from cold and snow to 80-degree temps in about 3 seconds. So really it feels more like winter ended a few days ago and spring is over. As I write this, temps…
This year’s Fly Fishing Festival was a great success. On April 5th and 6th, we were treated with tying demos, classes on stream side entomology, casting lessons, prize drawings, and the Fly Fishing Film tour. For beginning fly caster to the expert guide; there was something for everyone to enjoy and learn. We are already…
River Conditions in April April is here and for us here in Durango, that means unexpected weather. It is possible to see a snowstorm with temps in the 20s and 30s, wind and rain (This is happening right now in fact), or a string of sunny days in the 80s. Be prepared for anything! With fluctuating weather patterns…
River Conditions in March March is the month Southwest Colorado starts to come alive from the winter slump. The fishing on the Animas will start to pick up immensely with the onset of the spring temps. Fish will begin to move off of the bottom of the deepest pools into the more swift riffles and runs. Consistent hatches…
Check out this short clip of our 2012 summer float season on the Rio Grande River. This river is truly a dry fly paradise and it certainly seems that the fish prefer to eat on top. Hatches of stoneflies, caddis, green drakes, PMDs, yellow stones, grey drakes and the famous salmonfly occur throughout our floating season….and…
River Conditions in February Most of our local rivers are under ice and snow, however the Animas has started to clear up considerably. Fishing can be slow, but a string of warmer days in the high 30’s will cause the fishing to pick up. Don’t rule out a midge hatch to bring some fish…
Here are a few reasons why we love fishing the San Juan in winter. 1. Less people, you could even call it peaceful and quiet (except perhaps the occasional shotgun blast and falling duck). 2. The water is the same temp as it was in June, which might just be warmer than the air temp.…
Fall, or shoulder season as it is known here in Durango, is a time when fly shop staff and guides cut out to do some fishing of their own. With the busy season over, fewer trips lined up on the guide trip calendar, and those home maintenance projects nagging ; it is time say screw…
Mountain living: peaceful, serine, secluded, safe. I hear the phrase “the end is nigh” more and more these days. Ok so maybe I don’t hear that exact statement, but something similar is often slipped into daily conversation regarding the state of our world. Those that make this claim go on to explain that when the…
What’s up blogosphere? I thought I would put a word in here and introduce myself. My name is Andy and I will be a frequent contributor to the Duranglers blog. Some of you may have met me while in the shop, if not, well then hopefully someday. I am a frequent lounge about at Duranglers,…
Area Waters: With the moderating temperatures and our current snowpack condition, we are seeing wonderful conditions on the Animas for streamer fishing. Numerous big fish are being caught by both wade and float anglers. One of our shop staff was out last evening wade fishing across from the Dog Park with a new pattern he’d…
Since the Forest Service opened the Hermosa Park Road on May 1, we now have access to the East Fork of Hermosa Creek. With the early snow melt the East Fork in the Catch and Release, Native Cutthroat section is beautifully clear and running nice and full. As a result the dry fly fishing…
