Duranglers July Monthly Report – Dry or Die

Duranglers July Monthly Report – Dry or Die

Usually, July is known as the height of dry fly season here in Southwestern Colorado.  However, with all the moisture we received this year, dry fly season has just begun.  With so many hatches just kicking into gear with subsiding runoff, we are looking at a great month for the die hard dry fly junkie.  Quite honestly, the Rio float season is just getting really good with lots of bugs coming off and tons of fish looking up.  Float fishing the Rio Grande is an unforgettable opportunity and we do have a few open dates available in the next week.  This is a first come, first serve opportunity to have one of the best dry fly fishing experiences you can have in Colorado (or anywhere for that matter).  Contact us to book a float on the Rio Grande now!

The San Juan has been our constant producer and will continue throughout the next month.  Keep an eye on the forecast for the upcoming monsoon season rains if you want to skip the midge pupa.  With afternoon showers on the San Juan comes the ant fall…another dry fly junkie’s dream.  Thousands of ants wash into the river from the cliffs, and the trout respond accordingly.  Our other local Rivers such as the Pine, Piedra, Dolores, Animas, and Upper San Juan are all coming back into shape with a good showing of bugs and dropping levels.  Keep an eye on the flows and a good assortment of dries on hand.

Of course, July usually marks the beginning of our high country season, usually.  With the sheer amount of snow we received in May, many of the highest country lakes and creeks are still covered in a layer of ice and snow.  Don’t fret too much however, because these ice covered waters are above treeline.  Any watershed below treeline should be fishing great this time of year with attractor dries and terrestrials.  Once again, the dry fly fishing season is in.

No matter where you fish this time of year, stop in the shop for the most up to date report.

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, Flying Ants, BWO Nymphs, baitfish in the lower waters, hoppers.
• · Animas – Caddis nymphs and dries, stonefly nymphs, PMDs, Sculpins, Crayfish, Aquatic Worms, Hoppers.
• · Upper San Juan – Stoneflies, Caddis, Mayfly Nymphs, Green and Grey drakes, Aquatic Worms.
• · Rio Grande – Stonefly nymphs and dries, Salmonflies, Caddis, Drakes, PMDs, Sculpins and Baitfish.
• · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Stonefly nymphs and dries, Caddis, Green and Grey Drakes, PMDs, mayfly nymphs.
• · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Mayfly Nymphs, Caddis, baitfish, PMDS, Aquatic Worms, leeches.
• · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir – Stonefly Nymphs and Dries, PMDs, Streamers, Caddis, Terrestrials.
• · Dolores River (Below Dam) –  PMDs, BWO’s, Stoneflies, Caddis, Terrestrials and Hoppers.
• · High Country Lakes and Streams –  Small leeches, chronomids, midges, Terrestrials, Moths.
• · Local lakes – Leeches and baitfish for trout and Bass.  Chronomids, Callibaetis, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Crayfish,

 

Recommended Fly Patterns

San Juan River:

• · Midges: Size 20-30 – Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac, Desert Storm, WD-40, Jujubee Midge, Midge Clusters, Duranglers Adult Midge, Griffith’s Gnat, Red Hot
• · Baetis: Size 20-26 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, BWO Vis-A-Dun, Parachute Adams, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Annelids:  Red Sparkle Worm, Red and Orange annelids, Rootbeer annelid, Chamos Leech, SJ Worm in Red, Brown, Pink, and Orange
• · Scuds: Ray Charles
• · Leeches and Streamers: Size 8-14 – Olive, Blood Leech, and White Simi- Seal Leeches, Bunny Leeches, Buggers, Goat Leech
• · Terrestrials: Glitter Ant 14, Black Stimulator size 14-16, Dave’s Hopper 8-12, Parachute Hopper 8-12
• · Caddis Dries – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, EZ Caddis, Parachute Caddis

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

• · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 6-16 –  20 Incher, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone, Hairy Stone, Dirty Bird
• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddistrophic Pupa, , Hares Ear, Cased Caddis, Bubbleback Caddis, GTI Caddis
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Pheasant Tail Nymph, Rubberlegs Hare’s Ear, Brown Baetis Nymph, Juju PMD, RS-2,
• · Mayfly Dries: Green Drake Parawulff, Film Critic Green Drake, Green Drake Crippled Parachute, Graydrake Spinner, PMD Vis-A-Dun, PMD Silhouette Dun
• · Caddis Dries – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, EZ Caddis, Parachute Caddis, X-Caddis
• · Stonefly Dries – Chubby Chernobyl, Chernobyl Ant, Rogue Foam Stone, Parachute Madam-X
• · Sculpin Patterns – Black and olive Sculpzilla, Circus Peanut, Wool Sculpin, The One Sculpin, Near Nuff Sculpin
• · Crayfish Patterns – Magnum Super Bugger, Meat Whistle, Near Nuff Crayfish, Cray Cray Nabber, Barry’s Carp Bitter
• · Streamers – Black and Olive Krystal Buggers, Josh’s Ziwi, Circus Peanut, Cheech Leech, Double Gonga, Snot Rocket

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
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Red and black Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear
• · Mayfly Dries: Green Drake Parawulff, Film Critic Green Drake, Green Drake Crippled Parachute, Graydrake Spinner, PMD Vis-A-Dun, PMD Silhouette Dun
• · Stonefly Dries – Chubby Chernobyl, Chernobyl Ant, Rogue Foam Stone, Stimulators, Overstimulated Stone, Black El Camino
• · Caddis Dries – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, EZ Caddis, Parachute Caddis, X-Caddis
• · Streamers – Krystal Buggers, Sculpzilla, Circus Peanut, The One Sculpin, Meat Whistle, Cheech Leech, Josh’s Ziwi

Lower Dolores:

• · Mayfly Nymphs:  Pheasant Tail Nymph, Juju Baetis,  Brown Baetis Nymph, Juju PMD, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40, Griffith Gnat, Biot Midge Dry, Adult Midge
• · Caddis Dries – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, EZ Caddis, Parachute Caddis
• · PMD Dries – Barr’s PMD Vis-A-Dun, PMD Cripple, Parachute Adams
• · Stoneflies – Stimulators, Sparkle Stone, Pat’s Rubberlegs,
• · Hoppers: Chubby Chernobyl, Stimulator, Charlie Boy Hopper, Tantrum Hopper
• · Streamers: Simi Seal Leeches, Buggers, Snot Rocket

 

 Lakes

• · Trout – Sowbugs, Leech patterns, chronomids, small baitfish and streamers, callibaetis nymphs and dries.
• · Smallmouth bass – Meat Whistle, Grim Reaper Bass Fly, Clouser Minnows
• · Pike – Magnum Baitfish, Engler’s Pike Fly, Meat Whistle, Pike Snake, EP Pike Fly, Pike Poppers

 

High Country:

• · Attractor dries:  Humpies, Stimulators, Royal Wulff, Royal Chubby
• · Attractor nymphs:  Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Soft Hackle Wet Flies, Dirty Bird
• · Small streamers such as buggers and Simi-Seal Leeches

Plan for this summer by checking out our guide to fly fishing the high country!