Duranglers November Fishing Report – Creeping Winter

Duranglers November Fishing Report – Creeping Winter

From the much celebrated snow storm we had the past two days to a drop in temps, we are noticing it more and more: winter is creeping up on us.  Many of us have responded accordingly by throwing on an extra layer in the morning and working on our winterizing chores of splitting wood and tuning up vehicles.

Before the snow really flies and the ski slopes are at the top of everyone’s priority list, there is some good fishing that must be had this month.  First on our list is the San Juan River (when isn’t it first?).  With a forecast of sunny and mid 40s, we should expect to see some good hatches of midges and baetis coming off mid-day.  November is a sweet month to be on the San Juan River because we tend to find ourselves with large stretches of water all to ourselves.

In fact, having large stretches of water all to ourselves could be a theme for November.  The Animas can be particularly sweet in November when the mercury drops and everyone else is watching football.  Remember to go smaller with your bugs (unless you want to try a streamer slow and deep).

A few other options right now are the Lower Pine and Piedra on the Ute reservation as well as any kind of inlet you can find.  Big fish have been moving from lakes into feeder creeks and rivers for the past month or so.  Browns are spawning and the rainbows tend to follow and gorge themselves on eggs before the big freeze.

And, if you happen to be a severe creek junkie, you could always go toss small indicator rigs into deep, tight pools for small fish.  It may yield a few fish until the snow gets too deep.

 

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’s, baitfish.
• · Animas – Caddis nymphs, Midges, BWO’s, Sculpins, Aquatic Worms.
• · Upper San Juan – Midges, BWO’s, Aquatic Worms, stonefly nymphs, baitfish.
• · Rio Grande – Stonefly nymphs, BWO’s, Midges, Sculpins and Baitfish.
• · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Stonefly nymphs, Caddis nymphs, Midges, BWO’s.
• · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Mayfly Nymphs, baitfish, BWO’s, Midges, Aquatic Worms, leeches.
• · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir – Stonefly Nymphs, BWO’s, Streamers, Midges.
• · Dolores River (Below Dam) –  Midges, BWO’s, Mice, Sculpins and Baitfish.
• · High Country Lakes and Streams –  Small leeches, chronomids, Midges, Damselfly Nymphs, Scuds fished deep.
• · Local lakes – Leeches and baitfish for trout. Damselfly Nymphs, Scuds fished deep.

Recommended Fly Patterns

San Juan River:

• · Midges: Size 24-30 – Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac, Zebra Midge, WD-40, Jujubee Midge, Midge Clusters, Duranglers Adult Midge, Griffith’s Gnat,
• · Baetis: Size 20-26 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Annelids:  Red Sparkle Worm, Red and Orange annelids, Squirmy Wormy, Chamos Leech, SJ Worm in Red, Brown, Pink, and Orange
• · 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

 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:  Pheasant Tail Nymph, Rubberlegs Hare’s Ear, Brown Baetis Nymph, Juju BWO, RS-2, Trico Nymph
• · Mayfly Dries: Size 16-22: BWO Vis-A-Dun, BWO Silhouette Dun, Bat Wing Emerger
• · 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, 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
• · 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:

• · 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
• · BWO Dries: Barr’s Vis-a-Dun BWO, Sparkle Dun, Snowshoe Dun, Hackle Stacker, Bat Wing Emerger
• · 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:

• · Attractor dries:  16-20 – Humpies, Stimulators, Royal Wulff, Royal Chubby, H&L Variants, Purple Haze.
• · Attractor nymphs:  14-20 – Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Soft Hackle Wet Flies, Dirty Bird
• · Small streamers such as buggers and Simi-Seal Leeches