Duranglers September Report – The Million Dollar Month
September is the month of the San Juan Skyway and the Million Dollar Highway drive. While nonetheless beautiful every other month of the year, September is of course when the mountainsides of the San Juan Skyway bursts into the bright and luminous shade of yellow which almost requires sunglasses just to look at. While many folks who stop in the shop this month are just passing through on their travel along the San Juan Skyway, September in Durango is no less remarkable (or colorful) for the fly fishing opportunities.
If you are to get out on the water this month you may see far less anglers thanks to the start of school, the beginning of hunting seasons (did you get your tag?), and the general decline in tourism that this month brings. Less anglers mean less pressure, and less pressure (usually) means more fish. Currently, there is no less fishing opportunities than there was in July and August though, just less people.
Actually, there might be more fishing opportunities this month than the past two with the pike bite beginning to pick up again thanks to cooler weather in the evenings. Blue Winged Olives are also popping in droves on many of our local rivers such as the Animas, San Juan, Dolores, Rio Grande, Piedra, and Pine. September also marks the migration of kokanee salmon from many Colorado reservoirs into their corresponding inlet rivers. While the evenings are getting cooler, the high country is still wide open and fishing great throughout the day, again with far less people. Brown trout begin their yearly ritual of the pre-spawn protein load up and many large fish will be caught on streamers. It should also be noted that Capt. Mark Engler has be absolutely SLAYING smallmouth bass on poppers recently…but that is either hear nor there.
There is a boatload of fly fishing options right now. No matter where you go this September, make sure to call or 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’s, baitfish in the lower waters, hoppers.
- · Animas – Caddis nymphs, Midges, BWO’s, Tricos, Sculpins, Crayfish, Aquatic Worms, Hoppers.
- · Upper San Juan – Terrestrials and Hoppers, Midges, BWO’s, Aquatic Worms, stonefly nymphs, baitfish.
- · Rio Grande – Stonefly nymphs, BWO’s, PMDs, Sculpins and Baitfish.
- · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Hoppers, Stonefly nymphs, Caddis, Midges, BWO’s.
- · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Hoppers, Mayfly Nymphs, Caddis, baitfish, BWO’s, Aquatic Worms, leeches.
- · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir – Stonefly Nymphs, BWO’s, Streamers, Caddis, Terrestrials.
- · Dolores River (Below Dam) – Terrestrials and Hoppers! Midges, BWO’s, Caddis.
- · 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, Baitfish.
Recommended Fly Patterns
San Juan River:
- · Midges: Size 24-30 – 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, 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 White Simi- Seal Leeches, Bunny Leeches, Buggers, Goat Leech
- · Terrestrials: Glitter Ant 14, Black Stimulator size 14-16, Sweetgrass Hopper 8-12, Parachute Hopper 8-12
- · Caddis Dries – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, EZ Caddis, EC Caddis, Foam Body 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 BWO, RS-2, Trico Nymph
- · Mayfly Dries: Size 16-22: BWO Vis-A-Dun, BWO Silhouette Dun, Trico Spinner
- · 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
- · 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: Size 16-22: PMD Vis-A-Dun, PMD Silhouette Dun, Trico Spinner
- · 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
- · Caddis Dries – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, EZ Caddis, Parachute Caddis
- · BWO Dries: Barr’s Vis-a-Dun BWO, Sparkle Dun, Snowshoe Dun, Hackle Stacker, Bat Wing Emerger
- · Hoppers: Sweetgrass Hopper, Dry Muddler, Charlie Boy Hopper, Tantrum Hopper
- · Streamers: Simi Seal Leeches, Buggers, Snot Rocket
Lakes
- · Trout – Sowbugs, Leech patterns, chronomids, small baitfish and streamers, Simi Seal Leeches, callibaetis nymphs and dries.
- · Smallmouth bass – Meat Whistle, Grim Reaper Bass Fly, Clouser Minnows, Poppers
- · Pike: Magnum Baitfish, Engler’s Pike Fly, Pike Snake
High Country:
- · Attractor dries: Humpies, Stimulators, Royal Wulff, Royal Chubby, H&L Variants
- · 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!
