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Not sure what to bring for your trip? Well take the guesswork out of what flies you will need on our local waters with a custom fly assortment for our local rivers. Custom assembled for where and when you will be fishing!
The Quality Water section of the San Juan River below Navajo Reservoir is arguably the best trout river in the world. The San Juan offers big fish…lots of them, and you can catch them 365 days a year! Need a guide?
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NM
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Steady, winter flows of 350 or so | It’s winter round these parts and the San Juan Quality Waters is one of the only options for wetting a line.
Your best bet is an attractor junk fly followed by a baetis nymph or midge pupa. The lake is beginning to turn over, but fishing remains good. There are still some baetis and midge hatches causing fish to look up, so be prepared with a few dries. |
Attractor nymphs: Leeches, San Juan Worms, Eggs, Annelids in 18-22.
Midges 20-26: Black Flash Midge Pupa, Tav’s Big Mac, Bling Midge, Grey and Olive Midge Pupa Midge Dries: Griffith Gnat 18-22, Bunny Midge 20-24. BWO Nymphs: Foam Wing RS-2s 20-24, Killer May 20-24, Juan’s Sniper Baetis 22-24, Juan’s Jedi Master 22-24, All Flavors of WD-40s #20-24. BWO Dries #20-24: BWO Extended Body, Barr’s Vis-A-Dun, Juan’s Smoke Jumper Baetis. |
One of the last free-flowing rivers in the state of Colorado, the Animas is a unique and rare treasure. With the newest and one of the best Gold Medal Water sections in Colorado, the Animas is a river that should be on your list of places to fish. Need a guide?
Check out our weekly updated Animas Lunch Report too!
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dropping | Winter on the Animas has begun. With cold temps rolling in this week, expect fishing to slow down. Trout will be in deep sections and you will probably need to hit them in the face with a well-placed nymph rig in order to hook a few. Dial in your weight and work every hole well before moving on. | Nymphs: Pheasant tails 18-22, Hydropsyche Caddis nymph 14-16. Killer May 10-24, Juan’s Jedi Master 20, Juju Baetis 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Pats Rubberlegs 8-12, Blue Copper John 16-18, Flash Midge Pupa 18-22. |
Flowing through Pagosa Springs on its way to Navajo Reservoir, the “upper” San Juan is a good freestone river with good caddis and stonefly hatches.
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
SAN JUAN RIVER AT PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO
|
Falling | The upper San Juan around Pagosa is an interesting winter fishery as hot spring inflows help water temps. It’s still winter fishing, so you will need to dial your nymph rig just right to catch something, but the warm water helps. Smaller nymphs will be your friend. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 14-18, Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12 or Jigged Pats 8-12, Black and Blue Copper Johns 14-18, Pheasant tails 18-22, Juju Baetis 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Flash Midge Pupa 18-22. |
Spilling out of the Weimunuche wilderness, this classic trout stream offer good dry fly opportunities and a surprising diversity of fishing opportunities and a surprising diversity of fish. Duranglers also has some outstanding guided private water on the Piedra!
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
PIEDRA RIVER NEAR ARBOLES, CO.
|
Falling | The Piedra drainage is mostly shut down through the winter due to ice and inaccessibility. There may be some open water to fish in the lower reaches of the Ute water. Nymphs and streamers my friend. | Nymphs: Duracell Jig 12-14, Orange Crush 14-16, Prince nymphs 10-16, Runt Stone Golden 12-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 6-12, 20 Incher 10-14, Pheasant Tails 16-20,
Streamers: Buggers, Mini Dungeons. |
The section below Vallecito Reservoir is bordered by private property on both sides for its entire length below the reservoir, you can only fish it if you are lucky enough to own property on it OR you take a guide trip with Duranglers! The section above the Vallecito requires a 3 mile hike into the Weminuche Wilderness.
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
LOS PINOS RIVER NEAR IGNACIO, CO
24 cfs out of the dam |
Frozen and low | Above Vallecito, the river is going to be pretty much shut down with snow and ice. Below, flows will be low and the best bet may be the Ute water stretches. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 14-18, Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12 or Jigged Pats 8-12, Black and Blue Copper Johns 14-18, Pheasant tails 18-22, Juju Baetis 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Flash Midge Pupa 18-22. |
The Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir doesn’t get allocated enough water to blossom into the river it should be, but still remains a good river Keep an eye on the little water it is getting and remember every drop counts!
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
DOLORES RIVER NEAR SLICK ROCK, CO
|
Winter flows | Winter fishing on the Lower D can be fickle with low water, spooky fish, and limited access…but it still exists as this is a tailwater.
The gate will be closed so it is a 3-ish mile road hike to the dam. Midges and small mayfly nymphs with be a primary food source. Watch for shelf ice in the shade. |
Nymphs: Killer Mayfly 20-24, Pheasant Tails 18-22, Black Flash Midge Pupa 18-22, Tav’s Big Mac Pupa, RS-2 18-22, Splitback BWO Nymph 18-22, Juan’s Slim Shady 20-24.
Dries: Parachute Adams 20-24, Parachute, Sproat Midge 20-24, Bunny Midge 20-24, Griffith Gnats 18-24. |
This freestone river spills out of the high country and through a beautiful forested canyon. The limited access on the river should not be a deterent in exploring this great river.
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICE | Frozen. Fish a nymph rig in the open water you may find close to Dolores, otherwise wait for spring. | Nymphs: Prince Nymphs 14-18, Copper John 12-18, Pheasant Tails 16-20, Pickpocket 12-16, Duracell Jig 12-16, and other Euro Nymph Jigs 10-16.
Buggers. |
The Rio Grande is a classic western river. It is a great dry fly river with one of the best Salmonfly hatches in Colorado. The flow is partially controlled by a dam, but the many tributaries add significant flow during spring and wet weather. Need a guide?
| CFS | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICE (30 Mile)
134 CFS (Wagon Wheel) |
Falling | Now would not be a good time to fish the Rio. It’s winter and there will be lots of frozen water. Wait for spring, but if you can’t, find some open water and attempt to nymph it. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 12-18, Runt Stone Golden 12-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14, Flashback Pheasant Tail 14-20, Blowtorch Jig 14-16, Hydropsyche Caddis nymph 14-16. Splitback BWO Nymph 18-22, Juan’s Jedi Master 20, Juju Baetis 18-20. |
The difficult fly fishing on the Florida River will not be attractive to every angler, and beginners should take some time to hone their skills on other rivers before going there. Those who are willing to put in the necessary effort to discover its scenic wonders, as well as its secret trout holes, will be amply rewarded with much more than wild trout.
| CFS | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 CFS above
12 CFS (Below Lemon) |
Dropping | Above lemon, the last of the fall fishing will be had. Fishing will be tough and access difficult.
Below Lemon, flows are low and lots of ice will be around. Wait for spring |
Nymphs: Copper Johns 14-20, Hare’s Ear 16-18, Prince nymphs 10-16, Czechmate 14-16, Flashback Pheasant Tail 16-20, Duracell Jig 12-16.
Streamers: Buggers, Skully Bugger, Kreelex, Flash Fry.
|
Fishing Durango Colorado is very numerous and diverse. There is, of course, the famous San Juan River below Navajo Dam along with the larger freestone rivers like the Animas, Piedra, and Dolores. But there are also more small mountain streams than can be fished in a lifetime.
| CFS | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Falling/Low | It’s winter. Go skiing. | Dries: Parachute Adams, Humpy’s, Wulffs, 16-20, Rio’s Dry Humper 12-16, Stimulators 14-16, Amy’s Ant 14, Chubbies 12-16. Ants and Beetles!
Nymphs: Zebra Midge 18-20, Micro May 16-20, Pheasant Tails 18-20. |
Flowing out of the “hip” town of Telluride, the San Miguel is a small river/ large stream that offers some great fishing and pretty good access.
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bugs |
|---|---|---|---|
SAN MIGUEL RIVER NEAR PLACERVILLE, CO
|
Icy bruv | Find a tailwater or go skiing. It’s winter after all. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Runt Stone Golden 12-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12, 20 Incher 10-14, Flashback Pheasant Tail 14-20, Blowtorch Jig 14-16, San Juan Worms. |
Our local lakes and ponds hold an abundance of trout, pike, bass, and many other species of gamefish. Need a guide?
| CFS | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a | Freezing | Read our Beginner’s Guide to Stillwater Fishing!
It’s almost winter. Fishing on our lakes is slowing down, but ice fishing isn’t quite there just yet. Higher elevation lakes will freeze first. |
Pike: Yard Sale, Engler’s Pike Fly, Nayat Pike Fly, EP Pike Fly,
Trout: Chironomids, Scuds, Guide’s Choice Hares Ear, Balanced Leech, Simi Seal Leeches. Bass: Belly Scratcher Minnow, Mardi Craw, RIOs Cray Cray, Meat Whistle. Carp: Belly Crawl Nymph, Carpnasty, Carp Crack, Damsel Nymphs, Carp Hybrid |
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison River offers one of the greatest wilderness/fishing experiences in the lower 48. The river has a good population of rainbows and brown and some of the best hatches around. Every angler should put our three-day float on their “places to fish before I die” list! Need a guide?
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
GUNNISON RIVER BELOW GUNNISON TUNNEL, CO
|
Being dropped | Winter fishing on the Gunnison will mean nymph rigs and the occasional streamer twitched slow. An attractor nymph followed by a smaller midge or baetis is your best bet.
There may be some decent midge hatches. |
Nymphs: Prince nymphs 14-18, Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12 or Jigged Pats 8-12, Black and Blue Copper Johns 14-18, Pheasant tails 18-22, Juju Baetis 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Flash Midge Pupa 18-22.
Dries: Griffith Gnat 18-22, Sproat Midge 20-22, Parachute Adams 18-24 Streamers: Sculpinator, El Sculpito, Dungeons, Galloup’s Barely Legal, Galloup’s Butt Sump. |
The newest tailwater fishery in the state. The Unc. (we like to call it) has two faces. The overly manicured part of the river is a little like fishing at Disneyland. The “wild” section is a real river.
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BELOW RIDGWAY RESERVOIR, CO
|
Being bumped up | Low water means being sneaky. Leeches, worms, midges, and the occasional caddis larva are on the menu. This is a winter tailwater fishery right now, so you will have to get your drifts just right. | Annelids in 18-22. San Juan Worms, Egg patterns, Bunny Leeches 8-12 in White, Grey, Olive, Black.
Midges 20-26: Black Flash Midge Pupa, Tav’s Big Mac, Bling Midge. Nymphs: Foam Wing RS-2s 20-24, Killer May 20-24, Juan’s Sniper Baetis 22-24, Juan’s Jedi Master 22-24, Juan’s Olive Slim Shady 20-24. |
