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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 | Flows are just under 600 and fishing has been good.
It’s late summer, and we are looking forward to a good fall with daily baetis and midge hatches in the afternoons. Prep with some dry flies, but you will want to start with a classic SJ nymph set up with San Juan Worms, midges, and baetis nymphs. Having a few terrestrials over the next month would be a good plan too |
Midges 22-26: 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. Annelids in 18-22. San Juan Worms Terrestrials: Peacock Caddis 14-16, Glitter Ant 16, Black Chubbies or Stimulators 10-16. |
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 | Flows are dropping after our heavy rains a few weeks ago, and fishing is starting to get good for late summer. Water temps are down a few degrees thankfully. BWOs will be showing up soon, but for now small mayfly nymphs will be key. Hopper/Dropper rigs or nymph rigs with small bug should be your go-to. Mornings and evenings may produce a sweet streamer bite too.
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Nymphs: Pheasant tails 18-20, TBH Jig Caddis 14-18, Hydropsyche Caddis nymph 14-16. Splitback BWO Nymph 18-22, Juan’s Jedi Master 20, Juju Baetis 18-20, Charlie Craven’s Lil Bit 18-20.
Dries: BWO Extended Body18-20, Barr’s Vis-A-Dun 18-20, Juan’s Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-20. Hoppers: Morrish Hopper 8-12, Dry Muddler 8-12, Sweetgrass Hopper 10-14. |
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
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Falling | Fishing in Pagosa can be tough this time of year…the rubber hatch is on for a little while longer.
If you want to skip the tubers, go at first light, and then head into the high country once it gets busy. |
Nymphs: Prince nymphs 12-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 4-8 or Jigged Pats 8-12, Black and Copper Copper Johns 12-16, 20 Incher 10-14, Deep Cleaner Nymph 10.
Dries: Parachute Adams 14-20, Stimulators 10-14, Amy’s Ant 10-14, Chubbies 10-14, Peacock Caddis 14-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falling | Now is a pretty dang good time to fish the Piedra. Fishing has been good, but watch those afternoon temps.
Morning dry fly fishing has been good with big attractor dries and spruce moth patterns. Bust out a stonefly dropper in the pocket water if needed. |
Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Runt Stone Golden 12-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 6-12, 20 Incher 10-14, Flashback Pheasant Tail 14-20,
Dries: Parachute Adams 10-16, Stimulators 10-14, Amy’s Ant 10-14, Chubbies 6-12, Peacock Caddis 14-18, Elk Hair Caddis 10-14. |
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
642 cfs out of the dam |
Falling above Vallecito, steady below. | It’s late summer on the Pine. Upper reaches have been fishing good, but busy with traffic just inside the Wilderness boundary. Hike further and further for better fishing.
Below, fishing has been pretty solid with heavy nymph rigs in fast water, along with big dries. |
Nymphs: Prince Nymphs 12-16, Brown Wired Stone 10, Copper John 12-18, Pats Rubberlegs. Pheasant Tails 16-20, Pickpocket 12-16, Duracell Jig 12-16, and other Euro Nymph Jigs 10-16. San Juan Worms.
Dries: Parachute Adams 10-16, Stimulators 10-14, Amy’s Ant 10-14, Chubbies 6-12, Elk Hair Caddis 10-14, Little Hopper Juan 12, Morrish Hopper 10-12. |
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
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Steady | So the fishing over here kind of fell off. You may be walking a lot for a few fish. When you find one trout, you may find a few. Fishing may pick up closer to the dam.
That being said, all summer is hopper season on the Lower D. With clouds or rain, expect some mayflies to hatch as well! |
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 PMD Nymph 16-22, Juan’s Slim Shady 20-24.
Dries: Vis-a-Dun PMD16-20, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22, Parachute Adams 16-22, Parachute Baetis 18-20. PMD Pink Hairwing Dun 16-18. Hoppers 12-14: Panty Dropper Hopper, Morrish Hopper, Tan Sweetgrass Hopper, Lil Hopper Juan. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dropping | The Upper Dolores fishes much like a large creek in the summer, but fish can key in on hatches if they are thick enough. Big mayflies may be out, otherwise, throw some foam and a dropper. | 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.
Dries: Parachute Adams 12-18, Stimulators 12-16, Amy’s Ant 10-14, Chubbies 12-16, Elk Hair Caddis 10-14, Little Hopper Juan 12, Hairwing Green Drake 12, Green Drake High n’ Dry 12, Guide Chute Hare’s Ear 12-16. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 CFS (30 Mile)
234 CFS (Wagon Wheel) |
Falling | The float season on the Rio is done and it’s time for the wade anglers! Watch for hatches of Caddis, PMDs, or Tricos. There may also be spruce moths and hoppers starting to show. A dry/dropper combo is a hole-in-one. Be wary of afternoon water temps and head to the high country if they rise too far. | 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. Beadhead Green Drake Nymph 10-12.
Dries: Tan or Yellow Foamulator 10-14, Spruce Moth Patterns 10-14, Morrish Hopper 10-12, Vis-a-Dun PMD16-20, Parachute Adams 14-20, PMD Pink Hairwing Dun 16-18. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 CFS above
23 CFS (Below Lemon) |
Dropping | Flows are low above Lemon, and summer fishing is decent. Close to the campgrounds may see more pressure. Below Lemon, flows are being dropped. Just know that while it may be private water, not all of it is exclusive. Certain sections see more pressure than a lot of public water in our area. Dry/droppers will be your friend. | 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.
Dries: Foamulator 10-14, Spruce Moth Patterns 10-14, Morrish Hopper 10-12, Vis-a-Dun PMD16-20, Parachute Adams 14-20, PMD Pink Hairwing Dun 16-18. Streamers: Buggers, Skully Bugger, Kreelex, Flash Fry.
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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 creekin time. Get your hiking shoes and a few choice dry flies and hit the creeks. Cut of that dropper and stick to attractor dries for the most fun. | 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
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Rising with snowmelt | The flows on the San Miguel are rising and fishing may be tough with fast cold flows. Dropping a bigger nymph rig close to the banks/slower water may yield you a few fish. | 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.
Eggs and 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 | Rising | Read our Beginner’s Guide to Stillwater Fishing!
It’s game time for our local lakes! Trout are crushing Chironomids and leeches. Pike will be doing their spawn thing, but pre or post are always looking for a good solid meal. Bass fishing is starting to pick up with subsurface baitfish or crayfish imitations. |
Pike: Engler’s Pike Fly, Nayat Pike Fly, EP Pike Fly, Roamer Pike Fly.
Trout: Chironomids, Scuds, Guide’s Choice Hares Ear, RIO’s Gold Jigger, 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
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Steady | We are well into runoff season, so flows will be up and wading may be tough.
Don’t dispair, as fishing remains decent with good water clarity. |
Attractor Nymphs: Pats Rubberlegs 8-12, Duracell Jig 12-16, 12-14 20 Incher Stone, San Juan Worms, 10-14 Prince Nymph.
Midges: Zebra Midge or Poison Tung 18-22, Rainbow Warrior 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, Black Midge Pupa 18-22. Dries: Sproat Midge 20-24, Griffith Gnat 18-24 |
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
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Dropped | Flows are dropping, but are still good and fish are active and may eat emergers or dries.
An attractor or junk fly nymph followed by a small nymph or midge is a good-go. |
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. 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, Juan’s Olive Slim Shady 20-24. |
