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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluctuating with runoff | The Flows have just bumped and fishing is good at these flows!
Classic junk: worms, eggs, and leeches have still been doing work. The midge factory has stepped down in size, so some pupa in 22 to 26s are in order. Midge and Baetis dry flies will find some fish in the afternoons. |
Midges 22-26: Black Flash Midge Pupa, Sidewinder Midge Pupa, Tav’s Big Mac, Disco Midge, CDC Midge Dry, Parachute Adams.
San Juan Worms: Red, Wine, Orange. Red and Orange Annelids. Egg Patterns. Baetis: Brown Baetis Nymph 20-24, Split Back BWO 20-22, Parachute Adams and BWO Comparadun 20-24. Simi seal leeches, buggers. White Streamers like a Flash Fry and Galloups Flatliner. |
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?
| Water Conditions | Rising/Falling | Fishing Conditions | Patterns/Bug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coming up with spring! | Runoff has arrived and is ramping up. Water will be off color, but still may have some visibility.
Float fishing is picking up. Streamers and bigger nymph rigs will be key right now. |
Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-14, Pat’s Rubberlegs 6-10, 20 Incher Stone 8-10. Euro Nymph Jigs 14-18. Green or Chartreuse Caddis Larva 14-16: Graphic Caddis, McPhail Caddis Pupa, Deep 6 Caddis Pupa
Streamers: Meat Whistle, Complex Twist Bugger, Rubber Bugger, Galloup’s Mini Dungeon |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising | Runoff has arrived on the upper SJ. Water will be high, off color, and cold. Fishing will be ok, not great…yet.
Streamers and stonefly nymph rigs will be the go-to. |
Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 6-12 or Jigged Pats 10, 20 Incher 8-10, Rio’s Rain Drop, and other Euro Nymph Jigs 10-16.
Streamers: Sparkle Minnow, Kreelex, Complex Twist Bugger, Rubber Bugger, Galloup’s Mini Dungeon |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising | It’s runoff time. Stonefly nymphs are your friend in the high and dirty water.
Williams Creek may be an option with nymph and Euro rigs. |
Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 6-12 or Jigged Pats 10, 20 Incher 8-10. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Rising | Below, the flows have been bumped up and fishing is really good with standard nymph rigs…#14 Prince always.
Above, the river has started to flow with spring and is rising. It will be cold, so fish deep nymphs. Euro rigs will be a good option. |
Nymphs: Prince Nymphs 12-16, Brown Wired Stone 10, Copper John 12-18, Pats Rubberlegs. Pheasant Tails 16-20, Zebra Midge 18-22, SJ Worms. Tungsten CDC FB Pheasant Tail 14-16, Two Bit Hooker 16-20, Juan’s Sniper Baetis 20. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Low |
Flows have been dropped and fish will be SPOOKY. Small bugs with fish in likely holes.
A streamer may find you a few fish. |
Nymphs: Silver Bead Rainbow Warrior 16-22, Killer May 18-24, Juan’s Sniper Baeits 20-24, Disco Midge 18-22, RS-2s 18-22, Tav’s Big Mac Pupa Grey and Black, RS-2 20-24.
Dries: Parachute Adams 20-24, Griffith Gnat 20-24. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising | The upper D is high, but fishing may be decent with nymphs and streamers. Stonefly nymphs will be your friend in the deeper water. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Copper Johns 12-18, Hare’s Ear, Pat’s Rubberlegs, Pheasant Tails.
Streamers: Buggers, Natural Mini Sculpins, Meat Whistle, Sculpinator, Heisenberg
|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 332 CFS (30 Mile)
1100 CFS (Wagon Wheel) |
Rising | The Rio is fishing with streamers, nymphs, and the remaining few BWOs. With increasing flows, stonefly nymphs and dark streamers are key. Watch the flows and on a few days of dropping trend, fishing can be great. Need a guide?
If you only had one fly: Pat’s Rubblerlegs |
Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 6-12 or Jigged Pats 10, 20 Incher 8-10, Brown or Olive Micro May 18, Euro Nymph Jigs 10-16.
Dries: Barr’s BWO Vis-A-Dun 18-22, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22. Streamers: Sparkle Minnow, Kreelex, Complex Twist Bugger, Rubber Bugger, Galloup’s Mini Dungeon |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 186 above
138 cfs (Below Lemon) |
Finally coming up | Above Lemon, flows are high and nymphs will be your best bet.
Below, the flows are finally being increased for the time being. Fish will be hanging deep so use some heavy nymphs. |
Nymphs: Copper Johns 14-20, Hare’s Ear 16-18, San Juan Worms, Jigged Frenchies, Prince nymphs.
A few streamers might be worth it: Simi seal Leeches, Buggers, Natural Mini Sculpins. |
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 | Rising | With spring here, the creeks are opening a little more each day, but also increasing flows. Coldwater means attractor nymphs. | Dries: Parachute Adams, Humpys, Wulffs, 16-20
Nymphs: Prince Nymphs, Zebra Midge, Pheasant tails, Hare’s Ears. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising | Flows are up and will be cold, large nymphs and streamers will be best. Water may be off color and dcold | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-18, Copper Johns 12-18, Hare’s Ear, Zebra Midge 18-20.
SJ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening up! | Most lakes are open except for the highest elevations. | It’s Navajo reservoir game time! Pike fishing has been decent, but smallmouth bass fishing has been on fire.
Vallecito, Lemon, Totten, Puett, McPhee are fishing good. Lakes up in elevation will also be opening up but the highest elevations may still have ice. |
Trout: Balanced Leeches 8-14, Chironomids 10-12 Scuds 18, Damselfly Nymphs 12.
Pike: EP Pike Fly, Engler’s Pike Fly. Dougie’s Perch, The Roamer Pike Fly. Bass: Olive, white, black, fire tiger colors of buggers, poppers, and steamers. Clousers, Low Fat Minnow, Trailer Trash Gurgler, Drop Dead Minnow. Carp: Barry’s Carp Fly, Carp Bitter, Hare’s Ear Nymph 10 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | Nymph rigs are your best bet with stoneflies, caddis, and still a few midges. Watch for some fish coming up to early season caddis or midges. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-14, Pat’s Rubberlegs 6-10, 20 Incher Stone 8-10. Euro Nymph Jigs 14-18. Green or Chartreuse Caddis Larva 14-16: Graphic Caddis, McPhail Caddis Pupa, Deep 6 Caddis Pupa.
Caddis dries 14-18: Peacock Caddis, Parachute Caddis, Elk Hair skittered.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | With the flows increased, fishing has gotten better…but bugs are still small. Classic tailwater stuff: midges and baetis. | Midges 18-24: Sidewinder Midge Pupa, Tav’s Big Mac, Jujubee Midge. Midge Dries: Duranglers Adult Midge, CDC Biot Midge, Midge Dry.
San Juan Worms, Red, Wine, Orange. Red and Orange Annelids, and Chamois leeches. Thread Baetis, Jujubaetis. RS-2 Foam Wing Emerger #20-24, Killer Mayfly #22-24, Brown Baetis Nymph #20-24 |
