Updated 2/20/2019

Make sure you also watch our recent Animas Lunch Report for a weekly recap!

Contact Duranglers for up to the minute information

San Juan River in New Mexico Real-time River Data

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?

Buck San Juan River

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
289 cfs	Steady	Navajo lake is turning over, which is causing discoloration in the Quality Waters. This should be no deterrent for the winter fly angler as fishing has still been fantastic with leeches, annelids, and midges. Off-color water provides a great opportunity to size up in tippet and bugs!	Midges 20-24: 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 #14-20. Red and Orange Annelids #18-22, and Chamois leeches. Leeches: Simi Seal Leech, Rabbit Leech, Goat Leech.

Animas River Real-time River Data

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.

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
180 cfs	Steady	Fishing is ok, ice is on the water, but some fish are being caught. Heavy nymph rigs are your best bet, but don’t be afraid of a slow streamer either. Evening temps have dropped, and any fish will be very sluggish. There has been some fish stocking this fall and winter too.	Small mayfly/midge nymph rigs, would be our go-to. Pheasant Tails, Rainbow Warriors, and Brown Baetis Nymph in sizes 18-22. Midges in size 18-20: Disco Midge, Mercury Midge, Black Midge Pupa. Streamers: JJ Sparkle Minnow, Meat Whistles, Dungeons in White and Black

San Juan River in Colorado Real-time River Data

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.

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
44.4 cfs	Steady	Winter temps hold sluggish fish and icy banks, but with the hot springs in Pagosa, warmer waters can be found. Fish deep running nymph rigs for fish. below the local hot springs. Water above the hot springs is frozen over and not currently accessible.	Pat’s Rubberlegs, 20 Incher, Sparkle Stone, Atomic Stone, Brown Wired Stone in sizes #8-12. BH Copper John, Psycho Prince, Hot Wire Prince, Prince Nymph, GTI Caddis #14-18. Midges in size 18-20: Disco Midge, Mercury Midge, Black Midge Pupa.

Piedra River Real-time River Data

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!

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bugs
Ice	Ice	The Piedra will be mostly frozen, wait for spring.

Los Pinos River Real-time River Data

This is the section below Vallecito Reservoir. 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 if you take a guide trip with Duranglers!

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
Low and Icy	Ice	Wait for spring, mostly frozen.	Nymphs: Little Black Sloan, Brown Wired Stone, Copper John, Pheasant Tail, Z-Wing Caddis, RS-2, Rubber Legs Hares Ear. Midges in size 18-20: Disco Midge, Mercury Midge, Black Midge Pupa.

Dolores River Below McPhee Real-time River Data

The Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir doesn’t get allocated enough water to blossum into the river it should be. Keep an eye on the little water it is getting and remember every drop counts!

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
29.1 cfs	Low Winter	Low winter flows make for tougher fishing, but some can be caught. Make sure you make stealthy approaches with light tippet. Midges will be your best bet. The Forest Service gate is closed, so be prepared to walk from there.	BWO Nymphs: Tav’s Fluff Baetis, Tungsten CDC FB Pheasant Tail, Two Bit Hooker. Midges: Mercury Midge, Bling Midge, Flash Midge Pupa, CDC Midge Dry.

Dolores River Above McPhee Real-time River Data

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.

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug40
Ice	Ice	Flows are low and ice is covering the river. Fish will be tough	N/A

Rio Grande (30 mile /Wagon Wheel)Real-time River Data

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.

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
Ice	Frozen	Totally frozen, fishing is tough.	N/A

Florida River Real-time River Data

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.

The Stupid Fast Caddis Success

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
Frozen Above/ 7.21 cfs (Below Lemon)	Low and frozen	Frozen and low, fishing is very tough	Wait for spring.

Creeks

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. Colorado Creek Trout

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
N/A	Frozen	Most high country creeks and lakes will be iced over and settling into the winter sleep. Unless you can find good open water, wait until spring.	Attractor dries such as the Hippy Stomper, Royal Wulff, Stimulators, and Humpies. Dropper Nymphs: Prince Nymphs, Copper Johns, Pheasant tails, Hare’s Ears.

San MiguelReal-time River Data

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.

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
Ice	Ice	Lower, cold water, will be great for nymph fishing game. Look for deep, open sections where they present themselves and get down!	Nymphs: Copper Johns, Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ear, and Prince Nymphs, Two Bit Hooker, Pats Rubber Legs, Little Black Sloan Miges: Mercury Midge, Bling Midge, Flash Midge Pupa, CDC Midge Dry.

Lakes/Ponds

Our local lakes and ponds hold an abundance of trout, pike, bass, and many other species of gamefish.

Vallecito Reservoir (Pike, Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Lemon Reservoir (Trout, Kokanee Salmon)
Navajo Reservoir (Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Carp, Trout, Catfish)
Puett Reservor (Pike, Smallmouth Bass)
McPhee Reservoir (Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Crappie, Walleye, Bluegill)
Pastorius Reservoir (Bass, Trout, Panfish)
Echo Lake (Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Trout)
Summit Reservoir (Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, Trout, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Crappie)
Totten Reservor (Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Crappie)
Haviland Lake (Rainbow and Brook Trout)
High country lakes (Trout)

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
	Ice	All but Navajo are frozen, try ice fishing. Navajo is fishing slow for pike if you fish deep and slow	Trout-Olive buggers, Baitfish patterns, damsels, Simi-Seal leeches. Near Nuff Crayfish, Carp Bitter. Bass-Clousers, Buggers, Meat Whistle, Near Nuff Sculpin, Black and Purple Grim Reapers, Stay Hungry Perch. Rainey’s Bubblehead Popper. Pike- Large 6-10 inch streamers such as Magnum Baitfish, Pike Snake, and Engler’s Pike Fly. Pike Muddlers. Carp – Near Nuff Crayfish, Near Nuff Sculpin, Barry’s Carp Bitters, Barry’s Carp Fly…dries such as Yager’s 409. Through the Ice – Variety of Scuds, Sow Bugs, Chironomid Variations, SJ Worms

Gunnison (Black Canyon)Real-time River Data

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!

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
470 cfs	Steady	Flows are low and wade fishing is decent. Watch for ice, but fish nymph rigs deep. Streamers may also pull a fish or two.	BWO Nymphs: Sniper Baetis, Pheasant Tails, Micro Mayfly Olive, Two Bit Hooker Red, Rainbow Warrior. Stupid Fast Caddis #16-18. Midges in size 18-20: Disco Midge, Mercury Midge, Black Midge Pupa. Stonefly Nymphs: Pat’s Rubberlegs, Wired, Stone, Sparkle Stone, Hot Wire Prince, and 20 inchers. Streamers such as: Cheech Leech, Triple Double Rainbow, Animas River Special, Lunch Money.

UncompaghreReal-time River Data

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.

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
44.1 cfs	Low and Steady	Fish will be stacked up but spooky. Be stealthy like a hunter and you may find big fish. Make the best presentation possible, or your flies will be ignored… Midges are showing.	Eggs, leeches, and San Juan Worms patterns. Midges: Durangler’s Midge Pupa and Dry. RS-2 Disco Midge, Sproat midge Dry, Miracle Nymph. Flash Midge Pupa, Flashback WD-40. BWOs: Thread Baetis, Split Flag Baetis, Barrs Vis-A-Dun, Jujubaetis #18-24 Leeches: Simi Seal Leech, Rabbit Leech, Goat Leech.

	Wednesday 02/20 100% Snow Snow. Lows overnight in the mid teens.
	Thursday 02/21 90% Snow Snow likely. High 28F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.
	Friday 02/22 80% Snow Snow during the morning will give way to lingering snow showers during the afternoon. High 31F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.

	Wednesday 02/20 60% Snow Showers Chance of a few snow showers. Lows overnight in the low 20s.
	Thursday 02/21 50% Snow Showers Variable clouds with snow showers. High 37F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
	Friday 02/22 60% Snow Showers Occasional snow showers. High 36F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.

Durango Area Rivers Report

Updated 2/20/2019

San MiguelReal-time River Data

Gunnison (Black Canyon)Real-time River Data

UncompaghreReal-time River Data