Updated 1/10/2023

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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!

San Juan River in New Mexico

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?

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NM Water Temp: 36.86 ° F Flow: 297 ft³/s Water Level: 2.72 ft USGS	Steady	It’s winter, and winter on the San Juan can mean solitude coupled with some lake turnover. This off-color water won’t make fishing worse, but you will want to change your tactics. A bunny leech with a worm or annelid can be the winter dinner bell. Have some flashy nymphs on hand too.	Midges 18-24: Black Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, Tav’s Big Mac. Foam Wing RS-2s 20-22, Flashback Pheasant Tails, and Rainbow Warriors 18-22. Annelids in 18-22. San Juan Worms, Egg patterns. Grey and White Bunny Leeches, White and Blood Simi Seal Leeches #10s

Animas River

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!

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
ANIMAS RIVER AT DURANGO, CO Water Temp: 33.08 ° F Flow: 153 ft³/s Water Level: 2.17 ft USGS	Low and Steady	The Animas: a favorite winter fishery. Expect fishing to wax and wane, but keep at it. Nymphs are the standard trick, but a slow and deep fish streamer wouldn’t be a bad idea either. More than anything, get your fly size and weight right. When in doubt, go smaller with the flies and deep with the weight.	Mayfly Nymphs: Killer Mayfly Nymphs 18-24, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Pheasant Tails 16-18, RS-2 18-20, Juan’s Sniper Baetis 20-24. Midges: Black Midge Pupa 18-22, Disco Midge 18-20, Tav’s Big Mac Pupa. Caddis Pupa: Barr’s Graphic Caddis 16-18, TBH Jig Caddis 16-18, Anicaddis 16-18. Attractors: Prince nymphs and variants 16-18, Orange Crush 12-16, RIO’s Raindrop 14-16, Egg and SJ worm patterns. Olive, Black, White Streamers: GD Sculpin Snack, Sculpinator, RIO’s Gold Jigger

San Juan River in Colorado

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.

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
SAN JUAN RIVER AT PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO Flow: 62.7 ft³/s Water Level: 3.51 ft USGS	Steady	This time of year, nymphs will be your go-to. Lean towards the smaller side of fly size, but it may not hurt to try a stonefly nymph either. Through Pagosa, the hot springs will help keep the temps up a few degrees and the fish happy.	Nymphs: Prince nymphs 16-18, Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12 or Jigged Pats 10-12, 20 Incher 8-10, Pheasant Tails 18-22, RS-2 18-20, Orange Crush 12-16, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, RS-2 18-20, Midges: Black Midge Pupa 18-22, Disco Midge 18-20, Tav’s Big Mac Pupa.

Piedra River

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!

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
PIEDRA RIVER NEAR ARBOLES, CO. Water Level: 0.98 ft USGS	Iced over	Iced over, come back in spring.	Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Runt Stone Golden 12-16, Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12, Flashback Pheasant Tail 14-18, Soft Spot Jig 12-16.

Los Pinos River

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.

River Data Below Vallecito

River Data Above Vallecito

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
LOS PINOS ABOVE VALLECITO RES Water Level: 3.52 ft USGS LOS PINOS RIVER NEAR IGNACIO, CO Water Level: 1.94 ft USGS About 5.4 cfs out of the dam	Low	Below the dam, fishing will be tough as the flows have been dropped real low Above Vallecito, will be iced over.	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.

Dolores River Below McPhee

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!

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
DOLORES RIVER NEAR SLICK ROCK, CO USGS	Steady	Flows are steady Eddie at 9.5 CFS. The gate will be closed below, so you will have a walk ahead of you to get to the dam. Fishing will be slow, but if you can’t wait until spring, nymph small stuff.	Nymphs: Killer Mayfly 20-24, Pheasant Tails 18-22, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Black Flash Midge Pupa 18-22, Tav’s Big Mac Pupa, RS-2 18-22.

Dolores River Above McPhee

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.

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
DOLORES RIVER AT DOLORES, CO. Water Level: 3.25 ft USGS	Frozen	Iced up, wait until spring.	Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Runt Stone Golden 12-16, Flashback Pheasant Tail 14-18, Duracell Jig 12-16.

Rio Grande

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?

Wagon Wheel River Data

Thirty Mile River Data

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
2 CFS (30 Mile) Iced CFS (Wagon Wheel)	Frozen	As homegirl said in Frozen: “Let it go”. Wait until spring.	Nymphs: Killer Mayflies 18-22, Pheasant Tails 14-20. Pat’s Rubberlegs 8-12, Prince nymphs and variants 14-18, Barr’s Graphic Caddis 14-16, Czechmate Caddis 14-16.

Florida River

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.

Below Lemon River Data

Above Lemon River Data

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
8CFS above 10 CFS (Below Lemon)	Frozen	Frozen. Find an open section of water and dip a nymph if you want. Bring snowshoes.	Nymphs: Copper Johns 14-20, Hare’s Ear 16-18, San Juan Worms, Jigged Frenchies, Orange Crush, Prince nymphs 10-16, Runt Stone Golden 12-16, Flashback Pheasant Tail 14-18, Duracell Jig 12-16. Midge Pupa

Creeks of the San Juans

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-Cutthroat-Fly-Fishing-San-Juan-Mountains-Duranglers.jpg

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
N/A	Frozen	Most will be under about 4-5 feet of snow. Lakes are frozen.	Dries: Parachute Adams, Humpy’s, Wulffs, 16-20, Rio’s Dry Humper 12-16, Stimulators 14-16. Nymphs: Attractor dries sizes 14-18: Bead Head Prince Nymphs, Pheasant tails, Hare’s Ears. HC Lakes: Scuds, LeechesFoam Damsel, Ultra Damsel Nymph.

San Miguel

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.

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bugs
SAN MIGUEL RIVER NEAR PLACERVILLE, CO Water Level: 3.81 ft USGS	Ice	Frozen, go skiing.	Nymphs: Copper Johns 12-18, Orange Crush, Zebra Midge 18-20, BHFB Pheasant Tails 14-18, Guide’s Choice Hairs Ear 12-16, Barr’s Graphic Caddis 14-18. SJ Worms, Pat’s Rubberlegs #10-12.

Lakes/Reservoirs

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

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)
Lake Nighthorse (Rainbow and Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon)

CFS	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
n/a	Iced up	It’s winter, so it’s ice fishing. Drill a hole, and drop a nymph. See, it’s still fly fishing right?	Pike: Engler’s Pike Fly, Hollow Point Pike Fly, EP Pike Fly, Roamer Pike Fly. Trout: Chironomids, Scuds, Duracell Jig, Orange Crush Jig, RIO’s Gold Jigger. Bass: Belly Scratcher Minnow, Mardi Craw, RIOs Cray Cray, Meat Whistle, Bass Popper, Covert Mission. Carp: Barry’s Carp Fly, Damsel Nymphs

Gunnison (Black Canyon)

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?

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
GUNNISON RIVER BELOW GUNNISON TUNNEL, CO Flow: 347 ft³/s Water Level: 1.94 ft USGS	Low and steady	Nymph rigs are going to be a good go-to, and going a little smaller might be worth it. Caddis, midge, and mayfly nymphs, but it never hurts to throw on the classic Pat’s either. Maybe a streamer fished slow too?	Nymphs: Two-Bit Hooker 16-18, Frenchie 14-16, Pats Rubberlegs 8-12, Prince nymphs 12-18, Flashback Pheasant Tail 14-18, Duracell Jig 12-16, Barr’s Graphic Caddis 14-16, Rainbow Warrior 18-22 , RS-2 18-20 , Orange Crush 12-16 Midges: Black Midge Pupa 18-22, Disco Midge 18-20, Tav’s Big Mac Pupa. Streamers: Buggers, Sculpzilla, Sparkle Minnow, Mini-Dungeon, Peanut Envy.

Uncompaghre

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.

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BELOW RIDGWAY RESERVOIR, CO Flow: 45.8 ft³/s Water Level: 1.82 ft USGS	Steady/low	BWOs, midges, and stealth. Just about sums it up for winter fishing the Unc, but fishing can be good!	Midges 18-24: Sidewinder Midge Pupa, Tav’s Big Mac, Black Midge Pupa 18-22. Mayfly Nymphs: Thread Baetis, Jujubaetis, Split Back BWO, Killer Mayfly 18-24. Juan’s Sniper Baetis 20-24. Dries: BWO CDC Comparadun 18-20,Barrs Baetis Vis-A-Dun 18-22,Duranglers Adult Midge, CDC Biot Midge, Midge Dry. San Juan Worms, Red, Wine, Orange. Red and Orange Annelids.