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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | NAVAJO STATE PARK IS NOW OPEN TO VISITORS!! GO FISH IT!
The lake has turned over a little bit, but fishing has remained good. Worm and egg patterns and larger (relatively speaking) nymphs with flash have been catching fish. Dry fly fishing has been ok with midges and Baetis dries. |
Midges 18-24: 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. Silver Bead Rainbow Warrior 16-22. Baetis: Brown Baetis Nymph 20-24, Split Back BWO 20-22, Parachute Adams and BWO Comparadun 20-24. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steady, low | Temps are rising and fishing has been good. Size 16-22 nymphs are preferred, but weight is more important than the fly. With days where sun is on the water, watch for good midge hatches that can bring fish up into the late afternoon. Watch for BWOs to start showing up soon. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 16-18, 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 Size 18-24: Griffith Gnat, Parachute Adams, Bunny Midge. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Winter Flows | Temps have dropped with recent storms. Below the hot springs, there might be a few warmer fish. Small nymphs and midges will be the go-to | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 16-18, 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. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen | The Piedra is going to be mostly frozen. Expect there to be very little open water. | Silver Bead Rainbow Warrior 16-20, Killer May 18-24, Juan’s Sniper Baeits 20-24, Disco Midge 18-20, RS-2s 18-22. |
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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LOW and cold | Below, the flows are extremely low and fishing should be avoided to keep these fish alive. Above, the river is going to be covered in snow and icy. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Steady, low |
The river is going to be mostly frozen until you get close to the dam. The gate is closed so it will be a walk to open water. Midges and small mayfly nymphs are your go-to. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen | You might be able to skate here, but the Upper D is frozen. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Copper Johns 12-18, Hare’s Ear, Pat’s Rubberlegs, Pheasant Tails.
Baetis: Killer May 18-24, Juan’s Sniper Baeits 20-24, RS-2s 18-22. Dries: Barr’s BWO Vis-A-Dun 18-22, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen (30 Mile)
Frozen (Wagon Wheel) |
Low | Frozen, good luck finding open water. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-16, Copper Johns 12-18, Hare’s Ear, Pat’s Rubberlegs. Silver Bead Rainbow Warrior 16-20, Juan’s Sniper Baeits 20-24, Disco Midge 18-20, RS-2s 18-22. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen (Above Lemon)
6.2 cfs (Below Lemon) |
Frozen | Frozen | Nymphs: Copper Johns 14-20, Hare’s Ear 16-18, San Juan Worms, Jigged Frenchies, Prince nymphs. |
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 | Frozen | Frozen, go ice fishing. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen | Frozen | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 10-18, Copper Johns 12-18, Hare’s Ear, Zebra Midge 18-20.
Baetis: Killer May 18-24, Juan’s Sniper Baeits 20-24, RS-2s 18-22. Dries: Barr’s BWO Vis-A-Dun 18-22, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice | Ice everywhere but Navajo | Ice fishing is the name of the game, but you may be able to find a few pike on Navajo reservoir during the warmer days. | 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. Lunch Money, 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 | Expect small bugs to be your best bet and the lower reaches around Pleasure Park will be the only options easier to access. Go small and fish the deeper slots and runs. | Small bug land:
Two Bit Hooker 16-20, RS2 20-24, Black Midge Pupa 18-22. San Juan Worms and Eggs
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low and steady | Do you love stocked fish?
It’s the classic winter setup of small tippets, flies, and a stealthy approach to bring fish to the net. It is a great option for people looking for some water with fish though… |
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 |
