Updated 4/2/2020

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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: 47.12 ° F Flow: 491 ft³/s Water Level: 3.23 ft USGS	Steady	THE SAN JUAN RIVER QUALITY WATERS SECTION IS CLOSED! All NM State parks are closed to public access. Fishing access on the lower San Juan can be found below the Quality Waters outside the state park boundry, though this section is getting fished heavily.	Midges 18-24: Black Midge Pupa, Sidewinder Midge Pupa, Tav’s Big Mac. BWOs: BWO Film Critic 20-22, Juan’s Sniper Baetis 20-24, Smoke Jumper Baetis 20-22, Baetis Comparadun 20-22. San Juan Worms: Red, Wine, Orange. Red and Orange Annelids. Egg Patterns. Trout Parr, Buggers, Dirty Hippy, Sheila Sculpin are all good streamers to throw too.

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?

Real-Time River Data

Water Conditions	Rising/Falling	Fishing Conditions	Patterns/Bug
ANIMAS RIVER AT DURANGO, CO Water Temp: 53.06 ° F Flow: 233 ft³/s Water Level: 2.34 ft USGS	Steady	Maintain your social distance, but fishig has been good! Nymph rigs a plenty is the call, but look for supsended fish eating emerging BWOs. With mayfly hatches coming off on cloudy days, the dry fly fishing can be good too. Deep run euro rigs, short suspended emerger rigs, and dry droppers are all working. Try a streamer too! Work on Smelter and low elevation snowmelt is causing some sporatic dirty water.	Nymphs: Prince nymphs 12-16, Copper Johns 12-18, Hare’s Ear, Czechmate Caddis, Pheasant Tails, Rainbow Warriors, Juan’s Sniper Baetis, or Killer Mayfly, Frenchie, Perdigons. BWOs: BWO Film Critic 20-22, Juan’s Sniper Baetis 20, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-20, BWO Vis-a-Dun 18-20. Streamers: Trout Parr, Mini Dungeon, Cheech Leech, Lunch Money

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: 255 ft³/s Water Level: 4.44 ft USGS	Rising a little	Fishing has been picking up very good on the upper! Nymph rigs are always the right choice in winter, but it wouldn’t hurt to run a streamer deep. Watch for Midge and Baetis Hatches	Pat’s Rubberlegs, 20 Incher, Sparkle Stone, Atomic Stone, Brown Wired Stone in sizes #8-12. Copper johns, Rainbow warrior, Micro stones, pheasant tails. Streamers: Buggers, Mini Dungeon, Josh’s Ziwi, Lunch Money. BWOs: BWO Film Critic 18-20, Pheasant Tails 16-20, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-20, BWO Vis-a-Dun 18-20.

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. Flow: 268 ft³/s Water Level: 1.65 ft USGS	Rising	Rising with low elevation snowmelt. Early season fishing calls for stonefly nymph rigs with mayfly nymphs close behind. Lower down is open but as you get higher into the canyons, expect snow and ice.	Pat’s Rubberlegs, ,Sparkle Stone, Trout Retreiver, 20 incher stone, Brown Wired Stone, sizes #8-12. BH Copper John, Psycho Prince, Hot Wire Prince, Prince Nymph, #14-18.

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 Flow: 56.0 ft³/s Water Level: 3.43 ft USGS LOS PINOS RIVER NEAR IGNACIO, CO Flow: 42.1 ft³/s Water Level: 2.02 ft USGS	Steady	Flows have been bumped below the dam and fishing will pick up. Lower down, fishing has been good too on Ute water. Nymph deep pockets but watch for hatches of midges and BWOs. Flows rising above.	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.

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 Flow: 40.7 ft³/s Water Level: 3.87 ft USGS	Steady	The Gate is closed 3 miles from the dam. If you go, hike up by the dam and nymph the deeper runs. Streamers may move a few hangry trout too.	Mayfly Nymphs 16-20: Tav’s Fluff Baetis, Tungsten CDC FB Pheasant Tail, Two Bit Hooker, Juan’s Sniper Baetis. Midges 18-22: Black Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, Big Mac Pupa Streamers: Buggers, Mini Dungeon, Lunch Money.

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. Flow: 108 ft³/s Water Level: 2.42 ft USGS	Ice on the Gauges	The Upper Dolores has iced up but will be clearing soon. Find open water and nymph deep!	Prince Nymphs, Hares Ear Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Sniper Baetis, Split Case Baetis.

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
6 cfs(30 Mile) Ice cfs (Wagon Wheel)	Cold and Icy	Winter and early spring is tough on the Rio Grande as it gets very cold and the river freezes over. Nymph deeper runs on warmer days if any open water. Once that water opens though, get ready for great fishing.	Pat’s Rubberlegs, Twenty Inchers, Micro stone, Prince nymphs, Copper johns. Streamers: Sheila’s Sculpin, Mini Dungeon, Cheech Leech, Flash Fry, Buggers.

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
8.9 cfs (Above Lemon) 9.11 cfs (Below Lemon)	Thawing	Ice is off lower on down below the dam, but above it will still be pretty covered. The inlet may be fishing well though. Skinny water means spooky fish, fish small flies and deeper pockets	Nymphs: Partridge and Peacock 14-16, Copper Johns 14-20, Hare’s Ear 16-18, San Juan Worms, Prince Nymphs in all sizes and varieties.

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	low/cold	Mostly frozen over.	Dries: Parachute Adams, Hairwing Dun, Comparadun Nymphs: Prince Nymphs, Copper Johns, Pheasant tails, Hare’s Ears. Small White or Thin mint flavor wooly buggers.

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 Flow: 86.6 ft³/s Water Level: 4.16 ft USGS	Rising	Fish the afternoon or the warmest days. Nymphing will be the best bet. Fishing has been tough but a few fish can be caught.	Nymphs: Bitch creek nymph, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Copper Johns, Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ear, and Prince Nymphs, Two Bit Hooker.

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
Ice	Low elevation lakes iced of	Icing off lakes means pike and trout! Get out, it’s starting to pick up.	Trout: Buggers, Small Parachute Adams, Leeches, Chronomids. Pike: EP Pike Fly, Engler’s Pike Fly. Barry’s Pike Bunny.

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: 424 ft³/s Water Level: 2.24 ft USGS	Steady	Nymphing will be the best bet through winter with small bugs, but as stated…never discount a streamer either	Pats Rubberlegs, Twenty inchers, micro stones, Pheasant Tails. BH Copper John, Psycho Prince, Prince Nymph, #14-18 Juan’s Sniper Baetis, Juju Baetis, Micro Mayfly,and Rainbow Warrior in #18-22.

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: 43.3 ft³/s Water Level: 1.84 ft USGS	Low and Steady	Small bugs, light fluro tippet, and perfect drifts: it’s technical winter fishing at it’s finest. Getting your weight and fly size right will be key, and every hole may be different. Hard work and problem solving will pay off.	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