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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, dropped recently | The San Juan River Quality Waters below Navajo Dam ARE NOT OPEN TO NONRESIDENTS.
Flows have dropped, smaller bugs may be in order it such as Annelids, midges, BWOs along with Leechs, worms, scuds, and eggs. |
Midges 22-26: 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. Streamers: Kreelex, Simi Seal Leech, Cheech Leech, Buggers
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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 | Early season storms have brought the flows up a bit on the Animas. With warmer weather in the next week, look for hatches of Midges and Baetis, and maybe try a streamer. | Nymphs: Prince nymphs 16-18, Silver Bead Rainbow Warrior 16-20, Killer May 18-24, Juan’s Sniper Baeits 20-24, Disco Midge 18-20, RS-2s 18-22.
Dries: Barr’s BWO Vis-A-Dun 18-22, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22, Parachute Adams 20-24.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dropping | A good flush of early season snow has brought the flows up. Fish nymph rigs and watch for hatches of Midges and possible baetis. | Pat’s Rubberlegs, 20 Incher, Sparkle Stone, Atomic Stone, Brown Wired Stone in sizes #8-12.
Copper johns 16-18, Rainbow warrior 18-22, Micro stones 12-16, Pheasant tails 19-22. Dries: Barr’s BWO Vis-A-Dun 18-22, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22, Parachute Adams 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dropping | The Piedra got some much need moisture recently. Find deep holes and fish nymph rigs. | Nymphs: Pat’s Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone, Trout Retriever, 20 incher stone, Brown Wired Stone, sizes #8-12. BH Copper John, Psycho Prince, Hot Wire Prince, Prince Nymph, #14-18.
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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Dropping | Below, the flows are extremely low and fishing should be avoided to keep these fish alive. Above, winter will start to settle in, but fishing the deeper holes will produce some good fish! | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Steady, low |
Mayflies as per usual in the size 18-24 range. The Lower D can offer technical fishing, so be ready with long leaders, light tippet, and possibly small dry/dropper rigs…or throw a Streamer and hold on… |
Mayfly Nymphs 18-24: Tav’s Fluff Baetis, Two Bit Hooker, Brown Baetis Nymph. BWO Splitback Nymph, Killer May. Mayfly Dries: BWO Film Critic 18-24, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22, Baetis Comparadun 18-22. Streamers: Kreelex, Sparkle Minnow, Rubber Buggers, Complex Twist Bugger. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.18 cfs(30 Mile)
115 cfs (Wagon Wheel) |
Low | Wade angling only right now, and flows are low. Midges may be hatching.
Maybe try a streamer in the lower stretches |
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.
Dries: Barr’s BWO Vis-A-Dun 18-22, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22, Parachute Adams 20-24. Streamers: Sheila Sculpin, GD Sculpin Snack, Kreelex, Sparkle Minnow, Complex Twist Bugger.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 cfs (Above Lemon)
6.2 cfs (Below Lemon) |
Low and dropping | Below, the Florida has been DROPPED. Be sneaky and fish small dry droppers or nymph rigs. Could be frozen
Above, low flows have sent fish to the deepest holes…AKA the lake. |
Nymphs: Partridge and Peacock 14-16, Copper Johns 14-20, Hare’s Ear 16-18, San Juan Worms, Jigged Frenchies, Prince nymphs.
Dries: Barr’s BWO Vis-A-Dun 18-22, Smoke Jumper Baetis 18-22, Parachute Adams 20-24. |
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 | Very Low | Most creeks are going to be quite low, cold, and hard to fish. Maybe even Frozen. Small nymphs mostly. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | Flows are dropping, but they are not too bad on the San Miguel. If they are not coming up to baetis, midges, or the occasional terrestrial, nymph rigs will be key. Up towards Telluride could get colder and frozener. | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Open! | Our local lakes are fishing ok. Navajo is fishing for pike. Vallecito and Lemon have good trout fishing but will be frozen soon, and Vallecito pike may still be eating. McPhee, Puett, Totten, and Pastorious are all options unless the freeze. High country lakes will mostly be frozen. | Trout: Buggers and 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 easily to access | 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 | It’s the classic winter setup of small tippet, flies, and a stealthy approach to bring fish to the net. 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 |
