November 2014 Fly Fishing Report

November 2014 Fly Fishing Report

For a fly angler in the Rocky Mountains, November begins to implant nagging and impure thoughts of “staying home” instead of fishing.  Gone are the blazing days of summer where we could not wait to get in the river dressed in Chacos and a swim suit.  Gone are the warm and colorful days of fall that draw us into the river on the hunt for “the one”.

We are now riding the cusp of fall and winter.

Snow has begun to fall in the high country, yet here in Durango we hang on to our sunny days with nervous intent.  Every day for the next 2 months will be shorter than the last.  Daylight is slipping and with it the warmth of our fall sun.  Do we take the extra effort to layer up and get out on the river; or do we simply “stay home”?  While many have hunting or winterizing duties to attend to; the option to stay home should not hold weight when there are still so many fishing opportunities currently available.

To put things into perspective; most of our local freestones are flowing at double their normal flows for this time of year.  As I write this, the Animas River is currently sitting at 367 CFS thanks to recent rains.  This is an amazing flow for November…not to mention the fact that it is running extremely clear.  The Piedra, Upper San Juan, Upper Dolores, Rio Grande, and San Miguel are also at amazing flows and the fishing has responded accordingly.  Les and Mike even took a trip this past week to the lower Gunnison River and the following report was that “streamer fishing was incredible”.

The San Juan River below Navajo Dam has also continued to produce some great dry fly fishing.  Fishing the lower San Juan this time of year can yield incredible results with very little crowds to contend with and the prospect of all day dry fly fishing should motivate one to get out before the real snow begins to fly.

 

Insects and Natural Food Sources

If you have any questions on a specific river; please call the shop for more info.  970-385-4081

• · San Juan River, New Mexico – Blue Winged Olives, Midges, annelids, aquatic worms, scuds, eggs, Leeches.
• · Lower Animas – BWOs, Sculpins, Fingerling Rainbow Trout, Crayfish, Mice, Midges, Cased Caddis, Stonefly Nymphs, Mayfly Nymphs.
• · Upper San Juan – Stonefly Nymphs, Blue Winged Olives, Sculpins and Streamers, Midges
• · Rio Grande – Stonefly Nymphs, Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Streamers, Mice.
• · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Stonefly nymphs, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Mayfly Nymphs.
• · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Baitfish & Leeches, Mice.
• · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir –  Stonefly Nymphs, Mayfly Nymphs, Midges, Baitfish and leeches.
• · Dolores River (Below Dam) –  Midges, BWO’s, Leeches, Mice.
• · High Country Lakes and Streams –  Attractor nymphs.  Buggers and small streamers.

 

Recommended Fly Patterns

San Juan River:

• · Midges: Size 20-30 – Flash Midge Pupa, Red Big Mac, WD-40, Juju Midge
• · Baetis: Size 20-14 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, Barr’s Baetis Vis-A-Dun, BWO CDC Emerger, RS2
• · Annelids:  Red Sparkle Worm, Red annelids, Chamos Leech, SJ Worm in Red, Orange, Pink, and Tan
• · Scuds: Size 14-18 – Olive and Tan
• · Leeches and Streamers: Size 8-14 – Olive, Brown and Black Simi- Seal Leeches, Bunny Leeches, Buggers, Near Nuff Sculpin, Baby rainbow trout streamers.

 Animas, Piedra, Upper San Juan, and SW CO rivers:

• · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 2-14 –  20 Incher Stone, Prince Nymph, Pats Rubberlegs, Little Black Sloan, Sparkle Stone
• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddisstrophic Pupa, , Hares Ear, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa and Sparkle emerger
• · BWOs: Size 18-22 – Snowshoe Dun, CDC Comparadun BWO, BWO Vis-a-Dun,
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Red and black Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear, Thread Baetis. Juju Baetis, RS-2
• · Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Mr. Hankey Mouse, Josh’s Ziwi, Circus Peanut, Conehead Wool Sculpin, The One Sculpin, T.A. Rainbow, Dhali Lama Streamer.
• · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40, Zebra Midges,

 

Rio Grande:

• · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 2-14 –  20 Incher Stone, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone.
• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddisstrophic Pupa, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa and Sparkle emerger
• · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40, Deep Poison Tung
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Red and black Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear, Thread Baetis. Juju Baetis, RS-2
• · BWOs: Size 16-20 – Juju BWO, Snowshoe Dun, CDC Comparadun BWO, BWO Vis-a-Dun,
• · Mice: Mr. Hankey Mouse, Mouseketeer
• · Streamers: Circus Peanut, Conehead Wool Sculpin, The One Sculpin, Buggers, Josh’s Ziwi,

Lower Dolores:

• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddisstrophic Pupa, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa, and Sparkle emerger
• · BWOs:  Pheasant Tail Nymph, Juju Baetis, BWO Vis-a-Dun, Snowshoe Dun, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40,
• · Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Magnum Super Bugger, Josh’s Ziwi, Simi Seal Leech

High Country:

We are coming to the end of our High Country Season.  Attractor patterns will work until the heavy snow flies.  Have SMALL Humpies, Royal Wulffs, Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis, Neversink Trude, and Parachute Adams on hand in sizes 14-20.  If you must go under, a size 8-12 olive bugger; 16-20 Copper Johns, Pheasant Tails, and other bead head nymphs always work.  For lakes fish Simi-Seal Leaches, Callebaetis nymphs, Leech Patterns, Ultra Damsel Nymphs, and dragonfly nymphs until the the ice takes over the lakes.