September Durango Fly Fishing Forecast
The end of Summer has begun. As melancholy as some feel, it is a fact we all have to face. The height of summer dry fly season is past, and now it is time for other matters to attend to. The first order of business: Fall fishing. Now, while Fall does not have the mega hatches of Drakes and Stoneflies that the Summer boasts, there are other benefits to Autumn fishing.
The first of course is the beauty. When else can you get out on the water in the midst of nature’s firework show in the form of changing leaves. The high country is especially spectacular this time of year as entire hillsides ignite in golden splendor. The settings of September cannot be had any other time of year and the high country still fishes amazingly well.
Secondly, the summer crowds have dissipated and large stretches of water can be had to oneself. These are great days for deep thinkers and philosophical writers to be wetting a line.
Finally; streamers are back in style. Big browns are moving for their yearly spawn and with cooling water temps, big fish will aggressively attack any vulnerable looking baitfish imitation. Don’t rule out fishing a mouse as well; anything that looks big and edible is fair game for these hangry fish.
September is also one of the best times of year to fish hoppers as they are out in droves as we speak. A hopper with a bead head dropper is an absolutely killer set up until our first freeze.
Don’t forget that because of the cooling temps, pike do come back to hunt in shallower waters in our local lakes and reservoirs. Pull out the 8wt and 10 in pike streamers and get after these vicious predators.
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, Caddis, PMDs, Hoppers, and Ants.
- · Lower Animas – Caddis, BWOs, Sculpins, Fingerling Rainbow Trout, Crayfish, Mice, Hoppers, Stonefly Nymphs.
- · Upper San Juan – Stoneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Sculpins.
- · Rio Grande – Stoneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Streamers, Mice.
- · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Stonefly nymphs, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Terrestrials.
- · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Caddis, Baitfish & Leeches, Mice.
- · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir – Stonefly Nymphs, Ants, Beetles, Hoppers, Caddis, Baitfish.
- · Dolores River (Below Dam) – HOPPERS! Caddis, Midges, BWO’s, and watch out for Rattlesnakes!
- · High Country Lakes and Streams – Hoppers, Ants, Beatles, Moths, Mice, bugs…things that look like bugs…High country trout are not too selective so make sure to have lots of attractor dry flies. Damsel flies, Leeches, Chronomids, and Callebaetis in lakes.
Recommended Fly Patterns
San Juan River:
- · Midges: Size 20-30 – Flash Midge Pupa, Red Big Mac, WD-40, Zebra Midges
- · 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
- · Terrestrials: Small hoppers such as a Dry Muddler, Yeager’s 409, Sloan’s Paralyzer, Sponge Spider, and Amy’s Ant.
- · 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.
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
- · Hoppers: Tan Hopper, Parachute Hopper, Morrish Hopper, McKnight’s Sweetgrass Hopper.
- · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 – Caddisstrophic Pupa, , Hares Ear, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa and Sparkle emerger
- · Caddis Dries: Size 12-18 – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, E-Z Caddis, Clownshoe Caddis, Small Stimulators
- · BWOs: Size 16-20 – Juju BWO, Snowshoe Dun, CDC Comparadun BWO, BWO Vis-a-Dun
- · Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Mr. Hankey Mouse, Josh’s Ziwi, Circus Peanut, Conehead Wool Sculpin, The One Sculpin
Rio Grande:
- · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 2-14 – 20 Incher Stone, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone.
- · Hoppers: Tan Hopper, Parachute Hopper, Morrish Hopper, McKnight’s Sweetgrass Hopper.
- · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 – Caddisstrophic Pupa, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa and Sparkle emerger
- · Caddis Dries: Size 12-18 – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, E-Z Caddis, Black Mom’s Day Caddis, Clownshoe Caddis
- · Mice: Mr. Hankey Mouse, Mouseketeer
- · Streamers: Circus Peanut, Conehead Wool Sculpin, The One Sculpin
Lower Dolores:
- · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 – Caddisstrophic Pupa, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa, and Sparkle emerger
- · Caddis Dries: Size 12-18 – Duranglers Peacock Caddis, E-Z Caddis, Clownshoe Caddis
- · BWOs: Pheasant Tail Nymph, Juju Baetis, BWO Vis-a-Dun, Snowshoe Dun, Brown Baetis Nymph
- · Hoppers: Size 8-12 – Tan Sweetgrass Hopper, Green Morrish Hopper, Tantrum Hopper, Dry Muddler, Yeager’s 409, Grillo’s Pool Toy
High Country:
Any attractor patterns will work. Have SMALL Humpies, Royal Wulffs, Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis, Neversink Trude, and Parachute Adams on hand in sizes 14-20. Small for the lower waters and spookier fish. Try a mouse pattern if you are so inclined… 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 and dries, Adult Damselflies, Foam Damselflies, Ultra Damsel Nymphs, and dragonfly nymphs as well as ant’s and beetles.
