Spring Has Sprung – Duranglers March Fly Fishing Report

Spring Has Sprung – Duranglers March Fly Fishing Report

So last month, our report was all about how cold and snowy it has been.  This month, it is all about the warmth.  In February we saw freezing temps and piles of drifting snow, now we are seeing 60 degrees and swelling rivers.  You never know what our Colorado climate is going to bring. (Apparently Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year either…so early Spring!)

These warmer March days tend to bring out the early season dry fly action in the form of Blue Winged Olive hatches.  Overcast days are usually the best, but BWOs can hatch anytime throughout the spring so it is always good to have a few emergers and dries in your box.  Look for BWO hatches to pick up on the San Juan, Animas, Dolores, Piedra, and Pine rivers.

Of course, with these warmer spring days, flows will be up on a lot of our local rivers.  Higher flows and off color water in the Spring mean two things: floating and streamers.  Some of the biggest trout of the year are often caught in these spring flushes when the waters rise and are off color.  If the weather persists in it’s warm spell, we should see good floating flows on the Animas in a few weeks.  In the meantime, make sure you have lots of dark nymphs and streamers when hitting the town stretches.

If you can’t wait to float for a few weeks, the San Juan is the best option right now for fishing from a boat.  Releases on the San Juan are hanging right around 480 cfs and the fishing is good with midges and BWOs.

And with all this warm weather we are having, pike season has begun.  Many of our local lakes are still under ice, but Cpt. Mark Engler is finding lots of fish at Navajo.  Fishing this time of year can be tough unless you know what you are doing, but there are still a lot of pike to be caught.  Make sure you stop in the shop or give us a call for any up to date info on all our local waters.

Finally, make sure you mark your calendars for April 1st and 2nd for our annual Duranglers Fly Fishing Festival followed by the Fly Fishing Film Tour!

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 – Midges, annelids, aquatic worms, scuds, Leeches, BWO’s, baitfish.
• · Animas – Caddis nymphs, Midges, Sculpins, Aquatic Worms, Blue Winged Olives, Stonefly Nymphs.
• · Upper San Juan – Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Aquatic Worms, stonefly nymphs, baitfish, Mayfly and Caddis Nymphs.
• · Rio Grande – Stonefly nymphs, Midges, Sculpins and Baitfish, Mayfly and Caddis Nymphs.
• · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Blue Winged Olives, Stonefly nymphs, Caddis nymphs, Midges, Mayfly Nymphs.
• · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Blue Winged Olives, baitfish, Midges, Aquatic Worms, leeches.
• · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir – Stonefly Nymphs, Mayfly and Caddis Nymphs, Streamers, Midges.
• · Dolores River (Below Dam) –  Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Mayfly Nymphs, Sculpins and Baitfish.
• · High Country Lakes and Streams –  Frozen Over
• · Local lakes – Frozen over

Recommended Fly Patterns

San Juan River:

• · Midges: Size 20-28 – Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac, Mole Fly, WD-40, Jujubee Midge, Midge Clusters, Duranglers Adult Midge, Griffith’s Gnat, Mole Fly
• · Baetis: Size 20-26 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Annelids:  Red Sparkle Worm, Red and Orange annelids, Squirmy Wormy, Chamos Leech, SJ Worm in Red, Brown, Pink, and Orange
• · Trout Egg Patterns: Size 12-16 – Pink, Yellow, Peach, Cream
• · Scuds: Ray Charles, Grey Flashback Scud, Olive Flashback Scud
• · Leeches and Streamers: Size 8-14 – Olive, Blood Leech, and Black Simi- Seal Leeches, Bunny Leeches, Buggers, Goat Leech

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

• · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 6-16 –  20 Incher, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone, Dirty Bird
• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddistrophic Pupa, , Hares Ear, Cased Caddis, Bubbleback Caddis, GTI Caddis
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Rubberlegs Hare’s Ear, Copper John, Rainbow Warrior.
• · Baetis Nymphs: Size 18-22 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Baetis Dries: Size 18-22 BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, BWO Foam Emerger, BWO Comparadun
• · Midge Nymphs: Size 18-22: Jujubee Midge, Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac Pupa, Zebra Midge
• · Midge Dries: Griffith Gnat, Stuck in the Shuck Midge, Mole Fly, Duranglers Adult Midge
• · Sculpin Patterns – Black and olive Sculpzilla, Circus Peanut, Wool Sculpin, The One Sculpin, Near Nuff Sculpin
• · Streamers – Black and Olive Krystal Buggers, Josh’s Ziwi, Circus Peanut, Cheech Leech, Double Gonga, Meat Whistle.

Rio Grande:

• · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 2-14 –  Hairy Stone, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone, Prince Nymph.
• · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 –  Caddisstrophic Pupa, Cased Caddis, GTI Caddis
• · Baetis Nymphs: Size 18-22 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Baetis Dries: Size 18-22 BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, BWO Foam Emerger, BWO Comparadun
• · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20:  Red and black Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear
• · Midge Nymphs: Size 18-22: Jujubee Midge, Black Midge Pupa, Big Mac Pupa
• · Midge Dries: Griffith Gnat, Stuck in the Shuck Midge, Mole Fly, Duranglers Adult Midge
• · Streamers – Krystal Buggers, Sculpzilla, Circus Peanut, The One Sculpin, Meat Whistle, Cheech Leech, Josh’s Ziwi

Lower Dolores:

• · Baetis Nymphs: Size 18-22 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Pheasant Tail, Brown Baetis Nymph
• · Baetis Dries: Size 18-22 BWO Vis-A-Dun, Bat Wing Emerger, BWO Foam Emerger, BWO Comparadun
• · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40, Griffith Gnat, Biot Midge Dry, Adult Midge
• · Streamers: Simi Seal Leeches, Buggers, Snot Rocket

 Lakes

• · Trout – Sowbugs, Leech patterns, chronomids, small baitfish and streamers, Simi Seal Leeches.  Barry’s Carp Bitters

High Country:

Our high country is under feet of snow and ice.  You could always strap on some cross country skis or a pair of snow shoes and make the trek to some open water.  Or you could just plan for next year by checking out our guide to fly fishing the high country.