Note: The area rivers fishing report, courtesy of Duranglers Flies and Supplies.

San Juan River, New Mexico: 453 cfs, recently increased. Fishing is good right now but watch for water to discolor at times. Worms and annelids will be on the menu with off color water. Otherwise, keep an eye out for solid midge and baetis hatches. Midges size 22-28: Midge Adult, Midge Dry, Midge Emerger, black and brown flash midge pupa, Rootbeer Midge. San Juan Worms 14-18, Red and Orange Annelids. BWOs 20-24: Thread Body Baetis, RS2, Juju Baetis, Barrs Emerger, Film Critic BWO. Simi Seal Leeches, Goat Leech, Egg patterns in Pink, Yellow, Cream, Peach.

Animas River: 502 cfs, rising. The Animas is fishing very well with but, with increasing flows, fishing may become tougher for a bit. Watch for BWO hatches in the afternoons. Streamers are also a good idea, especially in mornings and evenings. C addis Pupa: 14-18 Cased Caddis, GTI Caddis, Stupid Fast Caddis. BWOs 16-20: Rainbow Warrior, Pheasant Tails, Juju Baetis, RS-2s. Midges: Gorilla Midge, Griffiths Gnat, Biot Midge Adult, and Disco Midge. Prince Nymphs, Hare’s Ears, Psycho Prince, and Pat’s Rubberlegs. Dark streamers such as Circus Peanut, Sculpzilla, Meat Whistle, and Sex Dungeon.

San Juan River, Colorado: 545 cfs, rising. With early season snowmelt hitting, you will need to fish seams and edges with dark nymphs and streamers. Water will be off color. Dark streamers such as Circus Peanut, Sculpzilla, Meat Whistle, and Sex Dungeon. Midges: Griffith Gnat, Gorilla Midge, Black Midge Pupa. Stonefly nymphs: Pat’s rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone, Dirty Bird, BWOs: Pheasant Tails, Rainbow Warrior, BWO Foam Emerger.

Piedra River: 648 cfs, rising. Flows will be high and the river off color. Fishing will be tough. Big dark stuff may find fish. Stonefly nymphs Rubber Leg Copper John, Dirty Bird, Pat’s Rubber Legs. Caddis nymphs. BWOs: Pheasant Tails, Wine Copper John, Rainbow Warrior. Dark streamers such as Circus Peanut, Sculpzilla, Meat Whistle, and Sex Dungeon.

Los Pinos River: 110 cfs below the dam, steady. Flows are good for sight fishing, but you will want stealthy approaches, long leaders, small floro tippet, and tiny flies. Above the dam a hike in may produce some good rainbows. BWOs: Pheasant Tails, Juju Baetis, BWO Vis-a-Dun, BWO Foam Emerger. Midges: Griffiths Gnat, Biot Midge Adult, and Black Midge Pupa. Prince and Hare’s Ear Nymphs.

Dolores River Below McPhee: 52.4 cfs, steady. Access may be limited as the gate is closed until May 1st, but the flows have been bumped and fishing should be picking up considerably. Midge and BWO hatches should hold strong. Duranglers Midge Adult, Bling Midge, Black Midge Pupa. Chocolate RS2, Phesant tails, Rainbow Warriors, Barrs BWO Vis-a-Dun, Bat Winged Emerger, BWO Hackle Stacker. Mice and Streamers.

Dolores River above McPhee: 458 cfs, rising. The Upper Dolores is flowing hard from snow melt. Nymphs and streamers will be the name of the game here, but you may find fish rising to midges and BWOs. BWOs: Pheasant Tails, Wine Copper John, Juju Midge, Bat Winged Emerger, BWO Vis-a-Dun. Midges: Griffiths Gnat, Biot Midge Adult, and Black Midge Pupa. Small buggers and streamers. Copper Johns, Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ear, and Prince Nymphs.

Rio Grande (30 mile/Wagon Wheel): Ice at 67.7 mole/352 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap, rising. Flows are rising with snowmelt. Stonefly, Caddis, and BWO nymphs will be your best bet, fished in slow deep water. Streamers fished slow are also a good option. Watch for BWO hatches. Stonefly nymphs: Pat’s rubberlegs, Dirty Bird. Caddis Pupa: 14-18 Cased Caddis, GTI Caddis, Stupid Fast Caddis. BWOs in 16-22: Pheasant Tails, Wine Copper John, BWO Vis-a-Dun. Midges: Duranglers Adult Midge, Griffith Gnat, Stuck in the Shuck Midge, sizes 18-22. Streamers: Circus Peanut, Sculpzilla, Meat Whistle, and Sex Dungeon.

Florida River: 39/11.5 cfs below; rising above, steady below. Fishing the inlet may be a prime for moving Rainbows looking to spawn, it will be cold though. Below the water is low, but steady and fishing is good. Sneaky approaches are a must. Duranglers Adult Midge, Griffith Gnat, Stuck in the Shuck Midge, sizes 18-20. BWOs: Pheasant Tails, Wine Copper John, Hare’s Ear, Psycho Prince. Stupid Fast Caddis.

Creeks: Dethawing and rising. If you can make it to open water, fish may be waking up from their winter chill. Attractor dries with attractor nymph droppers.

Lakes/Ponds: Pike fishing is picking up with the thawing of our flatwater. Pastorious, Totten, Puett, and Navajo are all fishing. Our local lakes are open and warming up. Vallecito, Lemon, Navajo, Totten, and Puett are all open. The Pike bite is picking up, and trout are moving and grooving strong. Look for bass to start moving to streamers as well.

HHH

Have a big catch you would like to show off to the La Plata County fishing community? Send your photo with a brief description of where you caught the fish and what you were using to bring it in to Outdoors editor John Livingston at jlivingston@durangoherald.com.

Duranglers Flies and Supplies