Durango Area Fly Fishing Chart
Durango Area At-A-Glance Fly Fishing Chart
Body of Water | Fish Species | Aquatic Food Sources | Best Patterns Sub-surface | Best Patterns Surface | Best Months | Public Access | Other Info |
Animas River | Brown Rainbow Cutthroat | Caddis Sculpins | Prince, Caddis Larva, Muddler/Sculpin | Parachute Adams, Hoppers, Elkwing Caddis | Feb-April July-Nov | 32nd St South thru Durango & upstream fm Rockwood | Fly & lure fm Lightner Creek to Purple Ciffs, 2 fish 16″ min. |
Cascade Creek | Brown Rainbow Brook | Caddis Mayfly | Western Coachman, Hares Ear | Humpy, Irresistable | July-Oct | Entire Creek | Large trout pop. – mostly small fish |
Electra Lake | Rainbow Brook Cutthroat | Midge Shrimp Other fish | Bucktail Streamers, Wooly Buggers, Damsel Nymph | Midges, Damsel fly | May-Sept | $8/day charge | One of finest Brook trout populations in the state |
Emerald Lake | Cut-bow | Shrimp Damsel flies | Scuds, Streamers | Midges, Damsel fly | July-Sept | Entire Lake | Fly & Lure only. 2 fish over 14″ or shorter |
Florida River | Brown Rainbow Brook | Caddis Mayfly Stonefly | Beeadhead, Hares Ear, Peeking Caddis, Zug Bug | Yellow Sally, ElkWing Caddis, Royal Wulff | June-Sept | San Juan Nat’l Forest upstream of Transfer Park | Rugged canyon – no trails above Transfer Park |
Haviland Lake | Rainbow | Damsel Flies Midges Crayfish | Wooly Buggers, Breadcrust | Renegade, Damsel fly | May-Sept | Entire Lake | Rainbows stocked each year. Easy Access |
Hermosa Creek | Brook | Caddis fly Mayfly | Beadhead Prince, Muskrat, Pheasant Tail | HT L Variant, Stimulator | July-Oct | Upstream from Hermosa | Large population of Brook trout – mostly small fish. Dirt road & foot trail access |
Junction Creek | Brown Rainbow Brook | Caddis fly Mayfly | Caddis larva, A.P. Beaver | Humpy, Yel. Stone Dry | May July-Sept | Thru Durango & upstream from USFS Gate | Fun little stream – fish small- Colorado Trail Access |
La Plata River | Brown Rainbow Brook | Caddis fly Mayfly | AP Hendrickson, Cased Caddis | Adams, Peacock Caddis | July-Oct | Upstream from Mayday | Blow out in Spring, but many small fish in late summer |
Lemon Reservoir | Brown Rainbow Kokanee Salmon | Midges Other fish | Wooly Bugger | Midges, Mosquitos | May-Oct | Entire Lake | Inlet of Lemon good in late Summer – A few large Browns |
Lightner Creek | Brown Rainbow | Caddis fly Mayfly | Caddis Larva, Muddler | Wulffs, Irresistable | April-May July-Sept | Along Hwy 160 | Browns run up Lightner in early spring |
Lime Creek | Brown Rainbow Brook | Caddis Mayfly Stones | Beadheads, Caddis Larva | Renegade, Trude, Humpy | July-Oct | Entire Creek | Many fish – mostly 12″ and less |
Los Pinos River | Brown Rainbow Brook Cutthroat | Caddis fly Mayfly Terrestrials | Zug Bug, Hares Ear, Western Coachman | Goddard Caddis, Hoppers, Stimulators | July-Oct | Weminuche Wilderness | Fly & lure only – 2 fish limit upstream from Weminuche boundary |
Piedra River | Brown Rainbow | Salmon fly Caddis Mayfly | Giant Bl. Nymph, Yel. Stone Nymph | Yel. Stone Dry, Sofa Pillow | June-Oct | Upstream fm Hwy 160 | Fly & lure only – 2 fish limit lower CG to Piedra bridge – Huge Salmon fly pop. |
Vallecito Creek | Brown Rainbow Brook | Mayfly Midge | Hares Ear, Midge Pupa | Adams, Midge Dry | July-Sept | Upstream fm Vallecito campground | Crystal clear creek, fly & lure only – 2 fish limit upstream fm Weminuche boundary |
Vallecito Reservoir | Rainbow Kokanee Salmon Northern Pike | Other fish | Muddler | Rio Grande King | May-Oct | Entire lake | Past state records for Brown & Northern Pike |
Dolores above McPhee Res. | Rainbow Brown | Caddis Mayfly Stonefly | AP Black, Caddis Larva, Prince | Trude, Royal Wulff, Peacock Caddis | July-Oct | San Juan Natl Forest | A mix of private & FS lands |
Dolores below McPhee Res. | Rainbow Brown Cutthroat | Midges Mayfly Terrestrials | Midge Pupa, Baetis, Flashback, PMD-Nymph | Adult Midges, Comparadun, Hoppers | June-Nov | McPhee Dam Downstream | 12 miles fly & lure catch & release Bradfield Bridge to McPhee Dam |
San Juan- Colorado | Rainbow Brown | Caddis Mayfly Stonefly | Caddis Larva, Beadhead Prince, Wooly Bugger | ElkWing Caddis, Madam-X, Parachute Adams | Jul-Oct | Thru Pagosa Spgs. SJ NF on East & West Forks | 2 fish limit fm HWY 160 & HWY 184 downstream thru Pagosas Spgs |
San Juan – New Mexico below Navajo Dam | Rainbow Some Brown | Midges Small Mayfly | Midge Pupa, WD-40, Analids | Midge Adult, Comparadun, Sparkle Dun | All Year | From Navajo Dam to HWY 173 bridge | Special trout waters flies & lures only dam to cable catch & release. Cable down 3 1/2 mile 1 fish 20″ min. |