Durango Area Fly Fishing Chart

Durango Area At-A-Glance Fly Fishing Chart 

 

 

 

Body of WaterFish SpeciesAquatic Food SourcesBest Patterns Sub-surfaceBest Patterns SurfaceBest MonthsPublic AccessOther Info
Animas RiverBrown Rainbow CutthroatCaddis SculpinsPrince, Caddis Larva, Muddler/SculpinParachute Adams, Hoppers, Elkwing Caddis Feb-April July-Nov32nd St South thru Durango & upstream fm RockwoodFly & lure fm Lightner Creek to Purple Ciffs, 2 fish 16″ min.
Cascade CreekBrown Rainbow BrookCaddis MayflyWestern Coachman, Hares EarHumpy, IrresistableJuly-OctEntire CreekLarge trout pop. – mostly small fish
Electra LakeRainbow Brook CutthroatMidge Shrimp Other fishBucktail Streamers, Wooly Buggers, Damsel NymphMidges, Damsel flyMay-Sept$8/day chargeOne of finest Brook trout populations in the state
Emerald LakeCut-bowShrimp Damsel fliesScuds, StreamersMidges, Damsel flyJuly-SeptEntire LakeFly & Lure only. 2 fish over 14″ or shorter
Florida RiverBrown Rainbow BrookCaddis Mayfly StoneflyBeeadhead, Hares Ear, Peeking Caddis, Zug BugYellow Sally, ElkWing Caddis, Royal WulffJune-SeptSan Juan Nat’l Forest upstream of Transfer ParkRugged canyon – no trails above Transfer Park
Haviland LakeRainbowDamsel Flies Midges CrayfishWooly Buggers, BreadcrustRenegade, Damsel flyMay-SeptEntire LakeRainbows stocked each year. Easy Access
Hermosa CreekBrookCaddis fly MayflyBeadhead Prince, Muskrat, Pheasant TailHT L Variant, StimulatorJuly-OctUpstream from HermosaLarge population of Brook trout – mostly small fish. Dirt road & foot trail access
Junction CreekBrown Rainbow BrookCaddis fly MayflyCaddis larva, A.P. BeaverHumpy, Yel. Stone DryMay July-SeptThru Durango & upstream from USFS GateFun little stream – fish small- Colorado Trail Access
La Plata RiverBrown Rainbow BrookCaddis fly MayflyAP Hendrickson, Cased CaddisAdams, Peacock CaddisJuly-OctUpstream from MaydayBlow out in Spring, but many small fish in late summer
Lemon ReservoirBrown Rainbow Kokanee SalmonMidges Other fishWooly BuggerMidges, MosquitosMay-OctEntire LakeInlet of Lemon good in late Summer – A few large Browns
Lightner CreekBrown RainbowCaddis fly MayflyCaddis Larva, MuddlerWulffs, IrresistableApril-May July-SeptAlong Hwy 160Browns run up Lightner in early spring
Lime CreekBrown Rainbow BrookCaddis Mayfly StonesBeadheads, Caddis LarvaRenegade, Trude, HumpyJuly-OctEntire CreekMany fish – mostly 12″ and less
Los Pinos RiverBrown Rainbow Brook CutthroatCaddis fly Mayfly TerrestrialsZug Bug, Hares Ear, Western CoachmanGoddard Caddis, Hoppers, Stimulators July-OctWeminuche WildernessFly & lure only – 2 fish limit upstream from Weminuche boundary
Piedra RiverBrown RainbowSalmon fly Caddis MayflyGiant Bl. Nymph, Yel. Stone NymphYel. Stone Dry, Sofa PillowJune-OctUpstream fm Hwy 160Fly & lure only – 2 fish limit lower CG to Piedra bridge – Huge Salmon fly pop.
Vallecito CreekBrown Rainbow BrookMayfly MidgeHares Ear, Midge PupaAdams, Midge DryJuly-SeptUpstream fm Vallecito campgroundCrystal clear creek, fly & lure only – 2 fish limit upstream fm Weminuche boundary
Vallecito ReservoirRainbow Kokanee Salmon Northern PikeOther fishMuddlerRio Grande KingMay-OctEntire lakePast state records for Brown & Northern Pike
Dolores above McPhee Res.Rainbow BrownCaddis Mayfly StoneflyAP Black, Caddis Larva, PrinceTrude, Royal Wulff, Peacock CaddisJuly-OctSan Juan Natl ForestA mix of private & FS lands
Dolores below McPhee Res.Rainbow Brown CutthroatMidges Mayfly TerrestrialsMidge Pupa, Baetis, Flashback, PMD-NymphAdult Midges, Comparadun, HoppersJune-NovMcPhee Dam Downstream12 miles fly & lure catch & release Bradfield Bridge to McPhee Dam
San Juan- ColoradoRainbow BrownCaddis Mayfly StoneflyCaddis Larva, Beadhead Prince, Wooly BuggerElkWing Caddis, Madam-X, Parachute AdamsJul-OctThru Pagosa Spgs. SJ NF on East & West Forks2 fish limit fm HWY 160 & HWY 184 downstream thru Pagosas Spgs
San Juan – New Mexico below Navajo DamRainbow Some BrownMidges Small MayflyMidge Pupa, WD-40, AnalidsMidge Adult, Comparadun, Sparkle DunAll YearFrom Navajo Dam to HWY 173 bridgeSpecial trout waters flies & lures only dam to cable catch & release. Cable down 3 1/2 mile 1 fish 20″ min.