Fly fishing stream and guide reports for the San Juan, Animas near Durango and other streams and lakes in the Southwest.​

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• San Juan Quality Waters - Midges near the dam, with baetis (BWO) coming off in good numbers down stream.

• San Juan lower river - a few baetis, but kinda thin. Should see PMDs and caddis by mid May.

• Animas - Some midges and baetis but hatches are light. Streamer time.

• Rio Grande - some baetis but it has been streamer time as the flows rise.

• Pine - Not much, still low

• Dolores - pretty low

• Florida - still super low

• Streams - still cold and snowed over

• Lakes (low elevation) - Midges and some cali baetis

• Lakes (high elevation) - cold and still iced.

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If you need details feel free to call, text or email us for more detailed fly fishing stream report.

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Most of Rio Epic guides have been spending time on the San Juan below Navajo Dam both in the Quality Waters and our private lease.

 

REO guides have also been floating and wading the Animas River near Durango. Flows have been low but the warm weather this past week it is bumping up close to floatable flows.

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The Rio had a bump in flow and all the edge-ice has melted off so it is pretty much go time.

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We also have been putting some time in on the Pine and a couple days on the Dolores but slows are low and the fish sleepy.​​​​​​​​​​​

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Area lakes like Vallecito, Lemon and Navajo Lake have also been producing some rewards of late.​​​​​​​​

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San Juan Quality Waters are clear and small bugs are the ticket for hookups. Nymphs aim for Red Annelids (18-24), grey and black midge pupa (20-26), cream midge larva (22-24), BWO's like foam wings in grey and chocolate, RS2, flashback baetis is sizes 18-22. Eggs and worms can have their place but mainly as a point fly. Dries look at Griffiths Gnat, micro Adams, shuck buster midge, BWOs all in sizes 18-26.

 

As the warm weather kicks in the Rio and Animas are going to color up. The dirty water is best fished with larger streamers. Try these streamers to move larger browns and possibly rainbows.

Streamers: Barely Legal, Dungeon, Peanut Envy, Pearl Necklace and Sculpzilla. All of these articulated style flies we tend to fish larger in larger sizes in dirty water. Colors typically black, olive and brown.​​​​​​​​​​

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Spring is also junk fly time of year. Eggs, worms, buggers and mop flies.​​

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