T_boy
07-04-2008, 05:48 PM
Animas River - The river level is dropping fast, and the water is beginning to clear. Wednesday's flow was 2,170 cfs at Durango. Fishing can be reasonably good using spinners, big Woolly Buggers, streamers and nymphs. Trout are rising for caddis flies in the evening; take care wading in the fast water.
Big Meadows Reservoir - Anglers report slow to fair action for rainbow trout and brook trout using the typical baits from shore. Evening fly fishing usually provides fast action for pan-sized brook trout.
Conejos River - Fishing has been excellent for brown and rainbow trout. Flows on Monday were 944 cfs at Mogote and 416 cfs below Platoro. Insect activity has increased, with a salmon fly and caddis hatches. Angling techniques include nymphing and dry- droppers in softer water (e.g. stonefly or Stimulator patterns in combination with a stonefly or other nymph), streamer fishing and spinners.
Dolores River (lower) - Fishing in the Dolores River below the dam is poor because little water is released from McPheee Reservoir. By July, flows will drop to just 70 cfs. To monitor the highly variable flows, log on to the Dolores Water Conservancy District Web site at www:doloreswater.com/releases.htm.
Dolores River (upper) - The river level is dropping, and the water is clearing. Fish the river high in the drainage, just below Rico, where public access is available and fish habitat is good. Use spinners, streamers or nymphs close to the bank.
Echo Canyon Reservoir - Trout fishing is good, especially in the early morning and at dusk. Use spinners, Power Bait or salmon eggs. Echo is a great place to take the kids for panfish. Use a bobber-and-worm setup to catch bluegills, largemouth bass and crappie.
Gunnison River (through the canyon) - Fishing conditions on the Gunnison have improved. The flow in the Gunnison Gorge is down to 1,430 cfs. Fish the high water by working the back side of runs. Fishing activity is all on top of the water now. Stoneflies are out in all their glory.
Haviland Lake - The lake north of Durango has been stocked with catchable-sized trout. Fishing with Power Bait, salmon eggs and small spoon-type lures has been fair to good.
Jackson Gulch Reservoir - Fishing for 12- to 15-inch rainbow trout has been very good. The west road and west-side fishing access are open. Green-colored Power Bait and night crawlers have been working. Small in-line spinners, worked fairly slowly near the bottom or trolled, will also work. Use small jigs tipped with a worm suspended about 20 feet under a slip bobber for the perch along the dam.
La Jara Reservoir - The reservoir is open and accessible, and water conditions are good. Fishing pressure has been light. Fishing has been slow. Good fishing for brook trout and splake is expected throughout the summer.
Los Pinos River - The river above Vallecito Reservoir still is dropping. Fishing is good in this section of the river, but it is accessible only on foot. Below the reservoir, the river runs through private property and access is limited.
McPhee Reservoir - Some 4,000 trout were stocked at McPhee recently, and anglers report that fishing is good. Those trolling are also reporting good catches of kokanee. Bass anglers report that action for smallmouths is strong.
Narraguinnep Reservoir - Fishing for pan-sized trout has been fair to good.
Navajo Reservoir - The water temperature is 66 degrees. The level is rising daily, and the water is clearing. Fishing for crappie remains good on minnows and jigs by the breakwater. Pike are being taken on minnows and crankbaits across the lake. Topwater fishing for bass has been good early and late. Bass also have been taking minnows, green crankbaits and plastics later in the day.
Piedra River - The river level is dropping, and the water is clearing. Fish Woolly Buggers, nymphs and dark-colored streamers close to the bank. The caddis hatch is underway.
Ridgway Reservoir - Ridgway Reservoir is nearly full. Brown trout are in the deeper water. Rainbows are hitting on gold Kastmasters, worms and red salmon eggs. Kokanee have been caught on corn. Many fishermen report catching their limits in the morning. The reservoir was stocked again on June 25 with 7,000 rainbow trout.
Rio Grande River - The river continues to drop but remains slightly above normal with good visibility along the shore. On Monday the river was flowing 2,560 cfs at Del Norte and 1,730 at Wagon Wheel Gap. Stonefly and caddis flies were hatching from South Fork to above Creede over the weekend. Float-fishing anglers reported good to excellent action for brown and rainbow trout using adult stonefly patterns (Sofa Pillow, etc.) and Elk-Hair-Caddis with a black body. Lures also were productive.
San Juan high-country lakes, streams - Some high-country waters are just now becoming accessible because of snow. Smaller creeks are clear, and fishing is good.
San Juan River - The river is only slightly off-color, and fishing is good. Use spinners, dark-colored nymphs and streamers. The town of Pagosa Springs is stocking the river every week through early August with about 800 trout ranging in size from 1 to 4 pounds.
Summit Reservoir - The lake was chemically treated to remove non-native white suckers last summer and was restocked with 20,000 8- to 9-inch rainbow trout in early spring. Those fish should be approaching 10-11 inches, providing some good opportunities for fishermen.
Trujillo Meadows Reservoir - The road is open to the reservoir. Good to excellent fishing for brown and rainbow trout is expected.
Vallecito Reservoir - Fishing for rainbow trout from shore has been good. Use salmon eggs, Power Bait, spinners or night crawlers. A mercury advisory has been issued for consumption of northern pike from the lake. Trout fishing at nearby Lemon Reservoir also is reported to be good.
Williams Creek Reservoir - The level is rising, and the water is cold. Fishing in the lake and the creek below has been fair. The outlet area has been among the most productive.
Big Meadows Reservoir - Anglers report slow to fair action for rainbow trout and brook trout using the typical baits from shore. Evening fly fishing usually provides fast action for pan-sized brook trout.
Conejos River - Fishing has been excellent for brown and rainbow trout. Flows on Monday were 944 cfs at Mogote and 416 cfs below Platoro. Insect activity has increased, with a salmon fly and caddis hatches. Angling techniques include nymphing and dry- droppers in softer water (e.g. stonefly or Stimulator patterns in combination with a stonefly or other nymph), streamer fishing and spinners.
Dolores River (lower) - Fishing in the Dolores River below the dam is poor because little water is released from McPheee Reservoir. By July, flows will drop to just 70 cfs. To monitor the highly variable flows, log on to the Dolores Water Conservancy District Web site at www:doloreswater.com/releases.htm.
Dolores River (upper) - The river level is dropping, and the water is clearing. Fish the river high in the drainage, just below Rico, where public access is available and fish habitat is good. Use spinners, streamers or nymphs close to the bank.
Echo Canyon Reservoir - Trout fishing is good, especially in the early morning and at dusk. Use spinners, Power Bait or salmon eggs. Echo is a great place to take the kids for panfish. Use a bobber-and-worm setup to catch bluegills, largemouth bass and crappie.
Gunnison River (through the canyon) - Fishing conditions on the Gunnison have improved. The flow in the Gunnison Gorge is down to 1,430 cfs. Fish the high water by working the back side of runs. Fishing activity is all on top of the water now. Stoneflies are out in all their glory.
Haviland Lake - The lake north of Durango has been stocked with catchable-sized trout. Fishing with Power Bait, salmon eggs and small spoon-type lures has been fair to good.
Jackson Gulch Reservoir - Fishing for 12- to 15-inch rainbow trout has been very good. The west road and west-side fishing access are open. Green-colored Power Bait and night crawlers have been working. Small in-line spinners, worked fairly slowly near the bottom or trolled, will also work. Use small jigs tipped with a worm suspended about 20 feet under a slip bobber for the perch along the dam.
La Jara Reservoir - The reservoir is open and accessible, and water conditions are good. Fishing pressure has been light. Fishing has been slow. Good fishing for brook trout and splake is expected throughout the summer.
Los Pinos River - The river above Vallecito Reservoir still is dropping. Fishing is good in this section of the river, but it is accessible only on foot. Below the reservoir, the river runs through private property and access is limited.
McPhee Reservoir - Some 4,000 trout were stocked at McPhee recently, and anglers report that fishing is good. Those trolling are also reporting good catches of kokanee. Bass anglers report that action for smallmouths is strong.
Narraguinnep Reservoir - Fishing for pan-sized trout has been fair to good.
Navajo Reservoir - The water temperature is 66 degrees. The level is rising daily, and the water is clearing. Fishing for crappie remains good on minnows and jigs by the breakwater. Pike are being taken on minnows and crankbaits across the lake. Topwater fishing for bass has been good early and late. Bass also have been taking minnows, green crankbaits and plastics later in the day.
Piedra River - The river level is dropping, and the water is clearing. Fish Woolly Buggers, nymphs and dark-colored streamers close to the bank. The caddis hatch is underway.
Ridgway Reservoir - Ridgway Reservoir is nearly full. Brown trout are in the deeper water. Rainbows are hitting on gold Kastmasters, worms and red salmon eggs. Kokanee have been caught on corn. Many fishermen report catching their limits in the morning. The reservoir was stocked again on June 25 with 7,000 rainbow trout.
Rio Grande River - The river continues to drop but remains slightly above normal with good visibility along the shore. On Monday the river was flowing 2,560 cfs at Del Norte and 1,730 at Wagon Wheel Gap. Stonefly and caddis flies were hatching from South Fork to above Creede over the weekend. Float-fishing anglers reported good to excellent action for brown and rainbow trout using adult stonefly patterns (Sofa Pillow, etc.) and Elk-Hair-Caddis with a black body. Lures also were productive.
San Juan high-country lakes, streams - Some high-country waters are just now becoming accessible because of snow. Smaller creeks are clear, and fishing is good.
San Juan River - The river is only slightly off-color, and fishing is good. Use spinners, dark-colored nymphs and streamers. The town of Pagosa Springs is stocking the river every week through early August with about 800 trout ranging in size from 1 to 4 pounds.
Summit Reservoir - The lake was chemically treated to remove non-native white suckers last summer and was restocked with 20,000 8- to 9-inch rainbow trout in early spring. Those fish should be approaching 10-11 inches, providing some good opportunities for fishermen.
Trujillo Meadows Reservoir - The road is open to the reservoir. Good to excellent fishing for brown and rainbow trout is expected.
Vallecito Reservoir - Fishing for rainbow trout from shore has been good. Use salmon eggs, Power Bait, spinners or night crawlers. A mercury advisory has been issued for consumption of northern pike from the lake. Trout fishing at nearby Lemon Reservoir also is reported to be good.
Williams Creek Reservoir - The level is rising, and the water is cold. Fishing in the lake and the creek below has been fair. The outlet area has been among the most productive.