Animas
River details
The Animas is a stunning, free-flowing river that tumbles its way through Durango
Colorado before heading into New Mexico and merging with the San Juan near Farmington
New Mexico.
The
Animas
is one of the West's best kept secrets. It
is know for some monster trout, but they will
not come
willingly. Animas trout can be very technical
and a challenge to catch. Decode this river
with an AVA guide. |
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Animas
River flows, guide
reports, hatches
and predictions
7-19-10 (if
this
date
is from
months
or years
ago,
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in your
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Flows
and Fishing Report
Flows
in Durango Colorado are very
low and clear, under 300 CFS and
on the drop. Midges, small caddis,
PMDs and PADs are hatching sporadically.
Fishing continues to be good,
but we
are on the water early and off
early. Fishing past 2PM may do
more harm than good to our coworkers.
Water temps are warming mid day
and the trend will continue if
these 99 degree days continue.
Come on rain!
Guide
Activity
All
Guide
Report
July 18 2010
Guide:
Will and Chris
Section:
Wade on Private Waters south
of Durango
Weather:
Sun/light breeze| AM temp
65 F | PM temp 99 F!
Hatches:
Small PMDs and PADs, midges.
Fishing:
Fished pretty well with nymphs
deep. Pocket water also fished
well with light nymph rigs
and small flies. There seems
to be a ton of small
fish in the system,
but
the
monsters continue to find
the flies. Looks like some
stocking has occurred in
Durango and on the southern
Ute waters.
For the most part these small
fish will be food for the
big browns. Over the past
week we have put
a number
of 18 to 21 inch fish to
the net as well as two monster
browns over 24 inches! It
has been fun, despite the
heat and dry weather.
Guide
Report
June 22 2010
Guide:
Marc
Section: Wade
through Durango Quality Waters
Weather: Sun
| AM temps 61 F | PM temps
85 F
Hatches: Some
caddis but not many mid day.
Some PMDs
Fishing:
Fished well with nymphs.
A few smaller fish to dries,
but subsurface was most
productive. A couple solid
fish in the 18 to 20 inch
range.
Guide
Report
May 12 2010
Guide:
Josh and Chris
Section: Floated
private waters south of Durango
Weather: Sun
and wind | AM temps 41 F |
PM temps 68 F
Hatches:
Some BWOs
Fishing:
Fished pretty well with
big streamers. Water
was a bit "off", but
clearing. At time some
nice fish chased and
climbed on big streamers.
Nice to catch a window
before full run-off kicks
in.
Guide
Report
March 23 2010
Guide:
Will
Section: Private
waters south of Durango in
AM and Durango Town Waters
in PM
Weather:
Clouds | AM temps 21 F
| PM temps 48F
Hatches:
Midges and BWOs
Fishing: Fishing
was good. The flows bumped
a bit and stained due to low
elevation snow melt. She was
very green with about 2 feet
of vis. A handful of fish were
suckers for nymphs under an
indicator. Streamer produced
more action however. Probably
because I fished it more than
the bobber rig.
Guide
Report
February 18 2010
Guide:
Will
Section: Private waters
south of Durango
Weather:
Sun with some clouds
| AM temps 24 F | PM
temps 42
F
Hatches: Small midges
Fishing: Very good with nymphs
fished deep. Some nice fish
to the streamer as well. We
also
managed to find a small pod
of trout eating midge adults
and
got a couple on dries. Fantastic
day for sure.
These
images are from that great
day on the water. There
will be a photo essay
posted soon in the photo
section. I hope sooner
than later. Big thanks
to Jim and Jack.
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Hatches
The Animas caddis are starting to slow down. PMDs, hoppers, tricos (lower
river) and terrestrials will be the insects to focus on.
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Winter:
Midges, sculpin
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Spring:
Midges, BWOs, caddis,
stones, sculpins,
fry, ducklings
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Summer:
Caddis, PMDs, tricos,
ants, hoppers,
sculpin, fry, small
birds and mammals
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Fall:
Hoppers, BWOs,
sculpins, young
trout fingerlings
Insects
and food in the system
Caddis pupa (both cased and free) caddis larva, midge larva and pupa, mayfly
nymphs, snails, stones, eggs, worms and sculpins.
Fly
patterns
Summer:
PMDs-Pheasant Tails,
PMD nymphs and
emergers in #14
to 18. Hair wing
dries in the same
sizes. Ants in
black or red, hoppers
in tan, yellow
and green. Caddis
pupa and larva
in tan, gray and
olive in sizes
16 to 20. Elk hair
caddis in the same
colors and sizes.
Sculpin patterns
in olive and natural.
Winter:
Midge
pupa size 18 to 24.
Red and brown larva
plus caddis nymphs
fished deep. Keep
a few small adams
and
midge adults in the
box in case you spy
a fish up on the
surface. Beatis nymphs
and emergers
in gray and brown,
sizes 18 to 22. Dries
are about the same
size and will be
dark olive to light
dun
in color.
Caddis
pupa and larva in 16s
and 18s. Cased caddis
in the same size range.
Streamers in black, brown, olive and natural. Vary your streamer size based
on water clarity and temperature. The dirtier the water, the bigger the bug.
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Predictions,
forecast and info
The
Animas is low, but
fishing is good. If the region
continues to be dry we will
see lower and lower flows.
When flows are too low to
float we will shift to wade
fishing the Animas.
Animas
has been designated
Gold Medal status by
the state of Colorado.
There is nearly 4 miles
of Quality Water that
starts just south of
Durango. The section
is from Lightner Creek
down stream to Dallabeta
Park. Rivers in the
state only earn this
status by high numbers
of quality trout.
There
is public access through
Durango, the Gold Medal
section and a few sections
on the Southern Ute
Reservation. A separate
fishing licence is
required to fish the
Ute waters.
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Guided
fly fishing on the Animas
River
The
Animas is a fantastic free-stone
river that runs right through
Durango Colorado. Perfect
river for full and 1/2
day trips. Looking to learn
a
few of the Animas secrets?
Book an AVA guide to help
you decode this tricky
but great fishery.
Animas
Valley Anglers offers guided
wade and float trips on
over 60 plus miles of the
Animas River. We offer
Animas Head-waters, tributary
creeks, upper Animas Canyon
via the Durango-Silverton
Historical Train, Valley
floats, town wade and floats,
Gold Medal Waters south
of Durango, private waters
and float trips into New
Mexico.
Thanks
to Jim Arl for some
of the winter Animas
shots
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