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Root Pond trophy trout lake details

Root Pond is an 8-acre private trophy trout lake
that Animas Valley Anglers has exclusive access to fish.

Root Pond is tucked away in draw west of Durango, hidden amongst the rolling Pinto bean fields surrounded by Pinion pine, sage brush and small willows.




Root Pond levels, guide reports and hatches
7-20-10
(if this date is from months or years ago, just click refresh in your browser)
Fishing report
Fishing has been slow. Warm temps have kept the fish deep.

Guide activity: Will, Chris and Matt

Guide Report
June 7, 2010
Guide: Will
Section: Entire lake
Weather: Sun with some clouds | AM temps 75 F | PM temps 95 F
Hatches: Midges and cali baetis, damsels and dragon flies
Fishing: Slow some small rainbows and brookies eating on the surface.

Hatches
Summer hatches on Root Pond are large midges, damsel flies, cali beatis, ants
  • February-March: Some midges, fry, crawfish, aquatic fleas-good streamer fishing
  • April: Giant midges, cali beatis, fry, crawfish, aquatic fleas-great streamer fishing
  • May: Midges, may flies, ants, damsels, dragon flies, fry, crawfish, aquatic fleas
  • June: Damsels, dragons, hoppers, fry, crawfish, aquatic fleas
  • July/Aug/Sep: Too warm to fish
  • Oct/Nov: Midges and streamers

Fly patterns
Book a trip and learn about the Root Pond Spider!

The trout, bass and others
Most trout in Root Pond are a Donaldson-Bailey cross. They definitely show off their steelhead traits with long power runs and thrashing leaps. There are also a few cut-bows lurking about too. There are also monstrous crappie and yellow perch.

We also have nursed a small population of largemouth and smallmouth bass. They are getting bigger and can be a blast on the fly rod.

Predictions and forecast
Root is a great place to fish when all the streams in the Southwest are high and muddy.

The season
Late February or early march kicks off our Root Pond season and extends to early July. Our fall season starts in late September and goes through October depending on air and water temps.

In the spring, fish destroy streamers and will pounce on midges. The midges, looking like bats, are large compared to their San Juan cousins. April through June is when the cali baetis and damsel flies hatch. There will be thousands of blue adult damsels flying and mating all over the place, and it is common to see mating pairs snatched from the air by an aggressive, impatient trout. Due to the high protein diet some fish are as big around as they are long. Fish size ranges from 13 to 24 inches.

Still water fly fishing you just have to experience
This pond has become a fantastic place to fish regardless of ability. If you are just beginning in the sport of fly fishing, or if you have years under your belt on all types of water you will find Root Pond to be a special and exciting place to wet a line.

The pond is deep and clear, allowing full view of fish cruising weed beds, rock points and long flats in search of grub. We float it in our standard drift boats or skiffs. This gives the angler the ability to spot fish, lead the fish with a cast and hopefully hook and play it.

The fish are big and strong. These "football" shaped rainbow, brown and brook trout are so strong they will rip the rod right out of your hand. The trout range from 1 to 4 pounds with 7 pounders lurking deep in the weed beds. They absolutely love to crush streamers and the gulping dry fly takes are very cool. Be it a diet of crawfish or damsels we have no idea why these fish are so incredibly wicked and strong. Many of these fish have abnormally large girth.

Guided Fly Fishing on the Root Pond
We offer full day trips on Root Pond. We fish Root out of our drift boats. W also offer a combo trip in the spring; fish Root Pond in the morning, then finish the day on the Dolores.



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Licensed, Insured, Bonded | Permits: Navajo Lake State Parks, USFS, BLM, DOW | Colorado Guide License #2008