Cimarron
UPDATED: 05/11/2012
The FORKS OF THE CIMARRON-EAST-MIDDLE-WEST: If chasing wild fish in small rivers is your thing, this is your place. With an elevation of 9600 feet each of these rivers have there own high alpine breathtaking valley. All three forks have an abundance of pocket water, small pools and riffles. Great hatches can be expected throughout the summer. A dry fly fisherman's dream.
Happening Now: You can access the forks of the Cimarron if you drive up from the town of Cimarron. Owl Creek Pass is not open yet. Fishing is a little slow with the higher flows. Dry/Dropper rigs will be your best bet. Fish a larger attractor dry fly size 12 + and a Hotwire Prince olv/cop #14 or a Black Montana Prince #14 as a dropper.
Most Productive: Dry/Dropper
Water Clarity: Fair
Recommended Gear: Tenkara
Big Cimarron: This section of the Cimarron is below Silver Jack Reservoir. Technically this is a tailwater, but it doe's fish like one. Dry/Dropper's are the rule. Bigger pools, run's and pocket dominate this section of river. Casting can be tight with all of the large coniferous trees along the river.
Happening Now:Runoff has turned the river off color but the fishing is still ok. Caddis are really starting to pop and the stone fly nymphs are moving around a lot.
Most Productive: Nymphing
Water Clarity: Fair
Recommended Gear: Tenkara
Flow Information
Nymphs: Red Copper John #14-18, Red San Juan Worms #12, Befuse Wired Stone Golden #12-14, Twenty Incher #6-12
Cimarron Map
Gunnison
UPDATED: 05/16/2012
EAST PORTAL: This stunning stretch of the Gunnison River with it's towering Granite walls is located inside the Black Canyon National Park. This stretch of the river is a Classic Western Tail-water fishery. Small flies and Scuds are the general rule. July is the exception, you can throw larger Golden Stone nymphs and Drys.
Happening Now: The East Portal is fishing great, we are having huge hatches of BWO's and Midges. The Cloudiest days will be the best for the Blue Wing Olive hatches. With the low flows you will not need to add any weight, fish small flies with tungsten beads. Use this tungsten beaded fly as your first fly on a two fly rig.
Most Productive: Nymphing
Water Clarity: Excellent
Happening Now: Blue Wing Olive's and Caddis have taken over the Gorge this week. The Stone fly's are starting to stage on the banks, the hatch is close. We have been seeing a few Skwalla stone flies on the water as well. We recommend fishing a 12' to 15' Fluorocarbon Leader for the clear low flows. Nymphing will be your best bet, with smaller flies all day. You can switch to a Dry/Dropper in the evening. Fish a Caddis with a mayfly dropper on this rig.
Most Productive: Nymphing
Water Clarity: Excellent
Happening Now: The Stone Fly's are starting to stage on the banks, the Hatch is close! Blue Wing Olive's ,Midges and Caddis will be the main hatches the next few week's. We again recommend using 12'-15' Fluorocarbon Leader on this part of the river. The river is wide and shallow, so only fish the Deeper runs. Concentrate on nymphing with Mayfly patterns and Stone Fly Nymphs. You will have the opportunity in the evening to cast some Caddis Dry Flies and BWO drys if it is cloudy.
Most Productive: Nymphing
Water Clarity: Excellent
Flow Information
NYMPHS: Half Back #12-6, Juan's I Stone #12,Berry's Salmon Fly Nymph #8-6, Pat's Rubber Legs #12-6Tung. Pocket Water Beatis #20, Tung. Micro May Olive #20, BH F/B Pheasant Tail #18, Mayhem-Black #20, Mercury Rs2 #18, Blk/Olive Tung. Copper John #18, Hot Belly P.T. Pink #16, Killer May Brn. #18, Black Beauty #22, Dynamite Midge Brn/Org. #18
Gunnison Map
San Miguel
UPDATED: 05/09/2012
SAN MIGUEL: This beautiful free stone river has a lot to offer the fly angler. The valley floor just down river from, Telluride offers a stretch of the river that cuts it's way through the trees and medows. The River changes a few miles down stream to a qwicker flow and bigger water. Pocket water is abundant with a few long runs, and deep pools. Dry/Droppers rigs are perfect for this river.
Happening Now: With runoff in full swing, fish earlier in the morning. The water will be at it's clearest then. Stick with a nymphing rig or a large attractor dry fly size 12 or larger, with a dropper. Concentrate your efforts on pocket water and seam lines. Nymphing with larger stone fly patterns and worms will produce through out run-off.
Most Productive: Nymphing or Dry/Dropper
Water Clarity:Poor-Fair
Flow Information
Nymphs: Tung. Stone #12, D.B. Hare's Ear Stone, Girddle Bug Olive #12, I.E.D. Worm #8, San Juan Worm Red and Purple #12, Tung. Cased Caddis #14
San Miguel Map
Uncompahgre
UPDATED: 05/14/2012
UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER: The section of water that lies inside Ridgway State Park "Pa-Co-Chu-Puk" or just Paco, is a fly anglers dream. This tailwater has something for everyone. If chasing fish pushing 30 inches is your game or throwing dry's to rising fish all summer. This is one of the best places to do it. You can access and fish Paco year round, winter months bring little fishing pressure.
Happening Now: Paco is fishing great. The fish have woken up and are ready and willing to eat. From sunrise to 1 0’clock you can fish larger Stone Fly Nymphs #12-8. You will want these nymphs to be on the bottom of the river. Caddis will start to pop up as the water warms a few more degree's. After 1 o'clock stick with a Tung. Midge or Beatis pattern for your first fly with an unweighted fly as your second. We are recomending Flourocarbon Leader and tippet for the very clear water. Your leader's should be 10' to 12' in length.
Most Productive: Nymphing-Czech Nymphing-Tenkara
Water Clarity: Excellent
Flow Information
Nymphs: D.B. Hare's Ear Stone #12, Twenty Incher #12, Dave's Golden Stone #8 Black Beauty #22, Dynimite Midge Brn/Org #18, Zebra Midge #22, Miracle Midge #22, Tung. Chocolate Midge #18, Skinny Nelson #18, Rs2 #20, Mayhem Blk. #20, Barr Emerger BWO #20, F/B BH Phesant Tail #18, Green Copper John #18-14, Red Copper John #18
