Cimarron
UPDATED: 08/17/2019
The FORKS OF THE CIMARRON: EAST-MIDDLE-WEST: If you love chasing wild fish in small rivers, this is your place. At an elevation of 9,600 feet, each fork is located in their own high alpine valley. All three have an abundance of pocket water, small pools and riffles, all coupled with exceptional views. Great hatches can be expected throughout the summer and into fall. These rivers are a dry fly fisher's dream and are also great for Tenkara.
Happening Now: The forks are fishing great! Waters are at a great level and clarity is good meaning the fish are hungry. Dry Fly activity has be really good!! General attracters patterns have been preforming well in both dries and nymphs Watch the weather as our seasonal rains can affect clarity. Each fork cleares up in less than a day as long as the rain doesn't continue each afternoon.
Most Productive:Dry fly with small attractors and hoppers with the nymph dropped off the back
Water Clarity: Great visability
Recommended Gear: 9' to 12' Tenkara rods or shorter and lighter fly rods in the 2 to 4-wt. range work best.
BIG CIMARRON: This section of the Cimarron is below Silver Jack Reservoir and offers several miles of uninterrupted and remote fly fishing opportunities. Technically this is a tailwater but it doesn't fish like one. When flows are below 60 cfs, shallow dry/dropper rigs are the rule. However, for the deeper pools or during higher flows, deep nymphing will produce the biggest fish. Casting can be tight, with lots of vegetation and limited trails along the river, so be prepared to "earn it" in order to access this section.
Happening Now:This section is still running high making mobility difficult. Water has recently goon off color from the lake turning over. Give this section a week to get back to normal.
Most Productive: Indicator nymphing
Water Clarity:Cloudy
Recommended Gear:Nymphs under a small indicator, use 3 to 4-wt. fly rods with a soft/slow dry fly action. Also, 13' Tenkara rods with a stiffer 6.4 action or better will work well.
Flow Information
Dry Flies (for dropper rigs): Goddard caddis 12-14#, Para Adams 12-16#, Chubby Chernobyl #10-8 Donky Kong Hopper #14, Iwan-e-dun Pink #14-20
Nymphs: Quasimodo Pheasant Tail #16, BH Prince #14-16, Psycho Prince Purple #14 - 16, Two Bit Hooker Red #16, San Juan Worm Red #16, Hare's Ear #14 -16, Micro May #16-18 Blow Torch #16
Cimarron River Map
Gunnison
UPDATED: 08/17/2019
EAST PORTAL: The East Portal is located at the upper end of the Black Canyon inside the Black Canyon National Park. This is the only access point into the Black Canyon in which you can drive directly to the river, and is subject to seasonal closures. Once you are down on the Gunnison River you are surrounded by towering granite walls some as high as 2,000 feet. The East Portal is a classic western tailwater, and a gorgeous place to visit.
Happening Now: The flows are down to around 1,000 and "Gunni Green" and fishing really good. the waters still above the average meaning the runs are still deep so don't make your setup to shollow. Fish are happy and hungry! Mayfly nymphs have been the most productive
Most Productive:Mayfly patterns as well as scuds and worms. Mayfly nymphs and Caddis have been moveing and the fish are looking to feed. Looking for rising fish with Mayfly adults as well as Caddis
Water Clarity: Gunny Green
GUNNISON GORGE: This is a magical and beautiful place to fish, especially float fishing! Most famous for the Salmon Fly hatch in May/June. This is a great section of river if you want to get away from the crowds of the East Portal or lower sections around Pleasure Park. The only access to the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness section is by hiking one of the four trails or a Three Day Float fishing Trip with RIGS.
Happening Now: Levels are back dowh hopefully for the rest of the year. Levels are great for floating as well as wade fishing. PMD's, and Caddis are coming off and fish are more than willing to rise! Fishing form the drift boat has been stellar!
Water Clarity: Good Gunni Green
Recommended Gear: A 9' to 10' 6-wt. fast action fly rod, with a high sensitivity large arbor reel and solid drag system, will give you the stopping power to fight big rainbows and browns. Heavier tippet in the 2x to 4x range can always be fished in the "Gunny Green" waters and will be needed especially when float fishing the technical waters.
Most Productive: Dry dropper fishing tight to the bank as well as single dryfly still keeping tight to the bank. Streamer fishing has been good on cloudy days. Hopper season is amazing this year, the fish have been taking smaller hopper patterns.
Happening Now: The hopper fishing has been Steady with the emergence of the trico's causing fish to pod up and feed in foam lines. Hopper Dropper with a heavy smaller nymph trailed with a trico emerger.
Recommended Gear: 5 and 6-wt. fly rods, 9' to 9' 6" with a matching fly line and a reel with a good drag system for fighting big fish.
Most Productive: Dry dropper with hopper and nymphs as dropper. Nymphing with small patterns, mayfly nymphs and brighter flashy nymphs. Dry Dropper with smaller hoppers and frenchies tight to the bank has been the most productive.
Water Clarity: Gunny Green
Flow Information
Dry Flies:Morrish hopper #8-14, More or less hopper #8-14, Kingfisher golden #12, Parachute BWO #20, Para Adams #22 Extended body BWO #18-22, Yellow Sallie #12-14
Nymphs:Frenchie #12-16, Magic fly BWO #22, Micro Mayfly Olive #18, Juju Baetis #18 - 20, RS2 #18-22 Olive, Brown, Gray, Two Bit Hooker Red #16-18, Frenchie #14-16, Pats Rubber Legs #6-8, 20 Inchers #8-10,
Streamers:Montana Mouthwash Olive or White #6, Dirty Hippy Platte ( single or Double), She Deamon Brown #6
Gunnison River Map
San Miguel
UPDATED: 08/18/2019
SAN MIGUEL: The stretch of the San Miguel just downstream of Telluride meanders through meadows and trees, and provides a prime example of a Colorado freestone river. The river changes a few miles downstream with some bigger and faster water. Pocket water is abundant with a few long runs and deep pools. In the summer fishing both tight to the banks as well as around cover can produce solid fish.
Happening Now: Flows have come down alot but still running high. Water is very fishable but with all the moisture the banks are over grown making mobility difficult. Car hopping holes has been the most productive. Wading is still difficult as the water is still pushy.
Recommended Gear: This river is perfect for lighter weight fly rods in the 3 to 4-wt. range and also Tenkara rods. Tenkara rods are best from 12' to 13' in length and 6:4 (medium) flex. A floating Tenkara line will allow you to fish dry flies with ease.
Most Productive: Dry Dropper Fishing with a heavy nymph
Water Clarity High but coming down every day and is fishable
Flow Information
Dry Flies: Chubby Chernobyle #12-10 Purple, Gold, Royal, 409 #12 Yellow or Purple, Stimulater #14-12
Nymphs: Tung Dart #12 Red, Wire stone #14-12 Brown, Montana Prince #14, Two Bit Hooker #18-14 all colors, Lucent Pt Jig #14 Orange
San Miguel River Map
Uncompahgre
UPDATED: 08/20/2019
UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER AT PA-CO-CHU-PUK: "Pa-Co-Chu-Puk" or just Paco, is the section of the Uncompahgre River that lies inside Ridgway State Park and is a fly fisherman's dream. It is one of the best tailwaters in the state and holds fish well over 10 pounds. Paco offers easy access for beginners or those with mobility issues, and is a year-round fishing destination with great hatches throughout the year. This is one of the best places to throw dry flies during summer. July through September can be on fire with Caddis, Green Drake and PMD hatches!
Happening Now: Fishing at Paco Chu Puk has been steady with the water clarity being great. We have seen a few fish starting to look up but the nymphing has still been the most productive. PMD's have started to hatch in the late evening around 6pm and has been lasting until dark. Flows are back to normal for this time of year. Move slow and take your time in each hole to make sure your not spooking any fish that are sitting close to the bank.
Recommended Gear: 5 and 6-wt. fly rods, 9' to 9' 6" with a matching fly line and a reel with a good drag system for those big fish.
Most Productive: Heavy tandem nymph rig with leeches and red midges or BWO emergers.
Water Clarity: Good
Flow Information
Nymphs: Foam Wing Emerger #20-24, Killer Mayfly Black/Olive/Brown #22-24, Matt's Neon Nightmare Midge (Orange/Pink) #18-22, Johnny Flash Gray/Chocolate #22 - 24, Barr's Emerger BWO #22, Matt's Hell Razor Leech #12, Mayor's Mini Leech #16 Matt's Demon Midge #18-22, Matt's Mighty Midge Red or Blue #18-22, Barr's Emerger BWO #20-22, Get Down Worm #10-12, Depth Charge Jig #12
Streamers:Montana Mouth Wash, Dirty Hippie, Fortune Cookie
Uncompahgre River Map
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The best in Southwest Colorado Fly Fishing, plan your trip with RIGS
If you are planning on fishing in Colorado this year, RIGS “Reel Time” fishing report includes up to date information on conditions, flows, flies, a hatch guide, weather, maps and more. RIGS Colorado fishing report is regularly updated and provides all the information you need for fly fishing on the Gunnison River (Black Canyon National Park & Gunnison Gorge), San Miguel River, Uncompahgre River & Cimarron River. Fishing in Colorado has never been better, especially in the Southwestern part of the State. For more information on the regions top fly fishing destinations along with the best Colorado fishing report, come by in person or visit RIGS Fly Shop online. We are located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in historic downtown Ridgway within one hour of Ouray, Telluride, Montrose and Silverton Colorado. If you are fishing in Colorado, RIGS fish report will keep you up to date on all of the happenings in the region.
