on a nice cabin and some fishing in the Durango Colorado area?

I'm headed up there the first week of august and fishing 4 days. This will be my first trip, so couldn't tell you much about the cabins up there, I'm staying at a Best Western lol. But there is lots of good fishing up there. I know that we're definitely going to be fishing the San Juan tailwater in new mexico for a day which is about an hour away. The animas runs right through town and there are a lot of other rivers in the area that are really good: the piedra, the pine, the dolores, the upper san juan, hermosa creek etc. I'm sure there are some people on this forum that have actually fished this area that will chime in, but from what I understand it's a great place to fish.

Will be headed that way around July 18th for a week. Looking at Durango, Pagosa Springs or South Fork area. Never been to Durango and thought I might try it this year for a change. I'll post something after I get back to try and help you out.

The animas can fish great but can muddy quickly...
Not far from the San Juan south and gunnison rivers system to the north...

Have fun!

Avoid the animas it will be crazy fast and super slippery

Talk to the guys at Duranglers, ask for their local fly, buy a hat and some leaders and they may just give up the goods on the creeks and tribs that are good during the runoff.

Hermosa Creek is a full day but beautiful. Hike in from the top of Hermosa Creek Trail and go in at least 3-4 miles. You can drive to top of trail from the purgatory resort area. The Creek is designated for native cutthroats and holds a lot. Keep hiking till u see fish, then hike another half mile and u will be in cutty heaven. Dries for sure, parachutes, bow's. Creep like a ninja on them, stand shadow behind you, they are spooked easily.

Hope Robert Hunter sees this. He will no doubt chime in when he does.

Look back at this subforum from 12 months ago, you will find good info on old posts for sure

Be prepared for rain storms out of nowhere. The locals refer to them as monsoons, lol. You know it as a rain shower.

If you have the $$$ get a guide one time, the rest of the trip will be easier.

Good Luck

You really need to go to the piedra at the up stream parking lot of the 12 mile foot or horse traffic only section. Start early but keep in mind there is definitely A good bear population in that area. There is a decent trail for the first couple of miles when you get to a bridge don't cross it and think you can go further downstream LOL. Stay to the right but going if you can five or 6 miles to about the halfway point and fish your way out going back upstream. You will not be disappointed the fish are everywhere and you will probably not see another angler until you get back to within a mile of the parking lot. The further downstream you go to the river takes on a lot of water from several feeder streams they may not look like they will be very fishable at first but if you work your way up one of those they will open up into Meadows and are great fishing on them as well. But the fish size in the main river in the middle of that stretch is very good. Stones,green drakes, caddis,and a variety of midges. Also the Los pinos(pine) at the steam train mess hall in between antonito and chama Will almost guarantee solitude and it is very stunning scenery. This is below all of the private water behind the damn there is very little pressure down there and work your way to the biggest and deepest pools there are definitely 20 inch fish in that stream. It is very small and intimate even though the flows are higher now a lot of times they are in the 50 -100 CFS range. Also don't forget about the conejo short drive and fantastic fishing.

Lol anythingflys I just saw that and I forgot about hermosa creek. That is another great idea! I love the back country cutthroat restoration projects that they have done the fishing is great.

And a good place for the family to spend the day Pagosa Springs if you don't mind catching stockers there are some real bruisers in there. As well as the occasional wild fish. You just have to avoid the rubber hatch(toobers) mid day. fish early spend the day with the family and fish the evening. If you don't mind dodging the toobs those fish see those people float over them all day I'm surprised they don't rise and try to eat them I have literally pulled numerous fish right in between several tubes of people holding on together. They are shocked when you pull a fish out.

http://sanjuanangler.com

The animas isn't a healthy river. Skip it.

I got kinfolk that was in Colorado last week and i asked if he got to do his fishing but he said he passed cause the water levels were too high and rushing too much from the snow and ice melting in the mountains . Not sure exactly where he went , just know it was East of Durango .

Thanks all. These post will be of a great help when I get there. With some good luck I can send back a report or two about fishing and none about bears.