Well my first time to Colorado coming this August and obviously I will be fishing as much as possible so my question is do I need to take my full bib waders or is that overkill? Just hip waders or shorts and boots only?

Wet wade you'll be fina after the first few min lol. I'll map you some places but I would reserve a day to hit the San Juan in New Mexico while your there.

Oh waders for sure on San Juan though.

Was up there two weeks ago. They had a lot of snow up until about then. Water is already starting to flow. It will be a good year there. And the other side around South Fork.

I've never taken waders to southern Colorado in the summer, but that's just me.

Yeah I just didn't want to look like a total newbie

I fished several years ago around July at Pagosa Springs. There is San Juan river flowing by and they seem stock trouts during summer. I fished with my shorts and did not have any problem. You may find a bunch of tubbing people all around you.

But if you want to go fishing San Juan, that is a different story. The water coming from Navajo Dam is really cold. So I suggest using a wader.

I've fished Pagosa a couple times in summer, it was chilly when first getting in, but got used to it real quick. No real need for waders. Fishing there in town is fantastic, lots of fun.

Make sure you check the flow on the San Juan.

Absolutely take your waders.

Lots of creeks and alpine lakes up around Wolf Creek pass too

Venture up to Box Canyon above Creede which is located 20 miles from South Fork