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Dec 30th, 2023
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 Pagosa Springs - Durango help
#12374469
08/06/17 01:07 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528
krawlin 47
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528 |
I am looking at hitting either the Piedra River or the Pine - realizing I will need to hike in. (We are staying at Lake Vallecito)
Fairly new to Fly Fishing and would appreciate any tips on areas you may recommend to fish and trails to get there. I am prepared to hike in so going in 5 miles is expected and have a pack and tent if it would be best to stay the night.
I found the Durangler fly shop and plan on stopping in early for some input but would love to hear yours!
Whether you think you can or you can't, you are probably right.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12374490
08/06/17 01:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,101
Turf Dawg
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,101 |
When are you going? We will be in Pagosa Springs the 17th-21st.
Turf Dawg Landscaping
Texas Licensed Irrigator
LI 0020041
Commercial Pesticide Applicator for Turf and Ornamental, Pasture & Rangelands and Right-of-Way
Texas Dept of Agriculture license #0525163
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12374657
08/06/17 04:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528
krawlin 47
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TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528 |
We are headed up the 11th through the 18th
Whether you think you can or you can't, you are probably right.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12374688
08/06/17 05:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 225
YAKnIT
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 225 |
You could also try Vallecito creek. It flows into the northwest corner of that lake. Go to the campground and then hike up.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12374816
08/06/17 07:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528
krawlin 47
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528 |
I am definitely eyeballing that as well...have you fished this area?
Whether you think you can or you can't, you are probably right.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12375158
08/07/17 12:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,397
texasflycaster
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,397 |
Here's a couple of stories over the last ten years - http://bit.ly/2uxe5s1 (pimped link to a google search of stories on Texas Fly Caster (FYI)).
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12377850
08/08/17 09:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528
krawlin 47
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528 |
Thank you TexasFlyCaster....great info!
Whether you think you can or you can't, you are probably right.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12378744
08/09/17 01:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,397
texasflycaster
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,397 |
Quite welcome. I used to go to Pagosa after the summer rush, and my experiences were that the fish were pretty worn out and hard to come by. But the water was not crowded, and you can still find fish if you are willing to go further, and get more remote than the other Texans.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12379058
08/09/17 04:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 93
dbltea
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 93 |
The Piedra has been fishing great this year. I have caught some nice fish in the lower sections above First Fork but the problem with the lower Piedra is it gets muddy in hurry and we have had a lot of rain this summer. The Upper Piedra has been really good too but you need to go 3+ miles downriver to find some privacy but carry your rain jacket and be prepared to get a little wet.
You can't go wrong with the Pine and the further you are willing to walk past the private ranch the better.
The San Juan in town has been good and they stocked some nice fish this year ...the tube hatch should be slowing down so it's a little more enjoyable.
Little bit of a drive but the Rio Grande drainage has been really good too this summer.
Ah hell ...this is paradise ...get a map ...find a blue line or blue dot and cast away ...you can't go wrong!
Williams creek is the only area that probably is not worth it ...it's my home water and it fishes great till mid July but then it gets skinny and hammered so I let it be till late fall.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12379530
08/09/17 10:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 225
YAKnIT
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 225 |
I am definitely eyeballing that as well...have you fished this area?
I wasstaying at Vallecito about 5 years ago and fished Vallecito Creek one night. I had moderate success but wasn't on the water all that long. It was more pocket water in some areas whereas the Pine was mostly wide open runs/riffles.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: dbltea]
#12380942
08/10/17 09:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528
krawlin 47
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528 |
The Piedra has been fishing great this year. I have caught some nice fish in the lower sections above First Fork but the problem with the lower Piedra is it gets muddy in hurry and we have had a lot of rain this summer. The Upper Piedra has been really good too but you need to go 3+ miles downriver to find some privacy but carry your rain jacket and be prepared to get a little wet.
You can't go wrong with the Pine and the further you are willing to walk past the private ranch the better.
The San Juan in town has been good and they stocked some nice fish this year ...the tube hatch should be slowing down so it's a little more enjoyable.
Little bit of a drive but the Rio Grande drainage has been really good too this summer.
Ah hell ...this is paradise ...get a map ...find a blue line or blue dot and cast away ...you can't go wrong!
Williams creek is the only area that probably is not worth it ...it's my home water and it fishes great till mid July but then it gets skinny and hammered so I let it be till late fall. Thank you very much! I hope to make this area my home for the summertime very soon! We will be looking at land around Pagosa Springs while we are there. Vallecito is finally starting to recover from the fire in 2001 - we were there just a month before it burnt.
Whether you think you can or you can't, you are probably right.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12381942
08/11/17 04:00 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,845
kodys'papa
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 17,845 |
Good luck on your trip and hope you find a spot. Conditions just getting right for me on the conejos. I can wade without fear of drowning in the big river. You should do well over there and Summer around here does not suck...
Hooking a fish is like playing string with a cat. The exact size, shape, color of string matters less than how you wiggle it- and little cats are easier to fool than big ones. John Gierach
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12395044
08/21/17 07:46 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,528
krawlin 47
OP
TFF Guru
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Posts: 18,528 |
Well...I was blown away by the upper Pine River! We hiked up about 5 miles and tent camped...fish everywhere! Caught a few rainbows and trees! LOL I am totally hooked on this type of fishing and can not wait to get back. Next trip we will make it a four day adventure and hike up to Emerald Lake. Everyone we talked to could not stop raving about what an amazing place it is...pictures of Emerald Lake looked insane! I will be losing at least 25 pounds before I do that again! At 8,000 ft carrying a 50# pack I was a dead sucker when we found our place to set up - the hike back was not as bad, I think because of the beer in the back of my truck that was on ice!
I did go check out the Piedra as well as the Animas...decided the hike up the Pine would be best and it did not disappoint. What a phenomenal area!
Hiked up Vallecito Creek as well - it was so pretty we bought a house! Not kidding! Many more trips to come!
Whether you think you can or you can't, you are probably right.
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12395793
08/22/17 03:53 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,174
Robert Hunter
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,174 |
I'll second the pieadra and pine as well as the hiking on both!!!! Amazing fisheries especially when you get further away from being able to fall out of the car into the river:)
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Re: Pagosa Springs - Durango help
[Re: krawlin 47]
#12395874
08/22/17 11:10 AM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 676
Hawkpuppy 1
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 676 |
The Piedra is one I'm going to hit in a month or so when I'm up there. Looking forward to seeing some new water...
Strip, strip....set
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