Rio Epic Fly Fishing and Guide Reports - Summer 2019



Guide and fishing reports for the San Juan Quality Waters, Rio Grande, Dolores, Pine, Animas and other streams of Southwest Colorado. Snowpack, snow science and USGS stream flows.

If the reports don’t seem up-to-date please refresh your browser. If that doesn’t do it just drop us a line and ask us how the fishing is. We try to update every couple days, but we are on the water way more than on the computer!



SAN JUAN - Quality Waters
New Mexico



Flows: On the drop to 500 cfs!
4900 CFS Below Navajo



The San Juan, especially the Quality Waters, offers some of the most consistent fishing in the Southwest. Could be argued the entire lower 48 for that matter.


High flows have been a blast to fish. High flows move fish to the edges and at times fishing has been good to awesome. As flows drop the fish tend to feed throughout the day. Insect hatches should start to intensify.


Hatch: High water bugs have been best producers but midge and BWOs continue to work. Anillids have been very consistent. Midge pupa/larva, anillids, eggs, white and black leeches, Rainbow trout streamers!


Forecast: Flows will start to drop around June 13th to the 16th. Once the river drops the fishing will just get better and better.


San Juan NM flows

SAN JUAN - Lower River
New Mexico



Flows: Rolling with debris
4650 CFS Below Navajo



The lower Juan is rolling with high flows. Fishing has been OK and will improve as flows become stable. As flows drop we will be floating the private waters float a bit more.


Hatch: BWOs, PMDs, midges, caddis, stones


Forcast: We see the lower fishing well most of the summer. Heavy summer rains can blow out washes making it muddy.


San Juan NM flows

San Juan - near Pagosa
Pagosa Springs



Flows: Very stained
2000+ CFS near Pagosa



The upper Jupring runoff continues flows will be up and stained.


Hatch: Random caddis. Stones are starting to stage and will emerge soon. They might hatch while flows are at or near flood levels. We'll have to see.


Forcast: With a solid snowpack we are looking at a normal float season on the upper this year that might last longer than a few days!


San Juan in Colorado flows

San Juan Flow News June 2019



June 13, 2019 SENT VIA E-MAIL

As mentioned in prior notices, the release will be extended for one day, based on an updated river forecast. Ramp-down will begin at 9:00 AM on Thursday, June 13th. The hourly schedule for changes is shown in the table below.


6/13/2019 THURSDAY 9:00 AM 4400 11:00 AM 4000 1:00 PM 3800

6/14/2019 FRIDAY 7:00 AM 3500 9:00 AM 3200 11:00 AM 2800 1:00 PM 2400 3:00 PM 2000

6/15/2019 SATURDAY 10:00 AM 1600 12:00 PM 1200 2:00 PM 800 4:00 PM 600 6:00 PM 500


Navajo Dam BOR Site



Pine - below Vallecito
SW Colorado



Flows: Clear-ish and cold
2200+ CFS Below Vallecito



The Pine has bumped in flow and holding in the 2000 CFS range with OK fishing. Despite the higher than normal flows fishing has been OK. The bigger water makes landing larger fish a little tricky. A good problem to have!


Hatch: Midges and BWO with some caddis.


Forcast: Flows will bump to summer numbers (550-775) after runoff some time in July. Pine flow news can be found below.


Pine flows

Rio Grande - below 30 Mile
Creede & Southfork



Flows: Clear-ish and cold
4500+ CFS Wagon Wheel Gap



The Rio Grande is open and flows are close for floats. Streamer time! The first bugs typically start in April with BWO and tiny stones. The salmon flies should show around mid June with the emergence starting downstream of Southfork.


Hatch: BWOs and some caddis. Water is still cold. Some stoneflies are starting the staging process. We predict the salmon flies will be going strong around the 18th of June. Weather might change that by a day or two.


Forcast: With a solid snowpack we are looking at a long and fun season on the Rio.


Rio at Wagon Wheel

Rio Grande - Upper
SW Colorado



Flows: Dirty with runoff
No CFS reported



The upper Rio is still getting snow! (May 22nd) and is snowed over in some spots. Fishing is slow at this time.


Hatch: none at this time


Forcast: Looking to be a great season with all the snow in the headwaters. We feel the upper Rio will be happening sometime in late June and early July.


Rio flows

Pine River Flow News April 2019



Email from PRID June 6 2019: Flow Increase from 769 to 1500 CFS

Pine River Release Schedule – June 6, 2019 Time Amount of Increase Total Release 9:00 AM 200 cfs 900 cfs 11:00 AM 200 cfs 1,100 cfs 1:00 PM 200 cfs 1,300 cfs 3:00 PM 200 cfs 1,500 cfs 5:00 PM Maximize PP and HPG 1,500 plus cfs.


Pine River flows below Vallecito will reach 1,500 cfs June 6th and will likely remain at that level or above for the entire remainder of June and likely much of July.





Dolores River
Below McPhee



Flows: Holding in this range till June 23
1800+ CFS Below McPhee



Dolores has bumped in flow and is a muddy mess out of the dam. Spring release has begun (May 22nd) Fishing is slow with the dirty water.


Hatch: not much till flows settle


Forcast: Once the water settles in early June we hope to see clear flows return. Fishing should be OK this season on the Dolores.


Lower D flows

Upper Dolores
Dolores to Rico



Flows: Dirty
2500+ CFS near Dolores



Dolores has dropped with the cool temps. Full on runoff kick back into gear once temps bump. We'll be back to fishing it once peak runoff occurs.


Hatch: not much now. Look for stones and caddis and caddis soon.


Forcast: Looks to be a great year for the Dolores with plenty of water from our big snows this past winter.


Upper D flows

Piedra
SW Colorado



Flows: Stained/muddy
2000+ CFS Near Hwy 160



River is in runoff mode with high flows and dirty water. On the cooling trends look for flows to drop a bit. Often times the water will clear a little and the fish back on the bite. Streamers and bigs stonefly nymphs will get some play.


Hatch: not much


Forcast: Salmon flies in early June. Looking to be a great season on the Piedra with the snow up there.


Piedra flows

Dolores River Flow News April 2019



SPILL #2 started (June 6 2019)


On Friday June 7th, releases will continue to ramp up from 1,200 CFS, reaching at least 2,000 CFS by the morning of Saturday June 8th, for optimal boating flows. Releases will continue to ramp up from 2,000 CFS, reaching approximately 2,400 CFS by the morning of Sunday June 9th. Releases will remain at about 2,400 CFS until the morning of Monday June 10th. The morning of Monday June 10th, releases are expected to begin ramping down to target some ecological goals during the middle of the week. Releases on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are expected to run between 1,800 CFS and 1,200 CFS, depending on forecast conditions. Releases are currently expected to ramp up to around 2,000 CFS again around the weekend of June 15th and 16th, though the timing is still uncertain. Releases will remain at a minimum of 1,200 CFS through Sunday June 23rd, after which flows are yet to be determined. Based on the margin of error in current inflow forecasts, it is possible there will be additional rafting days – this should become more clear in coming weeks. Details on flows following June 23rd should be available the week beforehand. During this period, releases may reach flows of around 2,000 CFS and above on some days.


Dolores (DRWCD)



Animas River
Durango



Flows: Mud/sludge & post fire silt
6000+ CFS!



Due to the 416 Fire up the Hermosa drainage the Animas has been flowing with some nasty color in the water making visibility very poor. Some fish survived the poor water quality, but numbers are way down. We are looking at a long healing period for the Animas.


Hatch: not much with runoff


Forcast: It will take a few wet years to help heal the Animas post the 416 wild fire.


Animas flows

Regional Lakes
SW Colorado



Levels: Vary greatly. Many are filling with snow melt.



Lakes are open and fishing well this spring. High elevation lakes are still a bit cold and some might still have some ice.


Electra: Open - Opens July 1st 2019

Vallecito: Open - Good

McPhee: Open - Fair

Navajo: Open - Good

Nighthorse: Open - Good


Forcast: Solid snowpack should help fill low lake levels and reservoirs.


lake levels

Mountain Creeks
SW Colorado



Flows: Creeks are still full with snowmelt.



Most creeks will be high with snow melt for a couple more weeks. We hope they drop soon. We are itching to get up in the mountains.


Hatch: none


Forcast: With a solid snowpack we are looking at a solid mountain stream season all through the summer and fall!


creek flows

Southwest Fly Fishing Guide Service



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