The fam and I are going to be in Durango the second week of July. We are staying in a cabin on Lake Vallecito and would like to do some (a lot) of fishing. Are there restrictions on what you can use for tackle? Meaning can we rod and reel pretty much anywhere fishing is allowed or are there fly fishing only restrictions?

Also, any suggestions on spots to hit up, type of tackle, bait selection, best time of day to fish would be greatly appreciated.

I have zero answers to your questions.

But, there is a boat rental there somewhere (or was a few years ago) for like $50/day. It's a good deal. My husband worked out of Cortez for a few months and would fish that lake in Durango on the weekends and always had success. He said most fish there were pretty aggressive with just a worm on a hook.

Interested in this as well. Will be the last week of the month.

I'll be there with the family second week of July as well. I'll keep watching for info!

I personally hate fishing lakes. That being said, the two creeks that flow into the lake, valecito and low pinos, are incredible fisheries with great hiking trails that go along them.

Valecito
This is an incredible creek that has some nice gradient as it comes of some 14ers. For you Louis Lamour fans, ifyou go upstream to where the trail crosses the creek at a location where a bridge has washed out...that meadow is the location where tell sacket had his mining town in the book called sacket. Not a lot of big trout, but there are tons of 8-12 in hers. The further up you go the better as it can get some decent pressure from day hikers. Also the further up you go the more scenic it gets. If you have interest in going behind the normal day hike distance, let me know and I'll tell you some more side creeks to fish.

Los pinos- you do have to hike a couple miles to get to the wilderness area where you can fish. That keeps a little of the fishing pressure off, but the trail does see decent amount of horse traffic. The river has a flatter gradient but still comes down off the mountains pretty fast. The fish tend to be larger in this one up to 18-20" but most will still be 12" or less.

http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-weminuche-wilderness-area-fly-fishing-san-juan-national-forest-colorado-sidwcmdev_056551.html


http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-weminuche-wilderness-area-fly-fishing-san-juan-national-forest-colorado-sidwcmdev_056548.html

Thanks for the input oldarmy. My son is 7 so catching a lot of smaller fish is more desireable than a smaller string of larger fish. Any recommendations on tackle? Keep in mind I'm not a fly fisherman.

Honestly a cane pole with some good fly line and wets would do well.

Can't recall ll of that area but if you're going to be in an area where you are. Catching little fish regardless of whether it is catch and release only clip your barbs off. Your fish and fly fishing brethren will thank you.

Never fished that lake but it can't be much different than others up here. When my kids were young they always enjoyed doing it like this. Use a light action spinning or spin cast rod/reel with 4 or 6 lb mono. Buy a reasonably priced rod/reel and avoid the toy outfits. Cut off about 18 inches of line and tie a small gold treble hook on one end and a small barrel swivel on the other end. Slip a sliding egg sinker on the line and tie it to the other side of the barrel swivel. Buy two or three jars of power bait, rainbow color and bright pink or yellow. Go down to the lake and give it a try. If they don't catch anything they can play in the mud while you watch the rods. You can pinch off the barbs if you like. If you want to throw the fish back just cut the line and leave the hook in the fish. This is a lot easier way to fish for a 7 yr old (and you) than walking the bank of a stream.

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Honestly a cane pole with some good fly line and wets would do well.

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I believe you mean Ten Kara.

I'm from east Texas. It's called a cane pole.

And I didn't mean like floating/sinking flyline, I meant tippet/leader material (I think most of you knew that but for anyone that didn't).

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The fam and I are going to be in Durango the second week of July. We are staying in a cabin on Lake Vallecito and would like to do some (a lot) of fishing. Are there restrictions on what you can use for tackle? Meaning can we rod and reel pretty much anywhere fishing is allowed or are there fly fishing only restrictions?

Also, any suggestions on spots to hit up, type of tackle, bait selection, best time of day to fish would be greatly appreciated.

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There are certain areas here in Wyoming and Utah that are fly only or they have bait restrictions and I would assume that Colorado has similar restrictions in certain areas. However, the restrictions typically just focus in on the big rivers in certain zones that get fished heavily. I would doubt there are any for Vallecito and other small lakes/streams in the area. I'd just call up a local fly or tackle shop and get the run down from them and also get tips on tackle selection.

The SW corner of CO is one of my favorite areas in all of the US. Absolutely beautiful there!

A lot of areas do have restrictions. When you stop to buy a fishing license just be sure to pick up a copy of the regs.

If you're looking to put a kid on some fish and there are no fly only restrictions, drifting a worm on a tiny hook is the way I caught a ton of fish when I was a kid. Let it settle into eddys, drift it under cut Banks, behind big rocks, etc. The water will take the food to the fish.

The lakes and streams have lots of various restrictions, mostly related to where you can fish and what you can keep. You need to get the booklet that will come with your license and read it.

I've fished Vallecito many times, and had good results with roadrunners, Panther martins, z-rays, cast masters, and small diving plugs. Powerbait, worms and Damon eggs also work. The brown trout will go nuts over a diving plug. There are also smallmouth bass in the lake. Last time I was there I caught half a dozen of them.

A Great Lake for kids is Haviland lake north of Durango. It is smaller and more fishable, and the state stocks it regularly with decent sized hatchery fish.

If you are able, you can sometimes pay per person to get access to lake Electra. It is absolutely loaded with good sized trout, as it gets relatively little pressure since all access is private. It is harder to fish from the shore, but with a kayak or canoe you can do well. I once wade fished the shallow flats on the northwest shore, and it was a lot like wade fishing in south Texas, but the water was cold and I was throwing a kastmaster spoon and catching 20" rainbows instead of specks.

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The lakes and streams have lots of various restrictions, mostly related to where you can fish and what you can keep. You need to get the booklet that will come with your license and read it.

I've fished Vallecito many times, and had good results with roadrunners, Panther martins, z-rays, cast masters, and small diving plugs. Powerbait, worms and Damon eggs also work. The brown trout will go nuts over a diving plug. There are also smallmouth bass in the lake. Last time I was there I caught half a dozen of them.

A Great Lake for kids is Haviland lake north of Durango. It is smaller and more fishable, and the state stocks it regularly with decent sized hatchery fish.

If you are able, you can sometimes pay per person to get access to lake Electra. It is absolutely loaded with good sized trout, as it gets relatively little pressure since all access is private. It is harder to fish from the shore, but with a kayak or canoe you can do well. I once wade fished the shallow flats on the northwest shore, and it was a lot like wade fishing in south Texas, but the water was cold and I was throwing a kastmaster spoon and catching 20" rainbows instead of specks.

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What are Damon eggs? I googled and what I found is they are some type arachnid. Is that correct?

I've backpacked up the Los Pinos north of the reservior into the fishable section (3 miles) - really nice river with easy fishing access.

http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-weminuche-wilderness-area-fly-fishing-san-juan-national-forest-colorado-sidwcmdev_056551.html

I'm not sure if there are any fly-only restrictions on that water - might have to google that some more.

Autocorrected Salmon eggs.

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Autocorrected Salmon eggs.

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Ha. Too Funny.

I just realized we are on Vallecito Reservoir, not the lake. Oldarmy, are the places you are talking about off the lake or reservoir?

Sorry for the confusion.

We call it a lake, but it is a reservoir. We usually fished the western shoreline.

Yes, lake reservoir, same thing. Some people had some great advise above. If you have a youngster with you, that can present some challenges to back country fishing. The low pinos would be easier to fish but it's a good hike. Lake haviland is great and the powerbait will kill them (literally and figuratively). Another option for a good day trip is Williams creek just north of Pagosa springs. If you park at the beige campground and work you way down stream, that's your best bet for with kids. Panther Martin with gold spinner is great

If anyone who is going to Durango this summer doesn't mind a bit of driving, I'm working at the Circle K Guest Ranch about an hour away.

We have guided and non guided fly fishing packages. As well as horseback rides and some other activities.

We are right on the Delores River in Higjway 145, about an hour from Durango. And I'm surrounded by some of the best natural trout streams in the state. (If I could only get some time off to go fish)

The good thing about my son is he loves to fish and is used to hiking tight trails for a good distance. Plus he is pretty accurate with his cast. (Better than many adults).

I've got a laundry list for bass pro shop!

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If anyone who is going to Durango this summer doesn't mind a bit of driving, I'm working at the Circle K Guest Ranch about an hour away.

We have guided and non guided fly fishing packages. As well as horseback rides and some other activities.

We are right on the Delores River in Higjway 145, about an hour from Durango. And I'm surrounded by some of the best natural trout streams in the state. (If I could only get some time off to go fish)

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We might hit you up. I'm gonna Google your website.

Closet town?

http://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/index.html?app=FishingAtlas&keyword=fspot&value=1434

Really cool tool!

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Closet town?

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We are about 30 minutes north of Cortez/Delores and 45 minutes south of Telluride on Colorado Highway 145.

Heard great things about the Delores, but never fished it.