Howdy!

We are finishing up an epic winter in SW Colorado! Our region has 181% of our normal snowpack, all of our streams will fish well into the fall.

In the short term, the rivers are blown out and running high. I took a picture of the Animas yesterday and while it's chocolate milk, the rafters are going to love this season!

I'm getting a lot of questions about runoff and when the creeks will be fishable. Hopefully by mid to late June we can start "creekin" season but really depends on how warm it gets. We have had two really good monsoon seasons and if this continues, we can have a great day then have a stream blown out from rainfall the next. If you are planning a trip to Durango, watch the weather and USGS gauges to see if a stream is fishable.

San Juan River- the SJR below Navajo dam in New Mexico is a world class tail water fishery! When the mountain streams are blown out, 99% of the time we can float or wade the SJR. We target rainbow and brown trout year round. Because of all the winter snowpack, the BOR is planning a spring flush of 5,000 cfs this spring. Flows for the last year have averaged about 300 cfs, this simulated flooding will really help clean up the SJR by moving a ton of silt and sand downstream allowing for more vegetation growth, more bugs and happy fish. The Feds don't communicate well but have targeted mid to late May for a 7-10 day flush.

I'll post occasional updates on this thread and happy to answer questions as the summer fishing season kicks off.

You can also look for updates on my Instagram account

https://instagram.com/cory_aka_lrhf?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=


See y'all on the rivers!

LRHF

LRHF said:

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Howdy!

We are finishing up an epic winter in SW Colorado! Our region has 181% of our normal snowpack, all of our streams will fish well into the fall.

I'm the short term, the rivers are blown out and running high. I took a picture of the Animas yesterday and while it's chocolate milk, the rafters are going to love this season!

I'm getting a lot of questions about runoff and when the creeks will be fishable. Hopefully by mid to late June we can start "creekin" season but really depends on how warm it gets. We have had two really good monsoon seasons and if this continues, we can have a great day then have a stream blown out from rainfall the next. If you are planning a trip to Durango, watch the weather and USGS gauges to see if a stream is fishable.

San Juan River- the SJR below Navajo dam in New Mexico is a world class tail water fishery! When the mountain streams are blown out, 99% of the time we can float or wade the SJR. We target rainbow and brown trout year round. Because of all the winter snowpack, the BOR is planning a spring flush of 5,000 cfs this spring. Flows for the last year have averaged about 300 cfs, this simulated flooding will really help clean up the SJR by moving a ton of silt and sand downstream allowing for more vegetation growth, more bugs and happy fish. The Feds don't communicate well but have targeted mid to late May for a 7-10 day flush.

I'll post occasional updates on this thread and happy to answer questions as to summer fishing season kicks off.

You can also look for updates on my Instagram account

https://instagram.com/cory_aka_lrhf?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=


See y'all on the rivers!

LRHF

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What's the safety status of all of that given the mine waste spill a number of years back?

Here's a few pics from last season!

What are the water temps usually like in say late-July or August should one wish to wade wet?

I think you are referring to the infamous Gold King Mine spill caused by the EPA.

In short, the spill released a ton of toxic sludge into the Animas but didn't result in a major fish kill. The solution to pollution is dilution and the river cleaned up quickly. The mining around Silverton starting in the 1800's has left many areas where fish can't live because of the toxic heavy metals that settled into the river gravel. Most of the mines are now closed but continue to seep toxic water into the river.

The Five Rivers Trout Unlimited chapter has worked hard to turn this region into a superfund site. They have fixed some of the older mines that contributed much of the pollution and as funding is supplied, we work on the smaller sources.

I wouldn't eat a trout out of the Animas…

When the 416 fire burned in Durango the summer of 2018, the resulting rain moved a tremendous amount of silt into the Animas resulting in a large fish kill. The Animas is still recovering.

Mid July and later, wet wading the high country is the way to go!

The San Juan River is consistently in the low 40's and waders are definitely needed. (Unless fishing from a drift boat). It can be 90+ degrees on the Juan and you are dying walking to the river then freezing 2 hours later!

Have had quite a few Ags over the last couple of years. This was a small stream in the area, we found a lone Kokanee salmon over 40 miles upstream from a local reservoir. It's not odd to find Kokanee in this river in the fall but the fish weren't "running" yet and never go this far! Did a bird move him? Was a group of fish released into this area in years past? Maybe this is the Carl Lewis of fish? We'll never know and that's what keeps us coming back!

Here's a few more Aggie groups!

Yessir. That's the one. I remember looking at those pics when it happened (hard to believe that was 8 years ago already) and just being totally pissed off.

Thanks for the input. I'm gonna have to come avail you of your services one of these days!

Looks like you go catching rather than fishing.

Stringfellow Hawke said:

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Looks like you go catching rather than fishing.

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By design! We have our slow stretches When Tx Hole on the SJR shuts down, it can definitely be a grind! We kill time there waiting on the day to warm up and bug activity in the lower activity to pick up. Sometimes we go catching and sometimes we go hunting!

I can't wait to come back for more of this…

Thanks CP- I was looking for these pics earlier!

This is grade A texags content. Thanks for sharing.

David Happymountain said:

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This is grade A texags content. Thanks for sharing.

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He is a grade-A TexAgs guide, too!!! Anyone would be truly blessed to go fish the Quality Waters with him.

San Juan River

The river has been fishing well despite the spring flush. Current releases are 4,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) and expected to rise to 5,000 cfs. The spring flush will be very beneficial to the long term health of the river system and expected to ramp back down in late June. If you are considering a trip prior to July, please hire a guide, wade fishing isn't an option for the next month or so. By July 1st, the flows should be back to normal and I'm expecting stellar fishing!

SW Colorado

Currently, the streams are still in extreme runoff stage. My favorite creek to guide is Hermosa. On an average summer day, we fish from 15-40 cfs, currently we are experiencing around 900 cfs! The access road has been closed all winter and we are hoping it will be open by the end of June.

In the interim, we had some excellent Pike fishing at Vallecito Reservoir during the spawn. The pike spawn is definitely winding down but had a blast taking people there to chase the toothy critters!

Regionally, summer temps have arrived! This will be a great year to visit Durango and fishing will be strong through September in the High Country!

If you need to escape the summer heat, give me a call at (720) 425-6138.

Cory aka LRHF
(720) 425-6137
https://instagram.com/cory_aka_lrhf?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==


San Juan River Flows:


Vallecito Reservoir Pike

do you guide for pike? i really wanna catch one on my fly rod.

chocolatelabs said:

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do you guide for pike? i really wanna catch one on my fly rod.

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I could definitely take you on a pike trip next spring. We were targeting pre spawn fish while they were in the shallow water for about a week. It's a bit challenging since they don't aggressively chase the fly this time of year, these fish had a fly stripped about 6" in front of their face before they would eat.

Timing can be a bit challenging, it's definitely like chasing redfish except we are wading while hunting the fish. Once they showed up, had about 5 good days of fishing before the big fish headed back to deeper waters.

The guy in the red dry suit was out fishing with a spinning rod one afternoon for pike. He had 6 lb test and just didn't know what was happening. He had just driven up from Georgia and will work as a river guide in the region this summer. He helped me with a picture then I was rigging his rod with 20 lb wire when more fish showed themselves. Gave him my fly rod and coached him on 3 terrible casts (he was trying to flip a lure but it's a fly). I turned my attention to rigging his rod when I heard an explosion and he had a large pike on! It was super fun and we fished for the next 3 days together!

In the last pic, I was teaching some younger guides how to rig, spot, cast/ strip land and remove the fly on these toothy critters.

LRHF

High Country is Open!!!

We are finally starting to fish the high county. Normally we would be in full swing by now and and streams are still running high.

The good news is fishing will be strong into September!

Feel free to reach out if you need some help on your upcoming trip to Durango. Here's some pics from a trip yesterday.

LRHF






The San Juan is also fishing well. Kids are always welcome in the boat!

Got to fish the Juan Thursday and Friday. First time we've made it out there since before Covid. Had a blast. Everyone should try it. Sight fished a nymph to the brown.

Had to share my latest trip to the high country, it was too much fun! Only watch if you enjoy watching some cool chicks having a good time!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuhZxY6NtFS/?igshid=Y2IzZGU1MTFhOQ==

Imbed help...

https://instagr.am/p/CuhZxY6NtFS

AgEng06 said:

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Imbed help...

https://instagr.am/p/CuhZxY6NtFS

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Thanks AgEng06!

You're welcome.

For future reference, if you replace "reel" in your link with the letter "p", it will imbed correctly.

Looks like a great time on the water, I'll have to set time aside for this next time we're in CO.

Howdy ya'll!

It's been a fun summer fishing the San Juan River in New Mexico and hitting the high country of the San Juan's!

I'm now offering trips on the Lower San Juan River. This is a 10.5 mile float on private water where we target wild browns. I've hosted a number of Aggies this summer with more to come shortly (flow rates need to be 500 cfs or higher)

Here's a few recent pics and a link to my IG.

BTHO Arkansas!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxtjIQ9La19/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==

Looking forward to the return trip in October

The high country fishing is almost done for the season. Spent a few hours yesterday fishing Hermosa Creek and enjoying the solitude.

The San Juan river in New Mexico is a year round fishery and where we spend our winter months! Give me a shout if you have any questions about floating the Juan!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzJiID6Ln8F/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Happy New Year!

Views from the office today. Many of you are thinking about a ski trip, deer hunting, Aggie football news or how to survive until Saturday.

I'm spinning up Simi Seal leaches for your upcoming float trip on the San Juan River! I may borrow a few for an upcoming trip to Chile but more on that later.

I'm always happy to talk with folks one on one about fishing the San Juan. I'm tying flies, skiing or just hanging out most of the winter, give me a call!

If you are coming through Durango and skiing, good chance I'll be up there, reach out and let's get a beer!

LRHF

(720) 425-6138

Had a great day on the water with Corey yesterday!! He worked very hard to put us on fish even with high river flow. Great dude!! Would fish with him again and would recommend him for sure.