Fishing Conditions

February 3, 2012

San Miguel: Thanks to a warm winter, the San Miguel is much more fishable than normal for early February.  The town/Valley Floor stretch is almost completely ice free and there are a handful of open water sections on the main branch, mostly above Placerville.  The daily successful fishing window is fairly short, from approximately 11:00 am until around 3:30, but that's more fishing than we usually get on the San Miguel in February!  During those hours, the methodical angler is likely to catch quite a few fish on standard attractor nymphs in the size 14-18 range.  Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns and their popular variations will get the job done.  It looks like it might be a long, fun spring on the Miguel.

Uncompahgre: (61 cfs below Ridgway Reservoir)  Fishing has been fairly strong at Pa-Co-Chu-Puc State Park, but the fish are particularly bunched up, limiting the strong fishing to just a handful of pools.  This makes it tough to fish Pa-co all day, but fun for a couple hours.  On guided trips, we've been stopping briefly at Pa-co, then moving on to other water.  At Pa-co, throw classic winter "small stuff."  The Zebra Midge, Rojo Midge, KF Flasher, Benton's Shuckin' Midge, Black Beauty, Mayhem and small glo bugs are consistently effective.  Further downstream, mix in some larger mayfly nymphs and emergers.

 Gunnison: (845 cfs) Good news!  The Lower Gunnison is fishing excellent, thanks to beautiful water flows and a really strong midge hatch.  The fishing is best near and below the North Fork confluence, between Hotchkiss and Cedaredge Highway bridge.  We're catching most of our fish on dead-drifted midge nymphs including the Rojo Midge, Winker Midge, Black Beauty, Benton's Shuckin' Midge and the KF Flasher emerger.  Egg patterns, small mayfly nymphs and streamers are also taking a few fish.  The best fishing hours are mid-day under a warm sun.

Dolores River: no part of the Upper Dolores will be fishable until around April 1st.  Check back!

Lower Dolores River: slow, cold, tough.  Check back around April 1st.