Clear water coming soon in Telluride area

June 17, Telluride

Telluride area rivers are dropping into shape more-or-less on schedule.  The San Miguel will run-off well into July, but the Dolores and Gunnison, in particular, should fish very well by the last week of June.  Here is a brief rundown, river by river, on current conditions and expectations.

San Miguel: (900 - 1,300 cfs at Placerville) Runoff is peaking on the San Miguel.  Trout Lake, Woods Lake and Priest Lake are all quite fishable, but the main river will not clear for several weeks.  On the lakes, fish Wooly Buggers, soft hackles and other life-like streamers and nymphs.  In the evenings, fish will rise if the wind dies down.  Catch them on midge patterns and drab-colored general imitator dry flies such as the Griffiths Gnat and Parachute Adams.

Dolores River: (700 cfs near Rico, 1,800 cfs at Dolores)  The Upper Dolores is dropping quickly.  There are two creeks, which shall remain unnamed, that are already quite fishable, even with dry flies.  We expect multiple fishing options to develop in the Dolores watershed within one week's time, including the Lower Dolores tailwater. 

Several Telluride Outside guides ventured from the safety of lake fishing to explore alpine creeks this week, quite successfully, as it turns out.  Troy Youngfleish, William Smethurst, Jake McKittrick, Henry Jones and others have been consistently catching wild cutthroat, browns and brook trout in tributaries to the Dolores.  Water levels are dropping by the day, so we expect several more creeks to become fishable this week.  Meanwhile, secret creeks are producing real surprises, including a taped 21" brown trout landed by one of William's customers on a creek you can jump across, earlier this week. 

From a guiding standpoint, private water is never more important.  For example, whereas virtually no other section of the Dolores River is presently fishable, the gorgeous mule shoes of Dunton's Cresto Ranch on the West Fork Dolores are fishing quite well, kicking out lots of fish in the 16-20" range.

Call the shop for specific recommendations! 

Lower Dolores River Water flows are at 1,000 cfs and steady.  At present, this is one of the few clear water river fishing opportunities in the state.  The Lower Dolores is completely fishable, albeit with nymphs and streamers rather than the customary dry flies.  Hatches are light but include midges, a few blue winged olives, caddis and grasshoppers.   Flows will continue to fall through the next two weeks.

Uncompahgre: (605 cfs below Ridgway Reservoir)  The lake is more or less full, so we expect releases to rise following the pattern of rising inflow to the reservoir.  The Uncompahgre is still technically fishable with deep nymphing rigs and streamers.  Fish numbers are particularly strong at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk State Park, so if you fish methodically, you're likely to hang quite a few despite pushy water conditions.  On the next rise, however, the river may become unfishable for a couple of weeks.

Hatches: midges, a few caddis

Dries:  Always watch for heads, but we honestly don't expect much dry fly fishing until after runoff.

Nymphs: Mayhem (#20-22), Barr's Emerger (#18-20), Copper John (#16-#20), Zebra Midge (red or black, size #20-22), KF Flasher, Cheeseman Emerger, Black Beauty (size #20-24), egg patterns. As flows rise mix in larger nymphs and streamers: 20-incher, Prince, pulsating caddis, hydropsyche caddis, Copper John, Wooly Buggers, Autumn Splendor, Sheila Sculpin.

Gunnison: (3,120 cfs below Crystal Reservoir)  The Gunnison has peaked and is projected to ramp down to 2,200 cfs sometime late week, where it is likely to remain until the Bureau of Reclamation can reassess snowpack in the Crested Butte area.  Salmonflies should start hatching shortly thereafter, to the particular benefit of floating anglers who will find the Gunnison's largest trout stacked against the canyon walls.  Wading anglers will battle high water during the hatch this year but will still catch plenty of heavy fish at close quarters along the banks.  All of this is speculation for a slightly later date.  Stay tuned.

 Dry flies: N/A until salmonflies hatch

Nymphs:  The Mayhem (#18-22), Zebra Midge (#20-22), soft hackle patterns, LaFontaine's Caddis Emergers, Furimsky's Diving Caddis, Hare's Ear nymphs (all sizes), Pat's Rubber Leg Stone (#8-10), Halfbacks (#4-8), egg patterns, black Wooly Buggers.  

Streamers:  Double Bunny (olive over white), Black Wooly Bugger (#6-10), Rubberlegs Bugger #4-6.

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