Peak summer fishing in Telluride

Overall, July is the best month of our fishing year in Telluride.  Perfect water conditions and major hatches set the table for consistent dry fly fishing on every piece of water in the region.  The time is now!

San Miguel River: (260 cfs)   Terrific fishing with ideal water conditions.  The San Miguel is not "low," but definitely "low enough."  Between 200 and 300 cfs, the river is still a little pushy in certain sections, but avails plenty of prime holding water for fishing both dry flies and dry-dropper combinations.  It's "big and bushy" time on the San Miguel, our favorite part of the season.

Dries:  Throw your biggest attractors, such as the RL Stimi, Perry's Bugmeister, Chubby Chernobyl,  foam boddied PMX and other high-floating, leggy, indicator-style flies.  In the evenings, the fish move up in the water column and are more willing to eat smaller dries.  Stimulators, caddis patterns, etc in the size 12-14 range are perfect for the evening rise.

Nymphs: Wire Prince, Queen Prince, Pulsating Caddis, Diving Caddis, Pat's RL Stone (in all colors and sizes), Guide's Choice Hare's Ear, Haden's Black Stone, Beefus Wire Stone, Poxyback Stone, Morrish's Iron Sallie and Stalcup's Yellow Sallie Nymph.  As a generalization, fish these droppers in sizes 12-16.

Dolores River: (160 cfs at Dolores, 77 cfs at Rico, 70 cfs below McPhee) Outstanding fishing under perfect conditions.  We're getting just enough afternoon rain to keep water in the river.  These are ideal water flows for easy wading access without skittish low water conditions.  Hatches are prolific: caddis, PMDs, yellow sallies (actually several species between a size 12-16, olive to yellow in color), midges, a few golden stones and the first real terrestrials of the season.  The mid-summer Dolores River beggar's banquet is here.  In particular, watch for mid-day PMDs and evening caddis.  Free-rising fish are everywhere during these periods.

Dry Flies: Bloom's Para Caddis #14-16, RL Stimulator #14, Stalcup's Para Caddis Emerger #14-16, Morrish's Foam Hopper #10, Sodom and Nemora #12-14, Perry's Bugmeister #12-16.

Nymphs: Wire Prince #14-18, Guide's Choice Hare's Ear #16, Pulsating Caddis #14-16, Mayhem #16, Oops! #14-16, Split Back Emerger #16-18, Jewel Crawler #16-18.

Lower Dolores.  The toughest river in Colorado is enjoying optimal water flows and a tremendous PMD hatch.  The Lower Dolores PMD hatch has become semi-famous in SW Colorado, but few anglers have the mental stamina to take so many refusals from big fish.  Lower Dolores PMDs present all kinds of problems.  Every fish in the river is on top, but there are so many bugs on the water that the fish can afford to be highly selective.  There are at least two different "PMDs" hatching simultaneously: a big sulpher mayfly and a smaller pink one "the Pinkie."  One fish will be selectively feeding on the sulpher and the next on the pinkie.  The PMDs hatch in late June and early July, a hot, dry period of the summer on the Lower Dolores.  The biggest fish love to eat PMDs, but are hesitant to break the surface with their noses.  Quite often, fish will eat the emergers or the spinners, but not the dun.  One thing is sure:  it takes a perfect cast with a long leader to be in the game.  Even so, you'll get more refusals than grabs.

For adult PMD patterns, try old Lawson's No Hackle, Burk's Silhouette Dun, para quill PMD patterns and Stalcup's hatching PMD.  The best emerger around is still the Walker's Mayhem, greased and fished in the film.  During non-hatch patterns, throw hoppers. 

Uncompahgre : (398 cfs below Ridgway Reservoir)  Great fishing.  The summer PMD hatch has turned it on.  We're catching fish all day long on nymphs and in the middle of the day on PMD patterns.  Increasingly, Uncompahgre trout want a well-tied fly, so choose your dry flies wisely. 

Hatches: Pale Morning Dun Mayflies

Dries:  We're throwing hoppers and Bugmeisters primarily as indicator flies and technical PMD patterns during the mid-day hatch.  Our favorite match-the-hatch PMDs include the Burk's Silhouette Dun, Pink Albert, Pink Albert cripple, Melon Quill and Lawson's No Hackle.

Nymphs: Mayhem, Micro May, Split Case PMD, small Soft Hackles.

Gunnison: (665 cfs below Crystal Reservoir)  Isn't it funny that there is a mass exodus from the Gunnison when the salmonfly hatch ends?  The end of the salmonfly hatch signals the beginning of a solid month of excellent fishing in the Gunnison Gorge.  Salmonflies have been replaced by a host of less famous but equally tasty aquatic insects for the trout to dine upon:  caddis, PMD mayflies, midges and yellow sally stoneflies.  Also, July is the best hopper fishing month of the year.

Dry flies: Morrish's Foam Hopper #10, Kicking Hopper #8-12, Parachute Hopper #8-12, Yeager's 409 (yellow or brown) #14, Furimsky's BDE #12-16, Bloom's Para Caddis #14-16, Stalcup's Para Caddis Emerger #14-16, Melon Quill #16, Burk's Silhouette Dun PMD #16.

Nymphs:  Soft hackle hare's ear and PT patterns #14-16, The Mayhem #16-18, Split Case PMD Emerger #16-18, Trina's Present Tail #16-18, San Juan Worm #12-16 (pink and red), Pat's RL Stone #8-10.