Colorado Fishing Reports ยท San Juan & Dolores Basin
Above Tacoma, the Animas runs through a wild, roadless canyon reached only by the Durango and Silverton train or long hikes. Few anglers ever see it.
Looking for the latest Animas River Above Tacoma river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Animas River โ Above Tacoma.
Current flows
Heads up: Major flooding hit southwest Colorado on November 1 and 2. Expect high, dirty water and check road conditions before you drive.
Wind forecast
Above Tacoma fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The November 1 and 2 storms caused major flooding across southwest Colorado. The gauge at Tall Timber shows about 1,120 cfs, far above normal for November.
This water is unsafe and unfishable right now. Wait for spring.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Above Tacoma, bring: Pat', s Rubber Legs #8-10, Prince Nymph #12-14, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, Stimulator #12-14, Woolly Bugger #8, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Above Tacoma river details
| Access | Train drop-off from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, or long trails from the Weminuche Wilderness. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 7,500 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 367 miles, roughly 8 hours 7 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Late summer and fall |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout, plus some cutthroat |
| Regulations | Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X tippet |
| Camping | Backcountry camping in San Juan National Forest |
| Kids | No. Remote and hard to reach. |
| Good to know | Plan the train schedule carefully. There is no road out. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Snowed in and unreachable.
Spring
Big runoff.
Summer
Prime time once flows drop.
Fall
Short window before snow.
How to get there
Ride the Durango and Silverton train from Durango and arrange a flag stop, or hike in from the Weminuche Wilderness.