Colorado Fishing Reports ยท San Juan & Dolores Basin
Below Durango, the Animas slows and widens near Cedar Hill on the New Mexico line, with big browns, a few rainbows and much less pressure than town.
Looking for the latest Animas River Cedar Hill, New Mexico 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 Cedar Hill, New Mexico.
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
Cedar Hill, New Mexico fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The November 1 and 2 storms caused major flooding across southwest Colorado. The gauge near Cedar Hill shows about 3,350 cfs, far above normal and full of debris.
Do not try to wade this water. Wait for it to drop and clear, then fish streamers along the banks.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Cedar Hill, New Mexico, bring: Woolly Bugger #6-8, Pat', s Rubber Legs #6-10, San Juan Worm #10-12, Prince Nymph #12-14, 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.
Cedar Hill, New Mexico river details
| Access | Limited public access near the state line. Much of the river is private or tribal land. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 5,900 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 349 miles, roughly 7 hours 37 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Fall and spring |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout |
| Regulations | Colorado or New Mexico rules depending on which side of the line you fish. A New Mexico fishing license is required here, not a Colorado one. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 3X to 4X tippet |
| Camping | Durango-area campgrounds |
| Kids | No. Big, fast water right now. |
| Good to know | Know your state line, license and property boundaries. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Low and cold.
Spring
Good before runoff.
Summer
Warm and low.
Fall
Big browns once flows settle.
How to get there
Take US-550 south from Durango toward Aztec, New Mexico.