Colorado Fishing Reports ยท San Juan & Dolores Basin
The Animas runs right through Durango, Gold Medal Water with easy town access in normal times.
Looking for the latest Animas River Durango 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 Durango.
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
Durango fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
Two big storms on October 22 to 24 and November 1 to 2 caused major flooding across southwest Colorado. The Animas peaked near 13,000 cfs on November 2, the third-largest flood on record in Durango. It is still around 2,000 cfs, many times normal, with debris, a reshaped riverbed and cut banks.
This is not the time to fish it. Stay out of the main current, and wait for the river to drop and clear. Town parks and trails took damage, so check before you go.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Durango, bring: Pat', s Rubber Legs #4-8, Prince Nymph #10-14, San Juan Worm #10-12, Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-18, Sparkle Minnow #4-6, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Durango river details
| Access | The town river trail and parks, from about 32nd Street down to Rivera Crossing. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 6,500 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 344 miles, roughly 7 hours 33 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Fall through spring at normal flows |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout |
| Regulations | In-town Gold Medal Water with special rules. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 3X to 5X tippet |
| Camping | Junction Creek campground and private campgrounds |
| Kids | Yes in normal conditions. Not now. |
| Good to know | Mine runoff upstream affects water quality. |
Fishing by season
Winter
About 200 cfs, midges and nymphs. Fishable.
Spring
BWOs, then caddis and stoneflies before runoff.
Summer
Drakes and terrestrials. Watch water temps.
Fall
BWOs and browns on streamers.
How to get there
Park along the Animas River Trail in Durango.