Colorado Fishing Reports ยท San Juan & Dolores Basin
The lower Piedra winds through canyons between Highway 160 and Navajo Reservoir near Arboles. It is a big freestone with good browns in a normal year.
Looking for the latest Piedra River Arboles 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 Piedra River โ Arboles.
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
Arboles fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The November 1 and 2 storms caused major flooding across southwest Colorado. The Piedra topped 17,000 cfs on November 2. It still shows about 1,500 cfs near Arboles, and the Highway 160 bridge between Bayfield and Pagosa washed out.
Highway 151 to Arboles has also been closed. Wait until spring.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Arboles, bring: Pat', s Rubber Legs #8-10, Prince Nymph #12-14, Woolly Bugger #6-8, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, 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.
Arboles river details
| Access | Lower Piedra campground off Highway 160, and Highway 151 toward Arboles. Some roads are washed out. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 6,200 to 7,000 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 320 miles, roughly 7 hours 41 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Spring and fall |
| Fish | Brown and rainbow trout, plus warmwater fish near the reservoir |
| 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 | Lower Piedra campground (seasonal) |
| Kids | No. Big, dangerous water right now. |
| Good to know | Check road closures before you go. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold.
Spring
Big runoff.
Summer
Caddis and stoneflies.
Fall
Browns, once flows settle.
How to get there
Take US-160 west from Pagosa Springs. Check CDOT first: the Piedra bridge on US-160 and Highway 151 have flood closures.