Crystal Ball: Telluride Summer Fly Fishing Forecast

The San Miguel is currently at 230 cfs and fishing really well.  This is mostly the result of winter-like conditions late last week and into the weekend.  With sunny days and high temps forecasted for the next two weeks it is important to keep an eye on river levels, we should expect runoff to begin in earnest.  If you are able to get out this week I would suggest fishing a combo of large and small flies: Pat's Rubber Leg to a Flashback Pheasant Tail, Twenty Incher to a Black Two Bit and possibly a large attractor dry fly with a stonefly below it, you never know.

 

While the San Miguel saw a substantial fall due to colder temperatures, the Dolores has remained fairly high over the weekend, reporting 667 cfs as of Monday morning.  The upper section north of Rico might be fishable from a flow standpoint but cold water temps may be a more limiting factor.  If you can find somewhat clear water, fish small nymphs such as size 18 Princes, Military Mayflies or bead head midge patterns.  The good news is the Dolores is fed by south facing basins and should start coming down after these warm days do their work up high.

 

 

The Uncompahgre River, below Ridgway Reservoir is currently at 323 cfs and is fishing pretty darn well.  This section of river benefits from some added water after a winter of very clear and low water.  The fish should start spreading throughout the state park section, allowing for exploration with streamers, slightly larger nymph rigs, with the occasional fish rising to mayflies and even terrestrials.  I would expect flows to remain on the high end until the powers that be feel they have drained the reservoir enough to accommodate spring inflows.

 

The lower Gunnison is currently at about 1,050 cfs when you combine the 450 cfs from the Black Canyon and the 632 cfs coming from the North Fork.  The big question is what we see over the next week coming from the North fork.  It topped out at 1390 cfs a week ago but has it peaked for the spring?  Probably not.  The lower will fish really well at its current level but it is worth keeping an eye on the flows over the next two to three weeks.  This is a great time to throw big streamers against the banks and ply the seams with large stonefly nymph rigs.  You may find the occasional pod of risers in some of the slower shelf flats near the banks.

 

 

For those looking for a really unique and fantastic experience, Telluride Outside has an exclusive lease on Gurley Creek.  This is a "if you know you know" fishery located on Wright's Mesa near Norwood.  Very large rainbows and cuttbows (18"-24") run up the creek, out of Gurley reservoir, and will eat everything from a streamer to a Chubby Chernobyl.  This opportunity to fish for really large trout in a fairly small stream only lasts for about 6 weeks every spring, and as of yesterday they had arrived. Please give us a call at the shop if you would like to experience a day at Gurley Creek.