Animas River Fly Fishing Report
Gold Medal waterAnimas River at Durango. Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 200–400 cfs (RiverReports). Live gauge data below updates automatically.
What's swimming in the Animas River
- Rainbow Trout make up roughly 70% of the historic angler catch here (spawning mid-March to mid-April), with Brown Trout around 25% (spawning mid-October to mid-November) (CPW fishery survey).
- Native Cutthroat Trout persist only in very limited numbers, with the same survey reporting "very limited survival of native cutthroat trout" in this reach (CPW fishery survey).
- CPW stocks Rainbow Trout (Gunnison River Rainbow strain) annually; a recent creel estimate put the catch at roughly 6,000 fish, about 79% rainbows and 17% browns, with 98% released (CPW fishery survey).
- The reach from the Lightner Creek confluence to Rivera Crossing Bridge is Gold Medal water: artificial flies and lures only, 2-fish bag with a 16-inch minimum (CPW special regulations).
Rivers and creeks that flow into the Animas River
11 hold fish on Colorado Parks and Wildlife's records, listed from the headwaters down. Open one for where to fish and its rules.
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Minnie Gulch Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
BLM land stretch
About a mile up the creek · County Road 24
About it
It joins the Animas River about 6 miles NE of Silverton. It flows year-round.
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Maggie Gulch Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
BLM land stretch
About a mile up the creek · County Road 23
About it
It joins the Animas River about 6 miles NE of Silverton. It flows year-round.
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Cunningham Creek Cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
BLM land stretch
About 3.5 miles up the creek · County Road 4
About it
It joins the Animas River about 4 miles NE of Silverton. It flows year-round.
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Deer Park Creek Rainbow trout
Where to fish
BLM land stretch
About 1.5 miles up the creek · County Road 33
About it
It joins the Animas River about 2 miles S of Silverton. It flows year-round.
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Cascade Creek Brown, rainbow and brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 5 miles up the creek · Forest Road 591, high-clearance
About it
It joins the Animas River about 16 miles SW of Silverton. It flows year-round.
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Little Cascade Creek Rainbow trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Animas River about 17 miles S of Silverton. It flows year-round along most of its length.
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Bear Creek Cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 5 miles up the creek · Forest Road 682, open Jun 1 to Nov 30
About it
It joins the Animas River about 15 miles N of Durango. It flows year-round.
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Elbert Creek Brook trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 14 miles up the creek · Forest Road 581, open May 1 to Nov 14
About it
It joins the Animas River about 14 miles N of Durango. It flows seasonally along most of its length.
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Hermosa Creek Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout
Where to fish
San Juan National Forest
CPW access point · Medium access
CPW special rules
From the headwaters downstream to the confluence with East Cross Creek (except 100 feet up and downstream of the artificial waterfall located 0.1 mile below the East Fork of Hermosa Creek confluence)
- Artificial flies and lures only.
- Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
From 100 feet upstream and downstream of the artificial waterfall (fish barrier) located 0.1 mile below the East Fork of Hermosa Creek confluence
- Fishing prohibited.
About it
It joins the Animas River about 10 miles N of Durango. It flows year-round.
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Lightner Creek Rainbow trout
Where to fish
We found no CPW access point or public-land stretch on it. Check land ownership before you fish.
About it
It joins the Animas River at Durango. It flows year-round.
Show all 11
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Florida River Brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout
Where to fish
National forest stretch
About 46 miles up the river · Forest Road 243.A
CPW special rules
From the headwaters downstream to Lemon Reservoir
- Snagging kokanee permitted Sept. 1–Dec. 31.
From the US 160 bridge east of Durango downstream to the confluence with the Animas River
- No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie.
About it
It joins the Animas River about 14 miles W of Ignacio. It flows year-round.
Show 25 more named tributaries (no CPW fish data)
These also flow straight into the Animas River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has no fish data for them; some may still hold fish.
- North Fork Animas River
- West Fork Animas River
- Cinnamon Creek
- South Fork Animas River
- Arrastra Creek
- Cement Creek
- Mineral Creek
- Sultan Creek
- Molas Creek
- Elk Creek
- Tenmile Creek
- Noname Creek
- Ruby Creek
- Tie Creek
- Pigeon Creek
- Needle Creek
- Grasshopper Creek
- Tank Creek
- Canyon Creek
- Carson Creek
- Falls Creek
- Spring Creek
- Junction Creek
- Basin Creek
- Indian Creek
Species and special rules are Colorado Parks and Wildlife's. Statewide rules apply everywhere. Before you fish, check land ownership, CPW's current regulations and its temporary closures for drought and low water.
How we pick these
Species are CPW's records from its Fishing Atlas. A creek missing from this list may still hold fish; CPW simply has no record for it. The list runs in the order each one joins the Animas River, from the headwaters down, and "joins" names the nearest town to where it does on the same side of the mountains: a Census place, or a town with its own post office. Flow is how USGS maps each channel, not a live reading.
Special rules are the ones CPW writes for each creek in its Fishing Atlas. Rules CPW writes for the river itself, such as closures around a creek's mouth, are not repeated on the creek, and no directions lead into water CPW closes all year.
A national forest stretch is one that both the Forest Service's and BLM's ownership maps show as national forest for at least half a mile of the creek, with a road on the Forest Service's motor vehicle map within 500 feet; directions go to that road. A BLM or state park stretch is one that both BLM's land map and the USGS Protected Areas Database (which must record it as open access) show as that land for at least half a mile of the creek, with a public road within 500 feet; state parks charge an entry fee. Maps can be wrong and road seasons change. Away from CPW access points, check land ownership before you fish.
Getting to the Animas River
- Santa Rita Park and Oxbow Park are City of Durango access points; Oxbow Park (completed 2020) has a parking area, restrooms, changing rooms and a small-craft boat ramp (City of Durango).
- 9th Street at Schneider Park and 29th Street at Memorial Park are city-managed access points, with free Recreation Center parking for tubers (City of Durango).
- High Bridge (US 160/550) and Dallabetta Park at Rivera Crossing Bridge anchor seven miles of public bank, wade or float access along the Animas Riverwalk with four boating access points; seasonal restrooms at 29th St., the VFW lot, Cundiff, Schneider, Santa Rita and Dallabetta parks (CPW fishery survey; City of Durango).
- From 32nd Street Bridge to Lightner Creek: standard bag limits (4 trout/day, bait allowed).
- Gold MedalLightner Creek to Rivera Crossing Bridge: artificial flies and lures only, 2-fish bag with a 16-inch minimum (CPW fishery survey; CPW special regulations).
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What’s hatching on the Animas River
10 insects, from the published hatch charts of 2 fly shops, guides and fishing sites. Tap an insect to see where its dates come from. Every river, month by month →
DamselfliesApr 15 – Aug 31 · hook #6–121 source
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Damsels”: Apr 15 – Aug 31 · #6-12
Hoppers & terrestrialsApr 15 – Sep 30 · hook #6–185 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Ants”: Apr 15 – Sep 15 · #14-18
- Big Y Fly Co “Beetles”: May 15 – Sep 15 · #14-18
- Big Y Fly Co “Hoppers”: Jun 15 – Sep 25 · #8-14
- Big Y Fly Co “Flying Ants”: Aug 15 – Sep 15 · #14-18
- Fly Shack “Terrestrials (various)”: Jul 15 – Sep 30 · #6-18
CaddisMay 15 – Oct 15 · hook #10–202 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Caddis”: May 15 – Oct 15 · #12-20
- Fly Shack “Caddis (various)”: Jun 8 – Sep 22 · #10-18
SalmonfliesMay 15 – Jul 15 · hook #6–141 source
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Salmonflies”: May 15 – Jul 15 · #6-14
Pale Morning Duns (PMD)Jun 1 – Sep 15 · hook #14–202 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “PMD”: Jun 1 – Sep 15 · #14-20
- Fly Shack “Pale Morning Dun”: Jul 1 – Aug 31 · #16-20
Golden StonefliesJun 8 – Aug 15 · hook #8–142 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Golden Stones”: Jun 15 – Aug 15 · #8-14
- Fly Shack “Golden Stonefly”: Jun 8 – Aug 7 · #8-10
Yellow SalliesJun 15 – Aug 15 · hook #12–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Yellow Sallies”: Jun 15 – Aug 15 · #12-18
Blue-Winged Olives (BWO)Sep 1 – Mar 31 · hook #16–244 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “BWO (winter/spring)”: Jan 1 – Mar 31 · #16-24
- Big Y Fly Co “BWO (fall/winter)”: Sep 1 – Dec 31 · #16-24
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive (spring)”: Mar 1 – Mar 31 · #16-22
- Fly Shack “Blue Winged Olive (fall)”: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · #16-22
MidgesAll year · hook #18–283 sources
Where these dates come from:
- Big Y Fly Co “Midges”: Jan 1 – Dec 31 · #18-24
- Fly Shack “Midges (various, spring)”: Mar 8 – May 22 · #20-28
- Fly Shack “Midges (various, fall)”: Sep 8 – Oct 31 · #20-28
Attractor patternsJun 15 – Sep 14 · hook #8–181 source
Where these dates come from:
- Fly Shack “Attractors (various)”: Jun 15 – Sep 14 · #8-18
Some sources list only months, not days, so treat the dates as a guide and check conditions before you go.
10 fly pairings from real fishing reports
Browse 50 public pairings across the library. A Free account unlocks 5 more of your choice.
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Fly shops on the Animas River
Animas River fly fishing questions
What is a good flow (cfs) to fish the Animas River?
Guides and local shops report an ideal wade-fishing window of roughly 200–400 cfs on the Animas River (RiverReports). TroutTips shows the live current reading against this range so you can check before you go.
Is the Animas River designated Gold Medal water?
Yes, at least part of the Animas River carries Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Gold Medal water designation.
What flies work on the Animas River?
TroutTips tracks 10 fly pairings reported specifically on the Animas River, each tied to a season and a real source. See the Fly Pairings section on this page for the full list.
Are there fly shops near the Animas River?
Yes, Duranglers Flies & Supplies, The San Juan Angler, Rio Epic Outfitters, Heads Up Fly Fishing, Cut Bank Outfitters, Durango Fly Fishing guide this river. See the Nearby Fly Shops section on this page for details.