Beavers Bend Fly Shop

Have a great time.. I will be up there in July.. Place is amazing!!

Hello Boby
I am going to go through there early July and my daughter will be a long horn. All the best for your daughter for her life in College station. Have you had any experience fishing there? Last year I had a great time around Pagosa springs and did not have much luck at the San Juan river. If you have much experience fishing around there, please let me know. Otherwise have a fantastic time.

Well no I don't have any experience fishing the San Juan but from what I have read about fishing there is not what we think here in Texas ( Bigger is Better). Everything I read is size 22-26 flies, guess I'll have to get double bifocals to tie the leader!!!!!!!!! Anyway a day fishing with your daughter beats any other thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very true Muleman. Small is better. Small midges/WD 40s/BWOs/Baetis/RS2. Seldom will you tie on anything larger than a #20. The river is a midge bredding ground and the constant water temps bring midges year round. Keep in mind also: every once in a while a black bugger or SJ Worm works very well.

Muleman, I fish the SJ twice a year. Above is correct. Not often do you use anything larger than a 20. That being said, the river is long and has so many different spots, you can do all different kinds of fishing.. Hatches usually happen near the dam and in that first stretch I have done great with the smaller midge pattern. As you work your way down you can do a little dry fly fishing or foam wing emergers work wonders. Spots all over the place where you can go bigger with SJ worms, wolly buggers or leech's, depends where you are.. Neat thing is they just did some serious renovations to the river. I am curious to see what it is like. They redirected water in spots, enlarged area, etc, I hear it took alot of pressure off of the fish? There are 2 great fly shops about a mile down from the dam area (Fish Heads and Abe's) that give out great indo as well.. Big is better at the SJ in one aspect. Most of the fish you catch there will be 18+. They swarm all around you, pretty crazy!

Sounds like a great trip! I would love to go, but I have to work. Been there three times. I seemed to have the most luck on gray or brown foam wing emergers - 20-22. However, last year I hooked up with 6 fish and landed 3 of them by throwing a sinking line and a size 6 streamer into where the main current dumps into Texas Hole.

The Animas River is in Durango - not too far from San Juan. I hear there are big fish there. We fished it last year after a rain and it was too cloudy and didn't have any luck.

I would also recommend fishing the Conejos as well.

Good luck! I hope to be taking a similar trip in 10 years when my daughter is about to go to A&M!!

Jonathan Snead
Fighting Texas Aggie Class of '97

If I give a feedback on the Animas river which going through downtown Durango, I would not recommend it. The reason is that I have fished there over several years during the summer and found that the place is not productive. And during the day time, there are lots of human traffics including kayakers. And when you are surrounded by so many nice places why do you want to spend so much time there? Near Durango, I heard that there is a place in the first nation called Ute.
A more detailed info can be found in http://duranglers.com/animas-river/.

Another place that you want to check out is Pagosa springs, nears Malt Shoppe. (spelling is correct). Through the back of the shop runs the San Juan river. The good thing is that you can use all the good working flies that work for Beavers Bend perhaps because they stock fish.

Have fun. If I go early July and fish around Durango and the San Juan river, I give my report on what happen.

One little thing about San Juan river is that you might lose some big fish, “the one get away“ and may leave a big hole in your heart. But that makes us go back to the river.
Be safe and have a wonderful time with your daughter.

I just came back from a fishing trip to San Juan river and streams near Durango area. I had a great time in San Juan river. I fished around a place called Kiddie pool, and move up to the north to the Upper Channel. I did it without hiring a guide since I fished once last year. But if you are not sure, you can hire a guide. Anyway, the place that I mentioned is rather safe to fish because the water level was low. If I tied size 26 midges patterns and did nymphing most of the times. I caught several big fish (size 18 to 19).
Since the river is uneven in the sense that some spots are quite deep, I suggest you to use a wading staff. Which will be also useful when you fish around the stream.

There are lots of mosquitoes at San Juan river. So bring lots of bug repellents.


Fishing at the streams near a sky resort called Pergatory was fun, although hiking up to the brook was tough. I guess i walked about half to a mile. Hydrate yourself. I used attractor pattern and a tandem rig which is consisted of attractor and size 18 pheasant tail and got lots of fish. I went to a place called Cascade which is not far from the sky resort. Go ask the guys in Durangler they will give you some information about it.

Speaking of Pagosa springs, I was disappointed. The water was low and its color was murky to say the least. And fish were not biting. I would not recommend the place. By the way, my wife also told me that the hot spring at Pagosa was not that exciting either. They raised the price perhaps by 25 percent compared to last year.

Anyway, if you have want to have more info, send me a private message.

I wish we still had posts from the old board, had a big write up of fishing the durango area and the local streams.