Public fly fishing access (Durango: real estate, estate, vehicle)

[Gxhardyg4]

Will be in Durango this summer to fly fish. Are there plenty of public access points or is access limited to private areas? I'm not really interested in fishing the downtown areas. Would prefer to "get away from it all". Thanks.

[jim9251]

I would recommend finding a local fly fishing guide. They can take you to those out of the way places only locals know about. Have fun!

[jazzlover]

There is a lot of public land in Colorado where streams are accessible for fishing. DO NOT TRESPASS ON PRIVATE LAND TO FISH--that will get you in serious trouble.

Now, as to the quality of fishing--that is another matter. Much of Colorado's trout fisheries were severely damaged by whirling disease a number of years back and are still trying to recover. The last couple of years of drought, especially in southern Colorado, have also raised hell with fish populations.

My simple rule is this: If you can readily drive to or near it in a vehicle, the fishing isn't going to be very good, unless it's a place heavily stocked by DOW. The more remote the spot, the less fishing pressure and the better chances there are for a good fishing experience.

For a truly great fly-fishing experience in the mountains, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho are the place to go. Colorado ranks poorly compared to them.

[reed303]

Colorado has a new on-line interactive map of fishing areas. Try it at

Colorado Fishing Atlas

[Gxhardyg4]

Thank you all for your responses.


reed303, that fishing atlas is some resource. Thanks. Jazzlover, congratulations on winning $500 last yr.

I've looked at some fly fishing real estate listings and it's funny how they all seem to say "trophy trout fishing", "fantastic fly fishing", "unbelievable fishing". Given the above comment of iffy fishing, is this possible? Frankly, I fish to get out to be alone with my two dogs. Catching fish would be a bonus and something I enjoy tremendously. Been fly fishing a long time and have caught lots of fish but as I grow older, catching is less of a priority anymore. I'm like the guy on the bank with his hookless and baitless line in the water when another guy says to me "You're not likely to catch anything fishing like that". I tell him "I know. That would only disturb what I'm doing now".

So I guess I should've asked which river or creek I'm most likely to find a lonely spot where the dogs can frolic and not disturb anyone while I keep a line in the water. Thanks again.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Gxhardyg4

Thank you all for your responses.


reed303, that fishing atlas is some resource. Thanks. Jazzlover, congratulations on winning $500 last yr.

I've looked at some fly fishing real estate listings and it's funny how they all seem to say "trophy trout fishing", "fantastic fly fishing", "unbelievable fishing". Given the above comment of iffy fishing, is this possible? Frankly, I fish to get out to be alone with my two dogs. Catching fish would be a bonus and something I enjoy tremendously. Been fly fishing a long time and have caught lots of fish but as I grow older, catching is less of a priority anymore. I'm like the guy on the bank with his hookless and baitless line in the water when another guy says to me "You're not likely to catch anything fishing like that". I tell him "I know. That would only disturb what I'm doing now".

So I guess I should've asked which river or creek I'm most likely to find a lonely spot where the dogs can frolic and not disturb anyone while I keep a line in the water. Thanks again.

If you want fishing in solitude, you generally won't find it in Colorado unless you are in places that are either very difficult or impossible to access by vehicle. There are just too many people around. The better known an area is (and Durango is certainly that), the more difficult that it is.

I know of a number of good fishing spots, but they are all a bear to get into, and I don't share them for the reason that I want them to stay poorly known. They support naturally reproducing cutthroat populations that are easily fished out. For the record, I always did catch and release, but I seldom fish now, and not in Colorado since I'm no longer a resident.