FISHING THE FOUR CORNERS

Fishing opportunities can be found year around in the Four Corners, but mid-summer through late fall offers some of the finest fishing anywhere in the U.S. Whether you are a bait, spin, or fly fisher, or if you enjoy trolling from a boat, the many lakes, rivers and streams in the area provide you with the chance to catch many different species of game fish including trout, bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegills as well as kokanee salmon!

Within an hour's drive of Durango are numerous high mountain lakes and many more accessible by hikes that range from moderate to extreme. Molas, Little Molas, Andrews, Haviland, and Henderson Lakes are all easily accessible by car and contain brook and rainbow trout. Vallecito, McPhee, and Navajo Lakes are all man-made impoundments that contain brown and rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, northern pike, crappie, sunfish, bluegills and large and small mouth bass.

The Animas River that runs right through Durango is well stocked with brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout and it has a state-designated "Gold Medal" section of water, which means that it offers the fly and spin fisher the best opportunity to catch a trophy-sized fish. For the fly fisher, the Animas has one of the best caddis hatches in the state, which begins in the spring and continues into mid-summer. The former state record brown trout was caught in the Animas River right behind Burger King in downtown Durango!

High mountain creeks such as Lime, Cascade, Hermosa and Los Pinos can provide hours of fun catching brookies, cutthroats, and rainbows on dry flies or small spinners. They also have the added bonus of being in some of the most spectacular country in the world! The chance to see deer, elk, osprey, bald and golden eagles further enhances the experience.

Last, but certainly not least, is the San Juan River that flows out of Navajo Lake in New Mexico only an hour's drive south of Durango. The "Juan" is one of the premier fly-fishing destinations in the U.S. Its enormous population of rainbow trout averages an honest 17 inches and many fish over 20 inches abound in the river. Most fish are taken on tiny (size 20 or smaller) nymphs, but when the midge or baetis hatches are on, large fish can be seen rising all over the river.

A number of excellent outfitters offer guide services and equipment rental in the area and there are marinas on most of the larger lakes, which offer boat rentals.