"Will, how are things looking this season?" Well...

Here is the snow report released March 1st for the southwest. Looks like we are below average, but March and April can be our wettest months. Regardless, we are all looking forward to what has already been a fantastic season!

SAN MIGUEL, DOLORES, ANIMAS, AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASINS as of March 1, 2013 Snow accumulation for the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, and San Juan basins came in below normal, at just 79 percent of the median, for the month of February. This is somewhat disappointing coming on the heels of above normal accumulation in both December and January. As a result the total snowpack percentage for these basins declined 5 percentage points from last month, with a report of 83 percent of median as of March 1. Even with the decline this remains the highest snowpack percentage reported across the state. Precipitation recorded at the SNOTEL sites in these basins during February was only 67 percent of average. The year to date total decreased slightly from last month to 73 percent of average reported on March 1. The total volume of water stored in the reservoirs in these basins increased slightly from last month's reports. At the end of February the reservoirs were storing 258,000 acre-feet of water which is 67 percent of average storage for this time of year and 64 percent of what was stored last year at this time. This month's below normal precipitation and snow accumulation are directly reflected in this month's forecasts. Forecasts across the basin have declined significantly from those issued last month. April to July streamflow volumes are now expected to range from 58 percent of average for the Inflow to McPhee Reservoir to 73 percent of average for the Inflow to Vallecito Reservoir.

Animas River Fly Fishing - Late Winter

Shhhhhhhhhhh...the Animas River is fishing well. I have had a few days on the water the past couple weeks with a few long time guests of AVA. Fished with Bob and his son Jeff for a couple days as well as Reed Tankerton and his buddy. Between the Animas and San Juan the late winter fishing as been well....again, shhhhhhh.....pretty sweet. Love the cold snowy days; fish are on the bite and you feel like you earned that hot coffee at lunch. This is a sample of shots from the Animas days with the guys. San Juan shots on the way. None of the shots have been tweaked, just strait of the camera.

-Will

photos: all images are copyright protected - Will Blanchard | Animas Valley Anglers

Animas River Fly Fishing Map!

New Google map for the Animas River is now available.  It is also on our new site under the info tab. I have marked a few key spots with more on the way. Feel free to send us feed back. Cheers. -Will

View Animas River - Durango Colorado - Animas Valley Anglers in a larger map

Ben's 10-Day-Old B-day Pics (continued)

More shots from Ben's first day of flickin' a fly on the Animas River Christmas day.







images: 1) Mom checking the bugs. 2) Proud papa planting one on his little noodle. 3) Amanda checking in on Ben, "Is he getting too much sun in there? Is he too cold" Dad, "No he is fine, he is way to bundled up in there." 4) Will landing a keeper on the Animas River. 5) Ben's first tailgate diaper change.

Benjamin Rally Blanchard's first trout

Benjamin was born December 15th, 2010 on a chilly snow-blown day in Durango Colorado. He slid out into the world at 11:48 am after a long 14 hours of labor. Amanda wanted a natural birth and that is what she got. No pain meds to speak of, unless you would really count Tylenol PM the night before. Amanda and Will, maybe a little sleep deprived, still found the energy to take young Ben for his first fishing excursion down on the Animas River. They loaded all the new kid gear, fly rods, dogs and the "little one" and headed for a little fishing on Christmas Day. At ten days young Ben was very impressed with the fact that his mom out fished his dad.

KIDS FISH FREE!

That's right August is all about the ankle-biter anglers out there. The 1/2 pints that can not fit into waders, tangle nymph rigs into twisted wrecks and catch fish with reckless abandon are all welcomed to fish for free with Animas Valley Anglers during the month of August 2010. All they have to do is talk their parents, grandparents, kid sitter, older sibling or legal guardian into signing up for any of our great angling adventures.

Just mention you spied this special either on our web site or the AVA blog and you can enroll in the Kids Fish Free program. The trip will bill at our single angler rate. A $50 savings, plus you get to fish the best waters in the West during prime time at a discount. A third angler, adult or child, will be the standard extra $150. Drop us a line today for more info and details on the Kids Fish Free program.

photo 1: David Brake and guide Chris Meyer on the Animas with a sweet bow.

photo 2: Guide Will Blanchard and Carson Dellinger with a pretty Rio brown trout. Carson's first float fishing trout. He caught that frisky trout in the first 20 minutes of the float above the train bridge at Wagon Wheel Gap.

Summer Grips

photos: (1) Carson Dellinger and Will on the Rio with a sweet trout.(2) Bill Mitchell with a stud upper bow. (3)Courtney, Will and Kispa on the upper Juan (4) Jesse and Kevin hangin' with Guide Josh Curtis on the Rio. Nice fish eh?

BWOs-the old blue wing olive

Spring and the mighty (small) blue wing olive. Catch a cloudy day on many of our western rivers and you just might see a thick hatch of these sexy little mayflies. The San Juan, Animas, Dolores, Rio, Pine and others will offer the fly angler a shot at nice fish on baetis nymphs, emergers and dries. The season is officially on!

thugs

images: Gator Brown from the Animas River (image published in Scott Fly Rod catalog in 06) Old Hook Jaw from the Animas, Big D stud

(updated) House Bill 10-1188-Passes with 7 to 3 Vote

Bill 10-1188 passed Monday, February 8th 2010, with a 7 to 3 vote. This bill will give River Outfitters, in Colorado, the right to offer float fishing trips trough private property. Outfitters and guides will be protected under state law when incidental trespass occurs. This would be the case if a raft or drift boat bumps a bank or rock. This would also allow a guide to portage around a hazard or obstacle. Float fishing is all about respect for the environment, the fish and private property.

click this link or cut and paste it to see the Bill

http://http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/CLICS2010A/csl.nsf/">

image: Quick lunch break for the guides and guests on a chunk of public US Forest Service land that is locked by private property on all four sides.Rio Grande River near Creede Colorado

TU and Animas River Restoration Project 2009

Winter Fly Fishing on the Animas with Chris Meyer and the hounds

Chris Meyer and I headed to the Animas for a little recon before a guide trip. The day was Jan 18th and the weather was perfect. Here are four photos from the day. The rest of the images can be seen at Animas Valley Anglers. Click the link at the upper right of the blog.

New AvA Gallery: Remote Fly Fishing via Historic Durango Silverton Train

Remote trout in a wicked canyon- and the only way in is by bird, boat, train or wading boot. Click the link at the top right of the blog to see the entire gallery.

Summer Images 08

photos: 1) Stick-o-butter trout. This albino bow was chilling out on the Rio Grande in a Wason Ranch back chanel. Kispa loved the thing. 2) Rio Grande stones. 3) Jess on Apple Creek north of Durango. 4) Caddis orgy on the Rio. 5) More stone fly action.

More Summer Photos 08

photos: AVA fleet on the Animas. Chris and Pam Bent with an Animas bow. Jess working a pocket on a creek near Creede. End of the day Trout Slayer Ale. Photos from cell phone suck, but this one is pretty funny. Kis on the Animas.