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

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.

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

snow up to your...

After it dumps 35-inches in 4 days you go ride or ski right? No no, head for the creek. We post-holed, nearly set off an avalanche, made a ton of casts and had a blast. Durango Colorado did in-fact receive a lot of snow last week. We are now up to %100 of normal snowpack. Not many places in the West can say that. Happy trout come spring and summer.

New AvA Gallery: Nature Images

Nature shots from around the Southwest. These three images are from a new gallery on the Animas Valley Anglers site. Click the link at the top right of the blog for the entire gallery.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year!

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.

What a Summer!

Photos: Bud working big dries on the Rio while Kispa waits for the take. David on the big "D" working a fish in the tail-out. Dolores buzzworm with a full belly and mega attitude. Waiting out a lighting storm on the Rio can be stressful, however Mike Johnson makes it more fun with a long-jaw Wason Ranch bridge bow. Phil, Will, Kis and an Animas bow.

Hanging with Bill and Ann-Root Pond and Juan

Our spring season is slowly slipping into summer. Last week it was snow and wind. Today? Sunny and warm. A few days ago I enjoyed a two day combo with Bill and Ann from New Mexico. These fishing friends visit us every month or so and enjoy all the diversity our region has to offer. We headed over to Root Pond on the first day then down to the San Juan below Navajo Dam on the second day. The wind decided to blow at Root Pond (check the first photo were my hat is safely in the drink) but the fish were on the bite. The Juan offered persnickety trout in the morning and then gave way to an excellent hatch of BWOs were the fish were keyed on the emergers and nymphs. It was a big fish day for sure. Ann was on a roll with four fish to the net all over the 20 inch mark. We all had a blast, Kispa included. Ann, being a lab lover sent me a fantastic book titled, Marley and Me by John Grogan. Great read so check it out. Thanks you guys. Cheers. -wb

Spring Floats, Trout and Thick Elk Steaks: Photo Set #1