The upper section of the Animas river is an excellent freestone river with a variety of fish to catch on the fly.  Though it is often tough to access due to the canyon, the river holds endless habitat for trout behind every rock, riffle, run and pool.  Don’t leave any rock unturned in this section and spend 2-3 casts per fishable area and then move upstream.  There are canyon sections for pocket water, meadows for slow-water fishing and sizeable runs and holes to find hungry trout. There is tons of water to hit, so don’t get stuck in just one spot.  The rocks are slick and the rainbows are plentiful.  Most fish will range in the 10-15 inch range, but with some hard work put in on this river you can find some sizeable browns that will make for a great memory.  Dry flies and nymphs will take a lot of fish, but the biggest fish will be caught on streamers.  Heavy streamers fished off the bottom is the best bet for anglers due to the abundance of sculpin in the river.

Tips for Fishing the Animas River

  • Cover Plenty of Water – There is miles of public access on this Colorado jewel, so be prepared to cover some ground. The more ground you will cover, the more fish you’ll likely catch.
  • Throw Some Meat – Some heavy sculpin style streamers will be your best chance at a 20+ inch fish. Work the transition water from deep to shallow, shady to sunny, and any big rock in the river to roll out a big brown or fiesty rainbow.