fly fishing

Do you love to fish? So do we! And we also love to introduce non-fishermen to the idyllic wonders of this great sport.

Colorado Trails Ranch offers a full-service fly fishing program with over two miles of private water on the Florida River. You also have access to high mountain streams in the San Juan National Forest or on the San Juan River during guided trips. In addition to free-flowing streams, we offer stocked fishing on nearby ranch ponds. (See fishing options below.)

You can expect to catch rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and brook trout. Our professional guides happily work with novices and experts (and anywhere in between!). At our first-class dude ranch, we provide all the essential supplies you need to enjoy the best trout fishing in the beautiful mountains of southwest Colorado.

Half-day fishing options

El Dorado Ranch Pond
Stocked pond just four miles from the ranch. A great place to learn, practice casting, and build your confidence. Catch and release with barbless flies. Children must be accompanied by an adult or be with the children's program. Guides required.

Rainbow Ranch Pond
Just like the El Dorado Ranch pond, this stocked pond is great for learning, casting practice and wetting your line in a scenic location just west of our guest ranch. Catch and release with barbless flies. Guide required.

Worden's Stretch
One-quarter mile of private Florida River directly below the Lemon Dam and just four miles northeast of the ranch. Beautiful tail waters that have been professionally improved for fish habitat. Brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout from 6" to 12" are abundant. Catch and release with barbless flies. Guide required.

El Dorado Ranch
One-third mile of private Florida River four miles from the ranch, professionally improved for fish habitat. Great structure with cutthroat available. Catch and release with barbless flies. Guide required.

Rainbow Ranch
Over three-quarters mile of private Florida River just west of our guest ranch. Beautiful natural habitat featuring native cutthroat trout. Catch and release with barbless flies. Guide required.

Animas River Downtown
Gold medal fishing in an urban atmosphere. The Animas River, which has an abundant amount of large rainbow and brown trout, cuts through the historic town of Durango on its way to join the San Juan River. Guide recommended.

Full-day fishing options

San Juan River
Wade fishing on the "Blue Ribbon Waters" of the San Juan River just below the Navajo Dam. Open to the public, this section of river has some of the finest rainbow trout fishing in the world. Great fishing that’s located approximately 60 miles south of the ranch in New Mexico. Limited take area but mostly catch and release with barbless flies. Guide recommended; guide cost of $150 includes New Mexico fishing license.

High mountain streams
Guided trips to various streams and rivers in the San Juan National Forest. Brown, cutthroat, and brook trout are found in gorgeous mountain locations. Catch and release with barbless flies. Maximum of two fishermen per day. Guide recommended.

Lime Creek
Wade fish a major tributary to the Upper Animas River. Lime Creek boasts a hearty supply of rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout in the 5" to 10" range.

Cascade Creek
Originating deep within the San Juan Mountains, Cascade Creek offers the angler more than 14 miles of fishable water in some of the most beautiful wilderness Southwest Colorado has to offer. Above the aqueduct diversion, Cascade Creek provides good fishing for small brook and rainbow trout.

Hermosa Creeks
Hermosa's waters offer you the angler a great place to find solitude, along with an opportunity to test your stalking abilities. Most fish are small, but their fight is big – and the colors on the native Colorado golden cutthroat are spectacular.

Float Trips
We can contract with Animas Valley Anglers, a local outfitter, for float trips on the San Juan or Animas Rivers. Outfitter cost applies.

Please contact us for more information.