FLYMASTERColorado · river
San Miguel River
The San Miguel River is a tributary of the Dolores River, approximately 81 miles (130 km) long, in southwestern Colorado in the United States. It rises in the San Juan Mountains southeast of Telluride and flows northwest, along the southern slope of the Uncompahgre Plateau, past the towns of Placerville and Nucla and joins the Dolores in western Montrose County approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of the state line with Utah. From Wikipedia
- Length
- 90 mi
- Flows into
- Dolores River
Flow now
San Miguel River At Brooks Bridge Near Nucla CO, 9 mi from the river.
300cfsat build, Nov 12, 11 AM MT
The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 61 cfs to 79 cfs, around 72 cfs.
Also gauged at San Miguel River Near Placerville, CO: 245 cfs, Nov 12.
Snowpack
2.5 in of water in the snow at Columbine Pass and 2 more stations, against a median 1.1 in for the date (224 % of normal).
The snowpack here usually builds from Nov 11, peaks Mar 26 and is gone by May 4; runoff follows the melt.
The season, November
Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.
- Midgessizes 18 to 22
- Small eggs and worms
- Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator
Typical for the week over 10 years: 61 to 79 cfs. Running 300 cfs today, above that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.
Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.
- Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.
Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.
Fly shops on this water
- RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service RidgwayWebsite
Nearby waters
- Dolores River30 mi
- Uncompahgre River31 mi
- Gunnison River43 mi
- Cimarron River43 mi
Open San Miguel River in FlyMaster for today's plan, the flies, and your own log here.
Flows from the U.S. Geological Survey, snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network, text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Built Nov 12.