Root
Pond trophy trout lake details
Root Pond is an 8-acre private trophy trout lake that
Animas Valley Anglers has exclusive access to fish.
Root
Pond is tucked away in draw west of Durango,
hidden
amongst the rolling Pinto bean fields surrounded
by Pinion pine, sage brush and small willows.
This private
lake is home to rainbow trout, brook trout
and German browns. The fish range in size
from 12 to 20 inches and are strong and mean.
Root is also
a fantastic bird sanctuary. So if you like
trout and claim to be a bird-nerd, then Root
Pond is a great fit for you.
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Root
Pond levels, guide
reports and hatches
Fall 2011 |
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Fishing report
Fished Root Pond a couple weeks ago and water temps were
still too high. Fishing was good, but we worry
about releasing the fish back into the water safely.
We need temps to drop a bit more before we can
make a day of it. The fish are looking good and
we even landed a monster crappie on a bugger!
Guide
activity:
Will, Chris
Guide
Report
June 13, 2011
Guide:
Will
Section:
Entire lake
Weather:
Sun | AM temps 59 F
| PM temps 81 F
Hatches:
Damsels!
Fishing:
Very good fishing with
every rainbow ripping line
and jumping like they were
on fire. The brookies are
growing in width more than
length. The brown trout
are starting to thrive
as well. Root Pond is back!
Guide
Report
June 7, 2010
Guide:
Will
Section:
Entire lake
Weather:
Sun with some clouds
| AM temps 75 F |
PM temps 95 F
Hatches:
Midges and cali baetis,
damsels and dragon flies
Fishing:
Slow some small rainbows
and brookies eating on
the surface. |
Hatches
Summer hatches on Root Pond are large midges, damsel
flies, cali beatis, ants
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February-March:
Some midges, fry,
crawfish, aquatic
fleas-good streamer
fishing
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April:
Giant midges, cali
beatis, fry, crawfish,
aquatic fleas-great
streamer fishing
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May:
Midges, may flies,
ants, damsels,
dragon flies, fry,
crawfish, aquatic
fleas
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June:
Damsels, dragons,
hoppers, fry, crawfish,
aquatic fleas
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July/Aug/Sep:
Too warm to fish
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Oct/Nov:
Midges and streamers
Fly
patterns
Book
a trip and learn about
the Root Pond Spider!
The
trout, bass and
others
Most trout in Root Pond are a Donaldson-Bailey cross.
They definitely show off their steelhead traits with
long power runs and thrashing leaps. There are also
a few cut-bows lurking about too. There are also
monstrous crappie and yellow perch.
We
also have nursed
a small population
of largemouth and
smallmouth bass.
They are getting
bigger and can be
a blast on the fly
rod.
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Predictions
and forecast
Root
is a great place to fish
when all
the streams in the Southwest
are high and muddy.
The
season
Late February or early march kicks off our Root Pond
season and extends to early July. Our fall season
starts in late September and goes through October
depending on air and water temps.
In
the spring, fish destroy
streamers and will
pounce on midges. The
midges, looking like
bats, are large compared
to their San Juan cousins.
April through June
is when the cali baetis
and damsel flies hatch.
There will be thousands
of blue adult damsels
flying and mating all
over the place, and
it is common to see
mating pairs snatched
from the air by an
aggressive, impatient
trout. Due to the high
protein diet some fish
are as big around as
they are long. Fish
size ranges from 13
to 24 inches.
Still
water fly fishing
you just have to
experience
This pond has become a fantastic place to fish regardless
of ability. If you are just beginning in the sport
of fly fishing, or if you have years under your belt
on all types of water you will find Root Pond to
be a special and exciting place to wet a line.
The
pond is deep and clear,
allowing full view
of fish cruising weed
beds, rock points and
long flats in search
of grub. We float it
in our standard drift
boats or skiffs. This
gives the angler the
ability to spot fish,
lead the fish with
a cast and hopefully
hook and play it.
The
fish are big and strong.
These "football" shaped
rainbow, brown and
brook trout are so
strong they will rip
the rod right out of
your hand. The
trout range from 1
to 4 pounds with 7
pounders lurking deep
in the weed beds. They
absolutely love to
crush streamers and
the gulping dry fly
takes are very cool.
Be it a diet of crawfish
or damsels we have
no idea why these fish
are so incredibly wicked
and strong. Many of
these fish have abnormally
large girth.
Guided
Fly Fishing on
the Root Pond
We
offer full day trips
on Root Pond. We fish
Root out of our drift
boats. W also offer
a combo trip in the
spring; fish Root Pond
in the morning, then
finish the day on the
Dolores.
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