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Winter/Spring
2010 Fly
Fishing Newsletter!
Greetings
from Southwest Colorado!
All
is well here
in the Southwest;
plenty of
snow in the
mountains,
mild winter
and early
spring days
and plenty
of feisty
trout on
the bite.
2009 is behind
us and we
are casting
into 2010
energized
and excited
for the new
season. We
have a
fresh new
look with
our web site
full of updated
info and
images, plus
we hope it
is a little
more user
friendly.
We
also would
like to thank
those who
helped make
2009 another
great season.
We had great
flows, plenty
of trout
on the fly,
some big
fish landed
and good
times were
had by all.
This season
marks AvA's
10th year
on the water!
For many
of us guides
that puts
well over
15 seasons
under the
old wading
belt. We
are looking
forward to
seeing you
all during
the 2010
campaign.
Its
been a great
winter here
in Durango
with lots
of snow (last
big dump
buried us
with 35 inches
of snow).
We have also
been enjoying
our typical
bright and
sunny Colorado
days. Despite
the sun daily
temps have
varied quite
a bit (highs
between 22
to 45 F).
So, does
that keep
us off the
water? Heck
no! We just
crank up
the heaters
in the drift
boats and
keep the
hot coco
flowin'.
The past
couple weeks
have been
balmy with
temps in
the mid to
upper 50s
F.
Feel
free to click
around the
new web site
along with
the AVA blog;
enjoy the
new photos
(more on
the way)
and news
snipits.
We will once
again be
offering
great winter
and spring
rates on
our Animas
and San Juan
trips. Just
one way for
us to say
thanks for
all the support
over the
years. As
always feel
free to drop
us a line
to say hello.
Cheers,
Will,
Chris, Ralph, Tim,
Marc, Josh, Rick,
Matt, Chip, Gordy,
Drew, Amanda, Nate
and Aaron
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Early
Spring Fly Fishing
Reports
The
Animas, our home
river, continues to be a
great
winter and early
spring fishery. The feisty
Animas
trout continue
to
enjoy nymphs fished
deep or a streamer stripped
fast in pockets and pools.
Midge hatches have been
steady and should
continue
through the next
few weeks.
The
San Juan is fishing
well with small junk
patterns and micro midges.
Blue Wings are starting
to increase and if you
can hit a cloudy day-watch
out it could be incredible.
Other than that same
old same old. Small eggs
in the morning with
small
chocolate
midges trailed behind.
Red annelids and midges
are
top producers
in the afternoon if BWOs
are not happening.
Here
are a few reports from
the past couple months.
- San
Juan below Navajo
Dam Guide Report:
Will Blanchard 1.8.10
Water: Green/clear | Water Temp: cool | Flow: 468
cfs
Weather: Upper 30s. Sunny
Fish: Fished very well with nymphs fished at 8
feet in the slow water.
Insects: Micro midges in olive and brown, some
tiny BWOs around 3:30pm
- Animas
Guide Report: Will
Blanchard 1.24.10
Water: Stained 12 inches of vis | Water Temp: cold
| Flow: 190 cfs
Weather: Fished mid day, 3 1/2 hours. 32 F Cool
and sunny, wind.
Fish: Fished fair due to stain in the water from
snow melt (day before 46 F)
Insects: Some tiny midges, not many.
- Animas
Guide Report: Will
Blanchard 2.16.10
Water: Clear | Water Temp: cold | Flow: 200 cfs
Weather: Fished all day. 43 F Warm and sunny.
Fish: Fished very well. Nymphs, streamers and dries.
Perfect Guide Day!
Insects: Some midges mid day.
- San
Juan Guide Report:
Will Blanchard and
Chris Meyer 2.17.10
Water: Clear/Green | Water Temp: cold | Flow:469
cfs
Weather: Fished all day. 40 F Windy and cool.
Fish: Fished ok in the morning, better in the afternoon.
Light takes on nymph rigs.
Insects: Small midges early
- San
Juan Guide
Report:
Will Blanchard
3.15.10
Water: Clear/Green | Water Temp: cold | Flow:469 cfs
Weather: Fished all day. 59 F and calm | full sun
Fish: Fished very well all day.
Insects:
Midge
pupas were
the ticket all day.
Small size
22 to 26 in brown with
a gold wrap.
Red annelid produced
at times.
Some small BWOs in the afternoon, but the fish were not keyed on
them.
- Animas
Guide Report: Will
Blanchard 2.16.10
Water: Clear | Water Temp: cold | Flow: 200 cfs
Weather: Fished all day. 43 F Warm and sunny.
Fish: Fished very well. Nymphs, streamers and dries. Perfect Guide Day!
Insects: Some midges mid day.
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On
a
sad note: Friend
Art Isgar Passes
at 94
The
AVA family,
along with the Isgar family
and countless
friends lost a great man
this past week. On March
17th
2010 Art passed away here
in Durango. Art will be deeply
missed. He had one hell of
a life
and in all those 94 years
he was a rancher, farmer,
outdoorsman and dedicated
Democrat of
La Plata County. There are
so many memories, that more
thoughts and reflections
will be added soon. Art and
Anne's generosity with
their lives, land and river
to
us guides will never be
forgotten. He ranched right
up till the time he died.
This photo was taken by
Art's friend John Staten.
It was
the last trout Art caught.
Already missing you big time
buddy. Art
Photos |
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Another
sad note: Guide
Chris Meyer
Lost His Fishing
Buddy.
Head
guide Chris Meyer and his
wife Serra lost Charlie,
their 5 year-old Golden,
in a
horrible accident. Ole'
"Chuck" was one
hell of a river dog and
great
friend of the AVA crew
and guests alike. He will
be
missed
by us all. Raise your
glass in honor of this
great fishing dog. Charlie
Photos |
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Book
Your 2010 Trips
Today!
Take
a peak at your
calendar and start
planning
your
spring,
summer
and fall fly
fishing
trips. We have
plenty
of openings,
but
prime spots are
starting
to fill. Drop
us
a
line, e-mail or
click the button
to the right
to book a trip. |
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New
images
New
images and galleries
have been uploaded
to the fly fishing
photography section!
Like
the rest of the site,
our photography section
is also getting
a fresh look. So check back
for more images in the coming
weeks. in our photography
section
as well.
New
galleries will be posted
soon and will include
images of steelheading
on
the
Kispiox, Colorado
nature and fishing
throughout the Southwest.
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Animas
Valley
Anglers
Blog
The
AvA blog
continues
to be
a fun
place
for us
to post
fishing
images
and AvA
news.
If any
guests
and friends
of AvA
have
fun and
interesting
images
from
past
seasons
or information
our fans
and readers
might
find
entertaining
please
pass
them
along
via e-mail and
we'll
post
them
on our
site
or blog. |
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Thanks
to Just Bo's
A
big thanks goes out
to the crew at Just
Bo's for what might
just be the annual
AvA guide crew and
family season kick-off.
The pizzas were hot and
the cold beer flowed
freely. Great
to have everyone
out for the evening,
it was a blast. |
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New
Web Site For
AVA!
If
your
viewing
this
page,
than
you
have
hit our
all
new
web
site.
You
may run
into
a glitch
or two
and maybe
even
a typo,
but we
are working
around
the clock
to make
sure
it is
as smooth
as possible.
Should
be perfect
in the
next
couple
day,
otherwise
enjoy!
Lots
of new
images
and
a new
look.
We
also
hope
it
it is
a
little
more
user
friendly. |
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Graphics-Web Design-Creative Design-Photography
by Will Blanchard © 2000-2010
Animas Valley Anglers | all rights reserved
Licensed,
Insured, Bonded | Permits: Navajo Lake State Parks, USFS, BLM, DOW |
Colorado Guide License #2008
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