The breathtaking San Miguel River begins high in the mountains above Telluride, Colorado. From Telluride, the troutfishing runs for over 45 miles to the northwest where it eventually becomes a warmwater fishery. The San Miguel is a high gradient, freestone river with average depths between 1 and 3 feet. It has abundant pocket water with occasional pools and riffle-like runs. It holds five species of trout ...

with rainbows and cutbows being predominant. The rocky stream bed lends itself to a plethora of bug life with cadddis flies being the most prevalent. There is a major stonefly hatch of pteronarcys which occurs when the river is high and muddy. Possibly due to this, stonefly nymphs are a major player throughout trout season. Like the Dolores, the whitewater nature of the river makes it difficult to cue on hatches. There are abundant hatches of caddis, which generally occur during extreme high water, when it is too early to fish. Fishing occurs all year, but prime time is late June through October. Dry-dropper rigs work well most of the year. Top dry flies are Stimulators and most varieties of caddis flies. Schroeder hoppers are a must have as the season progresses and the water drops. Double nymphing can be extremely effective in deeper pools and runs (it is difficult to find water over 6 feet deep). Stellar nypmhs are 20 inchers and Orvis tunghead stoneflies. Smaller nymphs include beadhead flashback pheasant tails, Barr's emergers and red and black zebra midges. Most of the 45 mile stretch of trout water is public so find any pull-off that you have to walk a little and expend some energy to get to the river and have some luck.