East Fork Ranch
The Beautiful EFR is among the most special places in Southern Colorado. Located just a few miles NE of downtown Pagosa Springs, the EFR has rarely been fished in the last 100 years, and Sacred Waters is the first ever to guide and help manage this very exclusive pristine property. The East Fork of the San Juan averages about a 60 cfs flow during prime summer months and harbors five and a half miles of largely untouched river that makes up key spawning habitat for the San Juan River. In addition to the East Fork, we have access to fantastic creek fishing in the canyons of Quartz Creek and sizable still water opportunity on the lakes within the ranch. The two most important projects on the EFR have been restoring native riparian habitat and reducing and scheduling angler traffic. Though still a work in progress, the rewards have been quite admirable. Wild Brown, Brook, and Rainbow trout abound and Native Cutthroat still persist in good quantity and size.
Great location for All Physical and Angling Abilities. (Available to All Charities, Platinum Level Donors, &/or New 1st time Donors at Gold & Silver Levels on a 1 day Orientation Guided trip)
(Good Physical Shape & Wading Abilities Needed for Quartz Creek & Very Upper East Fork. Any other physical & wading abilities can be accommodated on other of the 5 Sections of EFR & Lake)
(Experienced Angling Abilities needed in flows under 50 cfs. Long, Delicate Casts may be required in Low, Clear, Glassy Waters. Especially in Upper Section and Lower Section. Other 4 Sections can accommodate All Angling Abilities.)
Accessible & Fishable: May-November
Best Water Levels to Fish: 40-200 CFS
Click Here for: East Fork of the San Juan Real-Time Water Flow
Click Here for: Weather Forecasts for EFR Campsite Area
Great location for All Physical and Angling Abilities. (Available to All Charities, Platinum Level Donors, &/or New 1st time Donors at Gold & Silver Levels on a 1 day Orientation Guided trip)
(Good Physical Shape & Wading Abilities Needed for Quartz Creek & Very Upper East Fork. Any other physical & wading abilities can be accommodated on other of the 5 Sections of EFR & Lake)
(Experienced Angling Abilities needed in flows under 50 cfs. Long, Delicate Casts may be required in Low, Clear, Glassy Waters. Especially in Upper Section and Lower Section. Other 4 Sections can accommodate All Angling Abilities.)
Accessible & Fishable: May-November
Best Water Levels to Fish: 40-200 CFS
Click Here for: East Fork of the San Juan Real-Time Water Flow
Click Here for: Weather Forecasts for EFR Campsite Area
4 Weber Ranches
This is the best fishing on the San Juan River. Explore 4 miles of gorgeous water holding big, wild browns, rainbows, occasional cuttbow or cutthroat. The Weber Ranch is comprised of three separate sections of river each a little over a mile in length up stream of Pagosa Springs Co on the San Juan River. Most of this property is untouched and with few exceptions is void of any unnatural stream work. Whether you want to fish pocket water, big holes, long runs, or even a lake, these ranches hold it all. The diversity of water through the four sections gives you the ability to get above a blown-out tributary to find good fishing on what could have been a tough day otherwise. In recent years, we have worked with the owner to limit and schedule all fishing activities, which means healthier fish and a healthier San Juan River. In addition, the Weber Ranch does not stock fish, which makes for a very authentic experience. In other words, if you caught a fish you didn't catch a farm raised pet.
Good for any physical or angling abilities depending on section. ( Available to All Charities and All Donor Levels excluding Bronze Level. )
(Lower Section Great for all Physical & Wading Abilities in Flows less than 300 cfs, Middle Section Moderate Physical & Wading Abilities needed in Flows over 150 cfs. Upper Section Good Physical & Wading Abilities.)
( Lower Section can be fished by Anglers at any Level other than at flows below 100 cfs. Longer more delicate presentations may be required at low, clear, glassy water. Middle Section intermediate angling abilities needed at most flows. Upper Section more advanced angling abilities needed at most flows other than Lake.)
Accessible & Fishable: March-November.
Best Water Levels to Fish: 100-500 CFS
Click Here for: San Juan River Pagosa Springs, CO. Real-Time Water Flows
Click Here for: Weather Forecasts for Weber Ranches Middle Section
Newest Bronze Level Conservation Waters: *Accessible By All Other Donor Level Members too*
Fairway RanchFairway Ranch on the San Juan River, Pagosa Springs, CO.- (New Bronze Level Private Location.)
The Fairway Ranch is the first Private Ranch just south/downstream of the town of Pagosa Springs. Excellent location for most all physical and fishing ability levels depending on water level. Being just below downtown very quick, easy access location great for ½ day Guided Fly fishing trips. At higher, fuller flows can be a Full Day worth of fishing with 1-2 people. Fairway Ranch has had some stream/habitat improvement work done that has made for faster deeper pools that in the Summer months help protect the fish from overheating thermal issues being just a mile or so from the Pagosa Hot Springs. This location is also one of the very few areas of any of our local river sections that does not freeze in the Winter month due to the Hot Springs influence and becomes a sanctuary for fishes in the Winter months. With deeper wintering pool and slightly warmer water temperatures in the colder month many fishes in the San Juan River drainage migrate to winter over on this property. This Ranch/ section of Conservation Water is available to all Donor Member Levels, but is one of our Bronze Level locations due to a few reasons. It's close proximity to town makes for ability to offer ½ day trips, easy access, open casting room, fairly easy walking/wading, just a really good location for beginners and to get new people into fly fishing. For example I have guided a 80 year old women on a Bucket List trip on this Ranch and had guided a 10 year old boy on his first ever fishing experience too, with no complications and everyone catching some trophy sized fish. While having slightly warmer water we do get a nice little bonus of some common carp that haunt the waters here. So you also have an opportunity to hook into a Golden Ghost and maybe see your backing for the first time. San Juan River, Downtown Pagosa Springs, CO.
What we term the San Juan Proper (meaning the real trout river in CO not the man-made tailwater end in NM.)
This river system is the home where our hearts are while we do hold most of our Conservation Leases along this river system we all enjoy the 2 miles of Public Water Downtown especially in the less touristy so-called off-season months. With the Pagosa Hot Springs flowing into the middle of this public water section of the San Juan River the river stays free of ice and warmer water tends to concentrate good populations of sometimes very large trout throughout the Winter and less outdoors traffic can be fantastic days fishing right in town. Nowadays the river can be pretty busy in the peak tourist seasons but early morning or late evening fishing can be awesome with less distraction. The whole length of town has had stream improvement work done creating a consistent pool to pool ratio so there's usually always a good pool to wet a line in. I had managed the fish planting/stocking through the town section through the Pagosa Quality Fishing Project and for those 5-6 years our budget to purchase fish continually got cut-down every year, but proper with stocking efforts as I managed it every year the State Biologist still continually got better population numbers. So yeah town does hold a lot of pelletheads/domestic farm fish, but at fish migration times Spring & Fall you'll notice a plethora of trophy holdover fish, wild & native fishes moving through town as well as the planted stockers. This too will show with how the proper management of Our Private Sacred Waters above & below the Public town section is improving the entire fishery as fish have no boundaries and will move about the entire river system as needed to spawn, to find colder or warmer preferred water temperatures throughout the season, for food, for proper seasonal pools, etc... We do prefer the off-season months to fish or guide town due to recent increase in growth here locally the last five years. But you can fish the San Juan downtown most everyday year-round. Animas River, Durango, CO.
The Animas river in downtown Durango is managed much better than many State managed public waters due to it's Gold Medal Classification, and Artificial Fly & Lure Only, (2) fish 16” or over bag limit on not only the Gold Medal Section but same Regulations in place on the Southern Ute Reservation Waters as well. The Animas is well known as a trophy trout river worldwide because it is, this fairly large river that happens to be also the longest free flowing river(no dams/reservoirs) in the United States. Some State Records Brown Trout have come out of this river over the years and holds high populations of both holdover & Wild Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout as well as the occasional Cuttbow or Cutthroat of which many are of trophy size. This river can be a little tricky at times it fertile nature promotes weed & algae growth that can making wading slippery and even tougher due to it is a large river especially at higher water times. But with many miles of public access it can be accommodating to most angler abilities and physical abilities with many different areas and terrains as you can drive, bike or walk most of it via the roads around town or the 7 mile long paved Animas River Trail. Float or Wade Full and Half Day Trips.
Vallecito Lake/Reservoir, Vallecito/Bayfield, CO.
Vallecito is a fairly large man-made reservoir that is home to a variety of Trophy Game Fishes. With healthy populations of trophy size Brown and Rainbow Trout, including some State Record sized Browns being caught here, so have State Record Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass and some of the Walleye & Kokonee Salmon are getting close to state record class sizing. We offer boat and wade trips of half or full days on Vallecito for all species, this is also the Only Location we Allow Conventional Fishing Gear/Hardware, but Artificial Lures Only. Also a location where we may allow some selective harvest of certain species, at certain times, at slot sizes and limited bag limit. A day on the lake beats a day at work no matter what be it fishing or not. Great location for families, people with disabilities, or larger groups our Pontoon Boat slipped on the lake holds up to 6 anglers and since half of our Professional Anglers live at, have lived at and guided in Vallecito throughout our lives we hold this Little Valley dear to our hearts too. Those of you whom never tried fly fishing for warmwater species like Pike, Bass, Walleye this is a place to try or for you purist whom never tried fishing with conventional gear we can teach you a thing or two about that here also.
Public Waters in the San Juan National Forests, South San Juan Wilderness, & Weminuche Wilderness:
Our US Forest Service Special Use Guided Fly Fishing & Backpacking Permit in the San Juan National Forest. This opens more locations and fishing opportunities from the continental divide of Wolf Creek Pass to the East the whole way through the Pagosa District to the Piedra River drainage to the West. These guided trips are available to ALL Donor Levels and will especially benefit the Bronze Level (Daytrip) Donors/Clients and the public. We hope this too will not only help SWCO get more exposure to the general public, up our revenue with monies outside of guide pay going to our growth and the greater good of the SWCO Mission. Having so many more locations to choose from too will help us to continue to spread out fishing pressure even more, have a choice of different waters to always have options of the very best locations, in the best fishing conditions, and much greater variety of waters, landscapes, fishes, &/or new adventures for our Donors, Clients, Charities, etc.… Much of the same or better benefits as we explained in 2018 emails and blog posts about adding fishing to the Bronze Level. These guided trips will be priced the same as our Bronze Level Fees, with day-trips, overnight/multi day backpacking, or horseback available. Multi-day backpacking/hike-in & horseback fees based on location & number of days (Angling & Physical Abilities Vary greatly, please contact us for details & pricing). |
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